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Why does CJ have a cell phone?


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Based on his actions in the Introduction, I guess we could say that he either stole it from someone else or robbed it out of a store. Then again, it doesn't explain how Sweet knew his number after five years without talking to him.

Edited by watersgta3
LeatherJacketSoldier

It's a criminal, he surely stole it from anywhere (no, not Anywhere City, just anywhere). But watersgta3 is right: unless Carl called Sweet immediately after stealing the phone, which it's not likely due to the 5 year span that incommunicated them both, it doesn't make sense he got a model pretty newer than Tommy Vercetti's, since CJ's phone model probably didn't even exist in 1987.

  • Like 2
billiejoearmstrong8

Cell phones were less common and more expensive but they didn't cost "thousands". CJ was a high ranking gang member likely making a decent enough amount of money to buy one (plus consider he had connections that might've meant he got it some other way than buying it), and it would be particularly useful to him being a criminal. Haven't you ever heard of gang members or just random people in the 'hood having expensive clothes, shoes, cars and gadgets etc as status symbols, even if they're not super rich? Saving up for stuff or getting a good deal or getting stuff illegally is a thing.

Edited by billiejoearmstrong8
  • Like 7
16 hours ago, billiejoearmstrong8 said:

they didn't cost "thousands".

But they did though. Not all, of course, but they did:

 

0d110c9226852ce3d3289bfebeb110fb.png

 

On topic: he definitely stole it, but I still don't understand how he paid for the minutes. I couldn't afford 35p a minute in 2006, I mean, I still can't on PAYG (but I'm on contract now). The priced must have been extortionate in 1992!

Edited by Lioshenka
  • Like 2
billiejoearmstrong8
4 hours ago, Lioshenka said:

But they did though. Not all, of course, but they did:

 

0d110c9226852ce3d3289bfebeb110fb.png

 

On topic: he definitely stole it, but I still don't understand how he paid for the minutes. I couldn't afford 35p a minute in 2006, I mean, I still can't on PAYG (but I'm on contract now). The priced must have been extortionate in 1992!

 

Yeah but the most expensive one from CJ's time on that list is two thousand, just barely scraping it into the thousands. Almost anyone could save up for that if they really wanted it, and he wasn't poor, he was making money as a gang member/criminal. How does a gang member own some flashy items??? is like, a ridiculous question, owning flashy items has always been a hallmark of gang members since gangs have existed. You don't have to be super rich to own some moderately expensive products. 

Edited by billiejoearmstrong8
  • Like 4
1 hour ago, Americana said:

Also, he could have gotten it from Joey back in Liberty City. "Hey, take this in case I need something from you."

So How did sweet find his number?

Did  he call some random numbers until CJ picked up?

BrainDeadRaven
On 2/9/2021 at 6:21 AM, BennyGod said:

The year is 1992. CJ probably is pretty poor, not making much money from crime in Liberty City. Why does he have a cell phone? Those costed thousands in the early 90s.

First, they didn't cost thousands, though a security deposit of $500 wasn't uncommon,

second, the only reason for crime should be the money, and he's been putting in work in Liberty City

third, my family was lower class income and I had a cell by '96, a black version of his phone, damn thing would get hot as hell when you used it.

 

13 hours ago, Americana said:

I mean, it's not like CJ called anyone. Everyone called him, right? So I guess he didn't have to pay? Or maybe he did... I don't know how it worked in the 1990's.

would have likely been prepaid. So we should have had to pay for time, but they weren't trying to go all there.

Flymystical-DJ

Its never explained but, to be fair, I never questioned it. He stole entire cars before the game started so I think it's easy to see his boss being able to spare him a cell phone. As for Sweet there are a spade of ways he could have been given/gotten CJ's number.

 

I don't think anyone has directly called this lack of explanation a plot hole yet but I just want to put it out there that a gap in storytelling does not equal a plot hole. They are, however, very fun to discuss 😃 

  • Like 5
17 hours ago, Americana said:

Who knows, maybe when the game is over, the mailman brings a huge bill of $20.000.

 

"Horse Cock" Larry is looking forward to when CJ is jailed for failing to pay his debts...

On 2/10/2021 at 6:00 PM, DR:BUSTA said:

So How did sweet find his number?

Did  he call some random numbers until CJ picked up?

Sweet could have been the original person who went to LC "looking for that special someone". Can you imagine a Stories set in the Renderware-era LC, with Sweet looking for his brother's number? That would be epic :D

  • KEKW 2
On 2/12/2021 at 1:07 PM, Evil empire said:

Since even Tommy Vercetti has a cell phone during his 1986 adventures there's no reason CJ can't have one too 6 years later.

Hey now, at least we know how Tommy got his cellphone 😆

  • Like 1
On 2/9/2021 at 4:21 PM, BennyGod said:

The year is 1992. CJ probably is pretty poor, not making much money from crime in Liberty City. Why does he have a cell phone? Those costed thousands in the early 90s.

He's hood rich. And they did cost a lot but not thousands a lot.

On 2/10/2021 at 6:20 AM, Lioshenka said:

But they did though. Not all, of course, but they did:

 

0d110c9226852ce3d3289bfebeb110fb.png

He wouldn't have gotten the most expensive one. He would have gotten the cheapest one like the Motorolla microTAC

MicroTAC.jpg

 

Says it came out in 1989 San Andreas was set in 1992 if it was $300 in 1989 the price definitely went down three years later and was cheaper in 1992.

Edited by Zello
  • 6 months later...
billiejoearmstrong8
4 hours ago, PeanutBunno said:

In the mid to late 1990’s, they started selling microTAC’s for around $20 new. Go look up some old advertisements, but it really doesn’t make sense how he pays the bill on it cx

 

He's not poor lol. Do people really think no gang members (and in this case a high up gang leader) in L.A in the 90's had any money or owned some fancy/expensive products? An area having high levels of poverty doesn't mean everyone there has no money.

Edited by billiejoearmstrong8
3 minutes ago, Ondr4H said:

Interesting so that huge phone was sticking his a** all the time?

Just like all the guns for every single GTA character :kekw::kekw::kekw::kekw: .

Agent 14 even makes a joke about this mechanic in some GTAO mission - 

Quote

"You know how in video games, someone pulls out a rocket launcher and people go 'Where was he keeping that? That was so unrealistic!' Well I tell them you've clearly not spent much time in the US prison system."

 

Adminsaredicks
1 hour ago, Zapper said:

Just like all the guns for every single GTA character :kekw::kekw::kekw::kekw: .

Agent 14 even makes a joke about this mechanic in some GTAO mission - 

 

Cj having RPG in ass is my headcannon now.

 

 :kekw:

Edited by Ondr4H
  • KEKW 3

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