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        Young X User Asks If Pay Phones 'Actually Existed' Or Are Just In Movies—And The Responses Are Epic
    

        Anthony Redpath/GettyImages, @AkanaPhenix/X
    
X user and writer @AkanaPhenix took to the platform to ask if pay phones were just created for movies to 'create drama,' and people sounded off in the comments in both sweet and cruel ways.
By Koh MochizukiDec 28, 2023
Koh Mochizuki

	Koh Mochizuki is a Los Angeles based actor whose work has been spotted anywhere from Broadway stages to Saturday Night Live.

	He received his B.A. in English literature and is fluent in Japanese.

	In addition to being a neophyte photographer, he is a huge Disney aficionado and is determined to conquer all Disney parks in the world to publish a photographic chronicle one day. Mickey goals.

	Instagram: kohster Twitter: @kohster1 Flickr: nyckmo
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Previous generations may remember a time before cell phones when people used to make phone calls using pay phones.
They hardly exist in the U.S. anymore, but some of the iconic red telephone boxes scattered around London remain as relics of a time when people used them to make calls while they were out and about. 
But not everyone is convinced people actually ever used pay phones to communicate with others, particularly those of a certain age. 
Akana Phenix–a.k.a. @AkanaPhenix on X (formerly Twitter)–  is a Harvard grad and author.
Phenix had a "silly question" regarding whether or not pay phones actually existed in real life and asked:
"Sorry if this is a silly question, but I've only seen pay phones in movies." "Did pay phones actually exist everywhere irl or is it used to create drama in films? why aren't there any?"
sorry if this is a silly question, but i've only seen pay phones in movies. did pay phones actually exist everywhere irl or is it used to create drama in films? why aren't there any?
 —  (@)
        
The inquisitive user provided an example of what they were talking about. 
Because you never know.
these are pay phones btw
 —  (@)
        
While there's no such thing as a "silly question," mean X users begged to differ.

@AkanaPhenix You went to Harvard?
 —  (@)
        
@AkanaPhenix You know the answer to this you\xe2\x80\x99re just twisting the knife into our old backs right now because you know they hurt already
 —  (@)
        
@AkanaPhenix you know you can just google this \xf0\x9f\x98\x82
 —  (@)
        
Unfortunately, things took a serious turn. 
After the comments became flooded with negative comments–including "death threats"–Phenix muted the thread and informed followers:
"I also woke up to a bunch of death threats, attacks, and mass insults. i really appreciate people who are going out of their way to be kind.""(EVEN PREORDERING MY BOOKWOAHHH!) Your acts of kindness and generosity mean the world to me. Thank you."Phenix added:
"I can’t believe the amount of shaming over a question I meant with sincerity. I know I keep apologizing. But I really am sorry."Kind-hearted social media users encouraged Phenix to ignore the trolls.
They also enlightened Phenix with personal anecdotes involving pay phones. 

@AkanaPhenix Lol don\xe2\x80\x99t worry about the hateful replies, always ask questions.  \n\nYes. We even had them at our schools so we could call for rides or forgotten stuff our parents needed to get to us.
 —  (@)
        

@AkanaPhenix Yep growing up we had payphones everywhere sometimes two or three beside each other. One day they were here the next the were gone with no sign they ever existed. I\xe2\x80\x99m only 35.
 —  (@)
        
@AkanaPhenix When I was in college we would drive downtown with nothing but lipgloss and some cash. \n\nIf anything happened we called from pay phones because we memorized EVERY phone number for friends and family.\n\nCell phones existed we just \xe2\x80\xa6 left them in our dorms.\n\nMagical times.
 —  (@)
        
@AkanaPhenix @itstylersays Never stop asking questions. The advancement of tech has been exponential. I'm 72, and even I have forgotten some things that used to be around. Good memories.
 —  (@)
        

@AkanaPhenix Using a pay phone was usually something you were forced to do in a pinch. So, the quarter. Ma\xe2\x80\x99am, do you have a quarter? Or you asked an operator to call collect. These were exciting/frightening moments, and I still have nightmares where I don\xe2\x80\x99t have the quarter or I can\xe2\x80\x99t dial\xe2\x80\xa6
 —  (@)
        

@AkanaPhenix My favorite memory of payphones is checking the coin return whenever I passed one as a little kid. They made a really satisfying \xe2\x80\x9cclank\xe2\x80\x9d which is good because I never found a penny.
 —  (@)
        

Some users provided evidence of some of the pay phones' functional existence. 
 —  (@)
        
@AkanaPhenix Here\xe2\x80\x99s a pay phone in Pigeon Forge Tennessee.
 —  (@)
        

@AkanaPhenix From Montreal yesterday!
 —  (@)
        

@AkanaPhenix @natallman Some left in U.K. too! Here is a nice working example in Leicester. This one has a \xe2\x80\x98handkerchief dome\xe2\x80\x99 roof, inspired by the work of the architect Sir John Soane (1753-1837). https://t.co/NaNtmhfcz5
 —  (@)
        
A fun trivia fact was shared. 
@AkanaPhenix In the 50s, people had contests to see how many could fit in a phone booth. Good times. \xf0\x9f\x98\x8ahttps://t.co/d9n0H03KjB
 —  (@)
        
Phenix was touched by many of the genuine responses and expressed gratitude, writing:
"Reading people's retro memories, i feel so nostalgic for a time i didn't even grow up in." "it all seemed so social and adventurous back then. i wish we could get some of that back."
Despite the hateful comments, Phenix expressed no regrets for asking the question. 
"I didn’t expect any of this. so many stories, grief, celebrations, accidental love, BREAKUPS, memories. all around pay phones." "i’m (officially) glad i asked."
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Previous generations may remember a time before cell phones when people used to make phone calls using pay phones.

They hardly exist in the U.S. anymore, but some of the iconic red telephone boxes scattered around London remain as relics of a time when people used them to make calls while they were out and about.

But not everyone is convinced people actually ever used pay phones to communicate with others, particularly those of a certain age.

Akana Phenix–a.k.a. @AkanaPhenix on X (formerly Twitter)– is a Harvard grad and author.

Phenix had a "silly question" regarding whether or not pay phones actually existed in real life and asked:

"Sorry if this is a silly question, but I've only seen pay phones in movies."

"Did pay phones actually exist everywhere irl or is it used to create drama in films? why aren't there any?"

sorry if this is a silly question, but i've only seen pay phones in movies. did pay phones actually exist everywhere irl or is it used to create drama in films? why aren't there any?
— (@)

The inquisitive user provided an example of what they were talking about.

Because you never know.

these are pay phones btw
— (@)

While there's no such thing as a "silly question," mean X users begged to differ.

@AkanaPhenix You went to Harvard?
— (@)

@AkanaPhenix You know the answer to this you\xe2\x80\x99re just twisting the knife into our old backs right now because you know they hurt already
— (@)

@AkanaPhenix you know you can just google this \xf0\x9f\x98\x82
— (@)

Unfortunately, things took a serious turn.

After the comments became flooded with negative comments–including "death threats"–Phenix muted the thread and informed followers:

"I also woke up to a bunch of death threats, attacks, and mass insults. i really appreciate people who are going out of their way to be kind."

"(EVEN PREORDERING MY BOOKWOAHHH!) Your acts of kindness and generosity mean the world to me. Thank you."

Phenix added:

"I can’t believe the amount of shaming over a question I meant with sincerity. I know I keep apologizing. But I really am sorry."

Kind-hearted social media users encouraged Phenix to ignore the trolls.

They also enlightened Phenix with personal anecdotes involving pay phones.

@AkanaPhenix Lol don\xe2\x80\x99t worry about the hateful replies, always ask questions. \n\nYes. We even had them at our schools so we could call for rides or forgotten stuff our parents needed to get to us.
— (@)

@AkanaPhenix Yep growing up we had payphones everywhere sometimes two or three beside each other. One day they were here the next the were gone with no sign they ever existed. I\xe2\x80\x99m only 35.
— (@)

@AkanaPhenix When I was in college we would drive downtown with nothing but lipgloss and some cash. \n\nIf anything happened we called from pay phones because we memorized EVERY phone number for friends and family.\n\nCell phones existed we just \xe2\x80\xa6 left them in our dorms.\n\nMagical times.
— (@)

@AkanaPhenix @itstylersays Never stop asking questions. The advancement of tech has been exponential. I'm 72, and even I have forgotten some things that used to be around. Good memories.
— (@)

@AkanaPhenix Using a pay phone was usually something you were forced to do in a pinch. So, the quarter. Ma\xe2\x80\x99am, do you have a quarter? Or you asked an operator to call collect. These were exciting/frightening moments, and I still have nightmares where I don\xe2\x80\x99t have the quarter or I can\xe2\x80\x99t dial\xe2\x80\xa6
— (@)

@AkanaPhenix My favorite memory of payphones is checking the coin return whenever I passed one as a little kid. They made a really satisfying \xe2\x80\x9cclank\xe2\x80\x9d which is good because I never found a penny.
— (@)

Some users provided evidence of some of the pay phones' functional existence.

— (@)

@AkanaPhenix Here\xe2\x80\x99s a pay phone in Pigeon Forge Tennessee.
— (@)

@AkanaPhenix From Montreal yesterday!
— (@)

@AkanaPhenix @natallman Some left in U.K. too! Here is a nice working example in Leicester. This one has a \xe2\x80\x98handkerchief dome\xe2\x80\x99 roof, inspired by the work of the architect Sir John Soane (1753-1837). https://t.co/NaNtmhfcz5
— (@)

A fun trivia fact was shared.

@AkanaPhenix In the 50s, people had contests to see how many could fit in a phone booth. Good times. \xf0\x9f\x98\x8ahttps://t.co/d9n0H03KjB
— (@)

Phenix was touched by many of the genuine responses and expressed gratitude, writing:

"Reading people's retro memories, i feel so nostalgic for a time i didn't even grow up in."

"it all seemed so social and adventurous back then. i wish we could get some of that back."

Despite the hateful comments, Phenix expressed no regrets for asking the question.

"I didn’t expect any of this. so many stories, grief, celebrations, accidental love, BREAKUPS, memories. all around pay phones."

"i’m (officially) glad i asked."

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Young X User Asks If Pay Phones 'Actually Existed' Or Are Just In Movies—And The Responses Are Epic

X user and writer @AkanaPhenix took to the platform to ask if pay phones were just created for movies to 'create drama,' and people sounded off in the comments in both sweet and cruel ways.

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