[filup]

We just need a new phone system where 'phone numbers' are designed to be disposable.

Phone numbers were designed with the idea that they need to be easily memorizable in your head but I don't think that's really needed today.

At any moment I should be able to discard my contact and redistribute it on my own.

The idea that old numbers get recycled is completely ridiculous as well.

[matheusmoreira]

We need to get rid of phones straight up. No one should be able to interrupt someone else by randomly ringing them and demanding attention.

[wang_li]

You can trivially accomplish this under the current system. There is no need for a change that imposes your preferences on everyone.

[matheusmoreira]

There is a need. The whole point is to do that. "I'll just opt out" half measures won't get rid of the culture. We're all expected to have phones. People want to call. We suffer actual economic consequences if we refuse to participate. Your "solution" boils down to "just don't have a phone so we can ostracize you". Like the loonies who don't have Facebook accounts for the companies to spy on. The whole idea is to wipe Facebook off the face of this Earth so we need not face such choices to begin with.

[bigstrat2003]

There's nothing loony about not having Facebook or a phone. Nobody really gives a damn, I promise you. What is silly is trying to disallow everyone else from having something because you don't want it.

[matheusmoreira]

I've seen HR avoid hiring people who didn't have phones or Facebook accounts. I've seen them straight up ask for the account passwords.

[filup]

Do tell for a laymen like me.

[wang_li]

Cancel your phone service and then no one can call you or interrupt you. Set it to Do Not Disturb. You got multiple choices.

[filup]

I mean I think that is ok as long as I explicitly allowed you to.

The problem is, with a phone number anyone can. Phone numbers need to operate more like a shared secret.

I was getting an oil change the other day and the guy asked me for my phone number...

I said why? Do you need to call me?

He said, no we just need it to put in the system and it won't let me proceed without one.

I said ok well here is a fake number since you don't need to contact me.

He was visibily frustrated with me, yet inputed the fake number and it allowed him to proceed.

My point with sharing this story is it seems like we have forgotten as a society what the purpose of the phone number is. Your supposed share it when you want to be able to communicate that's it.

It's turned into a required chokepoint to do anything.