We rely on our phones so much, that it has come to a point where we can't live without them. We store so much data on them, that once gone, we are goners as well.
For some reason, my mobile decided to lock itself the last weekend. The scanner malfunctioned. And, of course, the backup password have long been forgotten. I was, alone, on my way to a drinks session. Panic sets in. I can't operate the mobile! I can't get through the login screen! I can't communicate! Oh wait, my notes are in there as well. So does tonnes of my pictures. And they are all without backups!
I was momentarily lost for action. It was the first time this has happened and I was stunned. I was so used to working my mobile and now that it was inoperative, I found myself in a sudden state of paralysis. Oh man, what do I do? I can't call for help. I have not set any emergency contacts. There was no one beside me to lend me their mobile. I have not even activated the PC login - which I eventually found out there was such a function.
And all the while, I hear the pings coming in on my WhatsApp, presumably from my friends updating their whereabouts. As I thought about it, I realized we no longer use the mobile to make calls and talk anymore. My mobile was, in fact, still active - it was locked from sending communications, but it can actually receive them. If someone were to just call, I can actually get help. Or let them know of my predicament.
I realized soon after that no one was going to do that. We are so used to sending texts that it didn't bother us one bit when someone failed to reply back. We simply brushed it aside thinking the person was just too busy or maybe even ignoring them. It scares me now to know that in the event of an emergency or crisis, where someone's mobile was just not working the way mine did, no one would ever know. Perhaps not until it is too late.
It was a full day later when luck stroke. I was close to giving up and re-formatting the mobile, thus erasing all that I've stored in there. A final attempt at the password proved fruitful. I blamed myself for entering such a complicated one and for not saving it elsewhere. So much for contingency plans. And yes, if you are wondering, I immediately backed up everything thereafter!
So people, pick up the phone and start calling! Is that so hard to do? If you have forgotten, that's what phones are made for. All the rest are just side functions to ease things. If your friend is not responding like they used to, start taking note.
