I had to live without a phone number for a week due to my Sim breaking down at the wrong time and this was my experience.
THE BAD
- i felt locked out of all pretty much all the things that i use digitally (even my banking app)
- Pretty much everything needs an OTP (i know its for security but it was very annoying)
- Traveling was a bit troublesome as i have gotten into the habit taking very little cash with me due to UPI. plus i could not book ola or uber cabs.
THE GOOD (kind of)
- when i left the office or my house which took me away from the wifi network zone i truly felt off the grid, no google maps to tell me about my destinations, no person that i could contact to guide me just old fashioned asking the shopkeepers or people on the roads for directions.
- A feeling freedom. No notification sounds or phone calls when i am outside but its also scary cuz i wont be able to contact anyone in case of an emergency.
- i actually paid attention to things on the road when i was traveling instead of reading reddit post as i had no internet nor do i have songs in my phone.
Would i want to go through it again, not really, maybe, kinda... but this got me thinking we really need a backup system for when one can not access his own phone number<.> specially for the OTP.
Wow!
This is shocking and scary at the same time for me. I can however imagine your situation and totally relate to how you would feel.
as i have gotten into the habit taking very little cash with me due to UPI
I am not a big fan of UPI but I do see the convenience of it. I was forced to used it in a few scenarios. But its frightening how the transactions happen without physical exchange of commodity. I imagine that is there are ten people circulating the digital currency then what actually is being circulated? I am dependant on a screen to tell me how much I have in my balance. It does seem that the system is robust and definitely easier to manage but I do not see the satisfaction value. Spending a thousand rupees is equal to spending a hundred or even just a rupee in terms of spending experience. Where is the flow of incremental feeling.
off the grid, no google maps to tell me about my destinations, no person that i could contact to guide me just old fashioned asking the shopkeepers or people on the roads for directions
How did it feel to meet more people? Those organisms that look like us who have no immediate relationship or concern with us? How did the randomness feel?
i had no internet nor do i have songs in my phone.
Did you sing or did you hum a song of your liking. I’d like to know when you missed your phone for songs, which actual song were you missing? Or were you missing the capability to play and listen to a song?
Would i want to go through it again, not really, maybe, kinda… but this got me thinking we really need a backup system for when one can not access his own phone number<.> specially for the OTP.
Whats the harm in trying it out? What kind of backup would you like to come up with? Perhaps a retreat, urban or rural? What can your mind think of?
Sir @MinaminoSuechi what do you think about it?
