Commodity Quote by Susan Orlean
“When I was a kid, phone calls were a premium commodity; only the very coolest kids had a phone line of their own, and long-distance phone calls were made after eleven, when the rates went down, unless you were flamboyant with your spending. Then phone calls became as cheap as dirt and as constant as rain, and I was on the phone all the time.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Phone Call” in *The American Book of the Dead*, 2011
The shift from rare, expensive calls to ubiquitous, cheap communication changed social habits and personal behavior.
In simple terms: Phones went from rare to constant.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how technology reshapes daily life.
Themes
technology
communication
social change
nostalgia
consumer behavior
Mood
reflective
nostalgic
analytical
Type
philosophical
cultural
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- work habits
- family dynamics
- marketing strategies
Key Concepts
media saturation
accessibility
social connectivity
Questions to Reflect On
- How has constant connectivity altered your relationships?
- What boundaries can you set with technology?
A Different Perspective
Cheap access can lead to overuse and reduced face‑to‑face interaction.
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