Modern life isn't dependent on a computer in your hand 24 hours a day. Smart phones are pretty much like cigarettes that don't kill you (well unless you walk in front of a bus whilst checking twitter). Living without them is just as easy as living with them and a whole lot cheaper and without the monkey on your back.
Either way the cost/benefit of a phone is not really on topic.
But I'm curious how a phone is a 'monkey on your back' when you have no obligation to check or respond to anything. And you can get a nice phone with data service for a lower cost than a solid wired internet connection.
If you are doing something criminal or something borderline which may incriminate you, the best thing to do is not carry the phone which is my point.
However, the monkey on your back is when it becomes an entertainment and communication portal for everything replacing other forms of communication. At that point you rely on it too much. I see this so many times a day it's incredible.
It's not paranoia on my part but more that I create more things, communicate more deeply and enjoy life more now I have a shitty Nokia and less "services" to consume.
Everyone wants a slice of my attention these days. After some deep thought, they're not welcome to it as it's only finite.
What a stupid thing to say.
Are you seriously suggesting that people "just" opt-out of modern life?