Those phones were durable AF.
I recall at least one movie scene where the hero beat the bad guy with one, and we all knew that would definitely work.
I think what people don’t appreciate about this is that it’s not just about slamming the phone. The other person can HEAR you slam the phone, it’s loud as hell. And that knowledge is what made slamming it so satisfying
Yeah especially if you did it while they were in the middle of speaking.
I did it once to a boss who threatened to fire me if I didn’t cover a Sunday shift. I said I quit instead, and they started to backtrack.
I close my eyes and relive that detectable moment sometimes. I remember everything about it. My roommate was smoking a menthol cigarette by the window and her dog barked at the sound of me slamming the receiver home.
I think this might be my Nexus.
With the og flip phones you should still somewhat do this. Must’ve been a slight delay between closing and the call disconnecting. Slight enough to hear those plastic casings clap.
Now if they’re really mad in a movie you see someone yeet their $800 phone. They lost the middle ground of slamming or throwing a $50 corded phone out the window. Now there’s only the nuclear option.
Hello there
I like this. I can slam it down without breaking my cell phone
People slam game controllers and replace them all the time. Same would go for this handset. Might even find a “retro” one that’s sturdier. You could murder one with those old school ones.
If you slam it hard enough you can still do this.
Especially with the glass iphones.
Someone could make an app that detects a slam and hangs up the phone, then also sell a padded slam-receiver to replicate the experience. Or just use a pillow.
Edit: Found one. Unfortunately it no longer seems to be installable, probably because Google keeps fucking over independent app devs with new requirements. Source is here in case someone wants to see if they can build it.
exactly this
I’ve broken plenty of phones back in the day from slamming the handset down on the cradle. What do you do if you break a public pay phone? I mean, besides run away?
break a public pay phone
At the zenith of that technology, the phone company(ies) had already battle tested countless other designs. The newest relics you find are hardened enough to be left unattended in the most vandalism prone areas imaginable. Each one, a little fortress perfectly protecting delicate electronics and a coin-box. Slam it all you want: they’re nigh-on indestructible.
The only non-functioning payphones I ever saw were the ones where the handset had been sawn off.
Why run from the broken public? Not like they ever knew
You have to really try to actually break a public payphone. By the time the receiver cracks you’ve hung up on the other end at least one or two slams ago.
How’s your knees feeling OP?
gingerly puts down a $600 iPhone, trembling in anger “…good day, sir.”
…yeah, we might need a generation of phones built to be a tank, just so we can properly communicate our wrath to the other person.
Huh. Maybe a ‘soundboard’ app, which allows you to hang up the current call with a sound effect?
Or a USB-c to RJ45 converter so you can get an old phone from the thrift shop to carry around in case of angry phone shenanigans.
RJ11 converter* -An RJ45 is too big.
Technically either would work, but may as well have the proper esthetics.
I would love to have a soundboard that played sounds in calls. I’d answer the phone like Wolfman Jack all “caller, you’re on the air! gorilla noise, honk”
Could be a thing soon, Android has added “sound enojis” that imo were probably the worst idea ever and only exist for kids to annoy their parents. It’s a soundboard with like 3 sounds on the call screen when you’re on a call. I could see them eventually allowing custom ones.
That’s crap. If you’re gonna give my kid a proper customizable soundboard so they can get creative with how they fuck with me at least that’s something. This is just lord of the flies conch shell shit
Having worked in construction, I can report, you can totally still do this!
… One time per phone, unfortunately.
I had one of those Nokia candybar phones back in the late 90s early 2000s. nothing was more therapeutic than just chucking the phone across the parking lot at mach 1. walking over to the pieces, assembling it, and going on with your day.
It’s an inanimate fucking object!
Love the video
Would you hear the slam in the other end?
The beginning, in some cases.
Yes you definitely would
Why is there a payphone inside of a highschool?
Cell phones didn’t exist. Kids need to call to get picked up after hours. There were payphones anywhere they would be used. Malls, Outside fast food restaurants, in shopping centers at gas stations.
I like in Australia we never got rid of them. More or less every payphone I saw growing up is still here. But they gave them 2 amazing upgrades:
-
They are now free to use
-
They are additionally free Wifi hotspots
Much better than dismantling them imo. They may not be widely used, but it’s worth it for those that do. I’ve even used it once when my phone went flat and needed to call my wife.
And the old pay phones came in very useful here in SE QLD after cyclone Alfred. Without power all the cell towers stopped working but the old landlines weren’t affected. People were lining up at the phone at the shops near me.
That’s the most anti-American thing I’ve ever heard.
Bro what kind of utopia are you living in excuse me?
Free wifi! That’s freaking awesome
Oh that’s nice. We visited Germany about 10 years ago and didn’t get international cell service, so we were relying on hotel wifi and other wifi hotspots. This kind of thing would have been great.
Free WiFi only if you are a Telstra customer for your home broadband
Nah they changed that a while ago
https://www.telstra.com.au/exchange/free-wi-fi-is-now-available-to-anyone-across-selected-telstra-pa
It might not be every single one yet, but they were/are working towards that goal.
good to know next time I am waiting at my local bus stop
-
Replace “inside of a highschool” with literally any location with reasonable footfall to get the same answer.
Fair.
Just seems weird to have it in a hallway. Maybe it opens up to a cafeteria behind the camera where I would expect it.
Ours was on a wall across from the office, but the wall opened up to the cafeteria just next to it. I recall students sometimes using it during lunch.
So kids could use the phone.
And why is it the woman from B99
So kids can prank call during lunchbreak and call 900 numbers… and call the parents to say they got in trouble for inappropriate calls…
Because it was a time in between smoke signals and cell phones
The payphone is by the school lockers. That brings back memories 👴🏼
My school had an official “smokers’ corner.” Oh no, not for the teachers. It was for the kids.
And it was inside the building.We had a smoking room, but it was only for seniors.
