The new status symbol: A cracked cellphone screen

[proud2BlibKansan]

Apparently it’s cool to be cracked.

While they haven’t started smashing their smartphones on purpose (or have they?), young people are turning their cracked cellphone screens into the latest in shabby chic. Or is that trashy tech?

Whatever it is, it’s catching on as fast as torn T-shirts and ripped blue jeans. Once considered mortifying — damage requiring immediate repairs or replacement — the spider webs of a cracked smartphone screen increasingly are seen by teens and 20-somethings as inevitable badges of honor, cool battle scars that impart a kind of rough street cred in the mobile world.

“It’s an accident when it drops, but nobody wants to pay the money to get it fixed,” explained 18-year-old Kaitlyn Wilson of Liberty, who was visiting the Apple store on the Country Club Plaza recently. “So, whatever, you have a cracked phone. If you were the only person with a cracked screen you would probably run out to get it fixed. But everybody else’s is cracked, so why not leave it?

“Then Sharpie it, and make a design out of it on Pinterest.”

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/06/02/4266617/the-new-status-symbol-a-cracked.html#storylink_mainstorystack#storylink=cpy

[Buzz Clik]

1. If you're so irresponsible that you cannot avoid cracking your screen, make it a fashion statement

[NightWatcher]

2. Spoiled kids with smartphones are cracking the screen to be cool

If I were a parent and found my kid smashed theirs on purpose, I'd simply take it away until they could pay me back then they could buy their own to crack if they needed to feel cool.

[Floyd_Gondolli]

3. More proof humanity is a virus in tennis shoes

We are devolving as a culture.

[backscatter712]

4. I paid way too much for my smartphone. Why would I break mine on purpose.

In fact, I carry insurance on my smartphone, so I can get it replaced if I drop it and break it, or drop it in the toilet or something.

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. Apple replaced mine for free.

I dropped it and the screen shattered. It was over a year old and no longer under warranty but I went to the Apple store prepared to buy a new phone and they gave me a new phone. No charge.

[gollygee]

5. OK folks, it specifically says they ARE NOT cracking it on purpose

just that once its cracked they aren't replacing the phone.

[redqueen]

8. Why do you want to spoil the outrage with facts?

I think its encouraging to see less shallow dedication to maintaining appearances. So its cracked. Does it still work? Then good on anyone who isn't in a needless rush to fill landfills and buy shit they apparently do not need, simply because it looks "nicer".

[Egalitarian Thug]

21. +1

Those damned irresponsible kids! Why, when I was their age we were happy to have piece of string and had to save up to get a can. If you bent your can, that was just too bad.


Yargle Bargle Blargh!

[enlightenment]

6. I'm sure someone will soon start making

screen protectors with pre-drawn 'cracks', which is silly - but not anywhere near as idiotic as deliberately damaging an expensive piece of technology as a fashion statement.

[tabbycat31]

20. At one point

There was an Android app that made your screen look cracked. One of my friends had it.

[Pragdem]

7. I'm 25 and these little shits are not welcome on my lawn. nt

[Cirque du So-What]

19. There ya go!

It's never too early to start practicing for geezerhood.

[Arkana]

9. So destroying an expensive piece of technology is now a fad?

Guess what, I'm gonna start blowing my nose and walking around and showing it to people--maybe I can make people start copying me.

[petronius]

10. I was years ahead of that trend! If it's also cool to carry a ~4 year old

not-smart clamshell, then color me two shades of awesome...

[TlalocW]

11. I cracked mine

But it still worked so I used it for another 2 years. I was roughhousing with one of my nephews and took off one of his shoes and jumped up to put it on the roof the shed we were next to, and my phone flew out of my pocket onto the cement.

TlalocW

[Fearless]

12. That's what happens when they cost so much.

[LoveIsNow]

13. They are way too expensive.

At least it's an economical fad.

[William769]

14. Stupid is as stupid does. nt

[HappyMe]

15. lol!

Also known as the "mommy and daddy are sick of paying for this" fashion.

I wouldn't doubt that some kids whose friends all have cracked screens, would crack theirs on purpose.

[Brickbat]

16. Good God, what a non-story.

[JaneyVee]

17. Million dollar idea: fake "cracked" protective screen covers. I'm too busy. Go with it.

[snooper2]

18. Somebody really needs to find something to report on

LOL..

[SalviaBlue]

22. “It’s an accident when it drops, but nobody wants to pay the money to get it fixed,”

I think this is a hopeful trend away from materialism. If it still works after it was ACCIDENTALLY broken, why spend more money to have a more perfect specimen.

Its a good thing.

[KittyWampus]

23. You can get fully functional cellphones w/cracked screens for a lot less on ebay.

[HappyMe]

24. But there's no "street cred" in that!

[NCTraveler]

25. Someone had time to write this bs...

and I had time to read it. I need a fucking life.

[cbdo2007]

27. My wife knows.....if she breaks her iPhone, that's it. No more iPhone.

So I'm sure she would be getting by with a cracked screen until her 2 year "upgrade" also.