Do You Have Telephone "Issues"?

[Caropooh]

So did you know I called Caro today?

(OK, I really need to learn how to use the multi-quote thingy!)

What do you think??

 

[pajamommy]

I have issues too! I love caller ID for this reason! I don't like to talk on the phone, because I don't like long conversations on the phone, I rather just e-mail. My best friend and I never talk on the phone, we just e-mail each other back and forth, until we actually see each other in person! The only person I like talking on the phone with is my boyfriend, as we don't see each other everyday, but even then, I can do without it and just do text messages!

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Nope, no issues. One of my jobs even included working the switchboard.

I worked my way through college as a switchboard operator, but nonetheless, I DO have phone issues. Before caller ID, I RARELY answered the phone. I almost always let the answering machine pick up, and advised friends/family that I screened all my calls. I hardly ever answered when friends/family called either--I would just call them back.

It's hard to figure out, but I think it's a throwback to my excruciatingly shy childhood, when I could hardly talk to people I knew, much less strangers! I am perfectly fine answering phones at work and calling complete strangers (I've had several jobs involving case management and telephone triage in which I spent hours on the phone daily).

I have a cell phone but mostly it's for emergencies or so my DH can reach me. I don't like the expectation that the rest of my life should come to a screetching halt because the phone rings--that has always bothered me. To me, it's like somebody knocking on my door--if I don't want to see someone, and haven't scheduled it, why would I answer the door?

Part of it, too, is that I just don't like idle chitchat very much--it's OK if I am doing something else (like making smalltalk while I go out to eat with someone), but I feel like I am always getting stuck doing the "mmm-hmm, uh-huh" with somebody who is a compulsive talker. I intensely dislike conversations in which the caller is doing 90% of the talking and isn't particularly interested in what I have to say.

I also don't like calling strangers to (for instance) order pizza or find out if a store carries a particular item. DH makes most of these kinds of calls.

So yes, I definitely have phone issues! I much prefer talking in person or email.

 

[lucas]

No phone issues. But ya gotta love the caller id.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Caro, you sounded so, so, so, normal! Same thing I said about teva when I talked to her the day before. And the ONLY reason I got up my nerve to call you was because you knew I was going to call you and you basically dared me.

BTW, the multi-quotes are very easy now--just push the button next to the quote button and it will turn red...do that on as many posts as you want. When you are done, push the quote button in the final post or the "post reply" button and you can then reply to each quote.

 

[Diane]

I’ve always hated answering the phone at work! (No problems at home, but I do rely on call ID.) Years ago I worked in an office and most of the calls were personal calls for OTHER people, yet I was the one responsible for answering the phone! It made me so mad! I couldn’t leave the office whenever I wanted because I had to answer their PERSONAL calls, but they could come and go as they pleased! Needless to say, I didn’t stay in that job for very long, and I won’t even consider some jobs because of phone duties.

Also, weird things always seem to happen when I try to put people on hold or to transfer them to someone else. Maybe it’s because I resent the calls. I can remember having a discussion with my sister once and she had the same trouble. We figured that we must be missing ‘the phone gene’ or something like that.

 

[starrzone]

This has been a big issue with me my whole life. I don't feel 100% comfortable calling ANYONE, unless they're family, good friends, or a computer! Seriously, though, you're not alone. I'm glad I've finally found someone else who feels this way!

starrzone

 

[elizke]

I am really happy to know I am so not the only one who hates to call the pizza place. Why on earth IS that?

They're not the only ones I hate to call of course, but still.

I have a Pottery Barn coupon that is going unused because you can't use it online. I keep telling myself I'll call in an order and use it, but I still haven't.

 

[alanapapa]

Caro & I were discussing this this morning (while driving to church and an hour of enjoyment) and we realized that while she has phone issues, I have flashing issues. I don't check the caller ID to see if it is flashing and so I don't check to see if there are messages. Sometimes it is two or three days before I notice the phone beeping telling me there are messages. Caro, on the other hand will check the caller ID each time she comes back home. The problems occur when one of the DD's check the caller ID and don't tell us they cleared it.

 

[sha_lyn]

I have phone issues too. I don't mind talking to people I know, but I hate talking to people I don't know, making phone calls or answering the phone. I was just thinking about this today and getting anxious about it. I need to make a call to a medical office this week. I think I know the officer manager. I believe she is the mother of one of the boys that DS used to teach Martial Arts to. However I'm not certain if this is the officer she works for or not. I know it is in the same office park and the same type of practice.
I think my issues go back to 2 situations. When I was about 15 I thought I called a friends house and was talking to her step dad. However it turned out to be this creepy guy. I actually didn't realize it during the conversation and he ask for my number to put on the note. I didn't think a thing of it. Well this creep started calling me. I don't remember how I got him to stop. I do know I was afraid to tell my mom for some stupid reason.

The other time was just after DS was born. DH changed jobs. His new boss was either a big idiot, or a big jerk that thought he was funny. Every single time he would call he would say "hi sweetie, is your daddy there". The first time I said something like "my father lives 200 miles away, perhaps you would like to talk to my husband". then the jerk said something like "well honey, since you daddy isn't home, can I talk to your mommy". After the first time I would just either no he isn't home and hang up, or tell him to hold on. There was no use in arguing with him. He was either convinced I was a small child, or he thought he was being funny.
We didn't have a machine at the time, and if caller id existed I didn't know about it, much less have it. After that I rarely answered the phone if DH was home until we got caller ID.

 

[paigevz]

I couldn't call a DISer. I have assigned you all "voices." If the one you spoke with didn't match, I'd be freaked. What if Paige has a deep voice, like Suzanne Pleshette? That would be all wrong!

I don't know who Suzanne Pleshette is, but I do not have a high voice..........

I'm the DIS'r that T&B actually called yesterday! I feel quite important! I will say that her voice is nothing like I expected! It's a cute, tiny little voice. I expected a bit more BOOMING!!!! I will say that we talked for probably about 10 minutes and that is quite the acheivement for both of us! I;m not a phone talker either. I hate making calls, especially if I'm asking for something. Many times I will call when I know someone won't answer, just so I can leave a messege. Phone is only answered if it says who it is in caller ID and I know them. T&B was the exception because she had jsut told me she was going to call me in an IM.

T always has to warn me she's going to call me and I warn her. And we still take a few minutes before we can actually start talking well.

Yeah, I have phone issues. I'd much rather post, email or IM.

 

[Caropooh]

I don't know who Suzanne Pleshette is, but I do not have a high voice..........



T always has to warn me she's going to call me and I warn her. And we still take a few minutes before we can actually start talking well.

Yeah, I have phone issues. I'd much rather post, email or IM.

She was Bob Newharts wife on The Bob Newhart show.(The one where he was the psychiatrist)http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0687189/

I think T and I actually did pretty good talking to each other! We didn't hem and haw or anything like that. We probably talked for about 10 minutes. That was a big phone day for her, because I think she had jsut finished talking to you!

 

[MushyMushy]

Somehow I missed this thread when it first started. You can always count on the DIS to have people with so many issues! I have the same thing! I hate the phone, and I never answer it.

I also have a huge thing about people coming to the house! I'm waiting for a plumber right now, and even though I'm expecting him, I'm really anxious about it. I'm thinking of putting a note on the door to tell him to go straight to the cellar (accessed through the backyard).

I'm a whack.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

sha_lyn, I can understand why those events upset you...sometimes all it takes is a couple things to affect us. Nothing happened to me that I can think of. My biggest issue is calling to make appointments, medical appts being the worst since I also hate going to the dr--that's a double whammy.

I don't know who Suzanne Pleshette is, but I do not have a high voice..........



T always has to warn me she's going to call me and I warn her. And we still take a few minutes before we can actually start talking well.

Yeah, I have phone issues. I'd much rather post, email or IM.

P is from Oklahoma...

Paige, not true...I did call you last night without you knowing and irritated the boogers out of you...something about your phone being in the bathroom.

I think T and I actually did pretty good talking to each other! We didn't hem and haw or anything like that. We probably talked for about 10 minutes. That was a big phone day for her, because I think she had jsut finished talking to you!

I think that we did a good job, too. Of course we had a topic to talk about--what you meant by using a toothbrush to rinse your mouth in your DIS thread, so that did help. Funny about Andrew not checking phone for messages--my DH does the same thing.

Somehow I missed this thread when it first started. You can always count on the DIS to have people with so many issues! I have the same thing! I hate the phone, and I never answer it.

I also have a huge thing about people coming to the house! I'm waiting for a plumber right now, and even though I'm expecting him, I'm really anxious about it. I'm thinking of putting a note on the door to tell him to go straight to the cellar (accessed through the backyard).

I'm a whack.

I also have problems with people coming to the home...I think I've started a thread about it before. Maybe when we were having the laminate put down in the kitchen. I really stress out when there is any home repair or appliance delivery. When we had our dishwasher delivered awhile back it was going to be a very tight squeeze installing it. I had my DH deal with it and I took my computer and went upstairs while they were here. I'm always sure that something will happen. And really when I'm out and about I can deal with life, but there's something about having someone in my house. You should see me when we've moved before and someone handles all my belongings.

 

[paigevz]

It was in my BEDroom............BED, not bath..........

And THAT was because I had just TOLD you in IM NOT to call me since I'd left it in the bedroom, and then you did..........twice, just to make me have to go get it. And we never even talked. You are so bad. That's why I love you.

I am FROM Texas, and I live in Texas.............I had a period of imprisonment in Oklahoma.

 

[princesspiglet]

It is so nice to see I am not the only one with this problem. I LOATHE, DESPISE, HATE talking on the phone. I hate small talk, can't do it. The only person i can remotely stand talking to on the phone is my mother, and I usually let my DD4 do most of the talking. I have a cousin/friend who constantly calls me just to chit chat- I never asnwer her calls. It's not that i don't liker her, I really do, I just don't want to talk on the phone. Talkers can't understand our mentality, so it's hard for her to comprehend and she takes it personally.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

princesspiglet, I just spent over an hour chatting with my sister on the phone so I guess I don't have a problem talking with some people. That signature picture of your DD is adorable!

It was in my BEDroom............BED, not bath..........

And THAT was because I had just TOLD you in IM NOT to call me since I'd left it in the bedroom, and then you did..........twice, just to make me have to go get it. And we never even talked. You are so bad. That's why I love you.

I am FROM Texas, and I live in Texas.............I had a period of imprisonment in Oklahoma.

Do you keep logs of your MSN conversations? I could swear that you said bathroom, which is what I thought was so funny. And you just said that nobody should call you, not me in particular...and you know me well enough that if you tell me not to do something I'll do it. It was fun to see you wonder who was calling. BUT I didn't call after your family was home, did I? I know my limits.

I just knew that you used to live in OK...all the same thing...northern TX or OK...

 

[paigevz]

Do you keep logs of your MSN conversations? I could swear that you said bathroom, which is what I thought was so funny. And you just said that nobody should call you, not me in particular...and you know me well enough that if you tell me not to do something I'll do it. It was fun to see you wonder who was calling. BUT I didn't call after your family was home, did I? I know my limits.

I just knew that you used to live in OK...all the same thing...northern TX or OK...

Yes I do keep logs of each and every conversation........never know when they might be useful.

ALL THE SAME THING??? Them's fightin' words round cheer.

 

[sPaRkLeSpAz]

Well, sometimes I guess I do. I hate talking on the phone for a super long time, and I usually don't call people, I let them call me.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Yes I do keep logs of each and every conversation........never know when they might be useful.

ALL THE SAME THING??? Them's fightin' words round cheer.

Yeah, you keep proof of the conversations...

Which round cheer? RahRah?

Well, sometimes I guess I do. I hate talking on the phone for a super long time, and I usually don't call people, I let them call me.

I'm putting off calling for test results... The dr will call me if there's a problem, right?