One New Yorker Becomes "Cellibate" for 60 Days

At the stroke of midnight on January 1st, New York comedian Amy Borkowsky began her cellibacy project, a temporary resolution that she explains is "not about giving up sex. I’m giving up something much harder than that.” She's casting aside her cell phone, after questioning how much her dependency on it has affected her quality of life.

She also notes that the so-called communication device often keeps her from truly communicating, citing the familiar scenario of sitting at a restaurant table with her friend while they’re both on the phone the entire time. “Something’s wrong,” she insists, “when you answer your call waiting and hear, ‘Hi, Amy. Were you gonna finish those fries?”

This is more of an experiment than a lifestyle change. She has been equally concerned with medical studies linking cell phone usage to cancer, hearing loss and memory impairment, calling them "this generation’s cigarettes." For 60 days she's quitting cold turkey, explaining on her survival guide on her site: "For particularly urgent situations during her sixty-day cellibacy, Amy will allow herself half a roll of quarters — exactly twenty quarters — to use for payphone calls because, as the self-described cell phone addict explains, 'If cell phones are my addiction, I figure payphones will be my methadone.'”

She'll be documenting her experience on her blog, observing on the 1st: "Woke up today and realized that I’m not only losing a phone. I’m losing a watch." She also told The Daily News that "I spend a lot of time on my own. I'm picturing myself sitting at Starbucks - where I'd normally be on my cell phone - and I'll have to talk to strangers. Who knows where that will lead?" How much do you rely on your phone?

Photo via HarrisJ's Flickr.

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By Jen Carlson in News on January 2, 2008 10:42 AM

Comments [rss]

rockthefaces

As WOPR would say, "The only winning move is not to play." I've never had a cell phone, and have no intention of getting one. Who knew I could have parlayed my "cellibacy" into publicity and press coverage? Dang, yo.

Spirit of 76

I ran into one of these self-absorbed people just today in an elevator. She just made a call and was saying, "Yeah, I'm in the building now." Um, you couldn't wait a few more seconds to tell them in person? It'll be much too soon if I ever again hear somebody making a call on the street or in a shop just to ask, "Hey, what are you up to?"

BMMDan

"I know it's an early call, but I'll say that this will be the lamest stunt of 2008."

guess you didn't see the bike jump on new years?

Banana

how lame and pointless. how is this noteworthy at all?

mihow

Does anyone else find it truly comical that she's kicking one habit and filling it with another one? Blogging to replace her annoying cell phone addiction? Are you kidding me? That's like giving up smoking pot to snort coke.

JoeSchumacher

You guys are just jealous you aren't as courageous as Amy! I look forward to reading her daily reports of strength and bravery in the face of an uninterested and uncomprehending public.

JenChungsBaby

How true, Mike B. How true.

This is the lamest friggin' stunt ever. Some guy just spent an entire year living the bible literally and all she can do is go without a cell phone for two months? Big deal. There are plenty of people who go without cell phones altogether. How lame.

zodak

...the familiar scenario of sitting at a restaurant table with her friend while they’re both on the phone the entire time.

If this is a familiar scenario, the cell phone is not her problem. Her problem is that she is an asshole.
well said Mike B!!

Mike B.

...the familiar scenario of sitting at a restaurant table with her friend while they’re both on the phone the entire time.

If this is a familiar scenario, the cell phone is not her problem. Her problem is that she is an asshole.

I seldom make nonspecific social calls when I'm not in a quiet, private place, and I only take brief calls from certain people when I'm not alone, just to verify that there's no emergency. Is that so freakin' hard? The cell phone doesn't pump morphine into your veins--it's a handy device that normal, healthy people use responsibly. The people who "struggle" with it are, again, assholes. Normal human consideration should prevent these problems.

cmick

she could just practice restraint with the cell phone. she'll realize this when her search for pay phones proves fruitless.

Rocknrope

You mean she'll actually have to use a land line? How will she survive?

I know it's an early call, but I'll say that this will be the lamest stunt of 2008.

anzelina

Big deal.

Dan Dickinson

There are so many funny people in this city doing great projects - what's noteworthy about this one?

HughGass

And if she WAS talking about sex, a quick picture search on the google reveald it wouldn't be too hard. Don't know who would want fuck her.

burgerdeluxe

I guess she figures this is a good way to get some attention -- revive a stalled comedy career. NPR and putting you mom's voicemails on a CD can only get you so far.

bklynd

Cellphones make me feel OLD. I have one, but I despise it.

ChampionOfTheSun

Cellphones are convenient to have, but completely unnecessary. And they have become a nuisance, because too many people don't understand proper cellphone etiquette.

ed_Extinct

i'm a txting fiend. i have been making an effort to avoid texting and call more or meet in person. i prefer meeting in person for business meetings and being with friends... this cell phone crap is way out of hand.

eyekantspel

This is an interesting idea. It's hard to imagine that only 10 or so years ago, cellphones weren't nearly as prevalent.

Now it seems that everyone over the age of 5 has a phone with IM, email, internet access, etc...

Step back a bit further, 150 years ago virtually all of the conveniences we now take for granted didn't exist. Makes you wonder what yet-to-be discovered tech we will come to rely on in the years to come.

freddyhere

What's her definition of "celibacy"? Does that mean she still has access to her toys?

ann0yed

What a hero, what a brave revolutionary woman, boldly going where no one has cared before.

Såkandulæredet

Personally I'll only text people rather than go into long conversations with them in public. It's really annoying when people do that.. I just think its really rude... like you're forcing everyone to hear you. By the way, its really hard to meet people somewhere without a cell phone nowadays. Everyone's kind of forgotten how to do it without a phone, so we end up not being very specific when we tell someone to meet us because we assume we can just call. And to meet someone at the spur of the moment, you'd have to just bump into them... u cant do like 'hey man, i'm at 42nd st... ur at 50th... im gonna walk uptown'