Homestyle Gossip

We are constantly referred to as a throwaway society for understandable reasons, but this is never more apparent than in our treatment of mobile phones.

This small and remarkable piece of technology has evolved far more rapidly over the last twenty or so years than most of us would ever have believed. We pay many hundreds of pounds over a typically two year period for the latest handsets. Despite this expense, upon their replacement, they are frequently consigned to a dusty drawer until they become of truly nominal value or they do simply get disposed of as waste once their working life is over. It seems extremely unlikely that any other high value, high powered modern tool is so regularly disposed of without any attempt to realise its remaining value.

This behaviour is simply not sustainable or realising the most of both your own personal assets and the resources of the planet. The vast majority of the cost of a mobile phone is representative of the development investment that has supported this rapid technological evolution. There is however very real value in the component parts and materials used in their construction.

Mobile phone recycling offers two very real benefits. In cases where you possess a fairly modern handset, you can obtain cash for your phone while it still possesses resale value. Mobile phone recycling is not restricted to modern handsets though. Old handsets are still actively recycled as the valuable components can be recycled in a more basic form. This helps to reduce our contribution to landfill and unsustainable behaviour.

The Internet is a wonderful thing and the sort of invention that we all wish we had when we were at school. Revising for tests and completing homework would have been so much easier with sites like Wikipedia and Google to help us out. Staying in touch with our friends would also have been so much easier had we been able to use Facebook and Twitter.

Of course, with the immediacy that these websites offer comes the inherent dangers also. Safety online is of paramount importance and it’s vital to realise that just because someone claims to be one thing, such as a friend or teenager, they may not necessarily be so.

The instant nature of the Internet also means that you can reach people within seconds, and they can reach you – whether you want them to or not. This has helped in many ways, but has also caused problems with increases of bullying. Online bullying is known as Cyberbullying, and is just as big a problem as bullying at school or on the street. In fact, Cyberbullying can be worse because the bullies can reach you wherever you are.

If someone you do not want to speak to is attempting to bully you online you should block all contact with them. Remove them from Facebook, adjust your privacy settings so they can’t contact you and never contact them. Block them from chat programs such as MSN and Yahoo as well. If you ignore Cyberbullies, they will give up as they will have no way of bullying you. If you have given out any personal details, be sure to tell an adult and change your mobile and email address if need be.

Written on behalf of 0800 Reverse.

This blog is for all your teens who somehow keep ending up with no credit on your mobile phones. Don’t panic, your days of being stranded in the cold are over! If you often find yourself without mobile phone credit when you most need it…this is for you! Here are a couple of scenario’s where 0800 Reverse would definitely come in use!

1. You missed your ride. For whatever reason, your ride had to leave without you…it’s raining and the next bus isn’t going to come for another 40 minutes…and of course you happen to be carrying loads of bags. Don’t stand around like a lemon for any longer, dial 0800 Reverse and get someone to pick you up.

2. Just as you get in your car ready to go, you realize it isn’t going to start. Your car battery’s dead. Your stranded in the middle of nowhere, and your groceries are badly in need of a fridge . Call 0800 Reverse and call your parents or a friend to come help you out and get you where you need to be quickly.

3. Designated Driver…Drunk Driver more like! Just what you need, your at a party and your ride home has decided to get completely wasted, and your over the legal limit to drive as well. Don’t risk it by drinking and driving, instead, dial 0800 Reverse and someone’s number and get them to come and take you home.

4. Your running late for work..again! Except after the last warning, you can’t afford to be late again, the tube’s are all over the place and with no credit on your phone, you can’t call a cab. Don’t panic…0800 Reverse call someone you trust to come and assist you!

These are just a few reasons where reverse calling is useful. It’s simple, safe and hassle free…and don’t forget, you can always pay people back, but when your stuck in that moment and you don’t know what to do…don’t panic, just dial 0800 Reverse followed by the number you want to call and problem solved!