What do you think when someone doesn't answer your call?

[SandraM]

When my mother (72) doesn’t get an answer to her call, she won’t believe the person is out, or else she thinks something terrible has happened them.

Recently she called me at 8 on a Tuesday evening (she knows I’m at the golf club on Tuesday evening, same as she used to be before she moved away) and left a message on the answering machine to call her. So I did, she forgot I wasn’t there on Tuesday evenings. Then she started into why did no-one else answer the phone, there’s caller id, they must have seen my number and decided not to answer it. I told her DH wasn’t in from work and my kids, 17 & 14, were out with their friends, but I'm not sure she believed me.

Then, an old friend of hers who lives near me called me a couple of days ago (she’s about 80) to say that my mother decided to call her last Sunday at lunchtime. She got no reply and assumed there must be something wrong, so she called some other people to get them to check on her friend. As the friend said “I was out with some people. I was out for lunch the next day as well. I have a life!”. I think she was quite annoyed that my mother assumed there was something wrong because she didn’t get an answer to her call. It’s not like this woman doesn’t have lots of friends to look out for her.

Is it me, or is it normal to assume something is wrong if you don’t get an answer, i.e. the people know it’s you and don’t want to speak to you, or else they’ve had some sort of accident.

I am starting to get quite concerned about my mother, she has always had a peculiar way of looking at things (somewhat paranoid I think), but this thing about the phone calls is really bothering me.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

My mom freaks out when I don't call her right back. She acts like a serial killer got me or something. I hate that she is so paranoid, so I always try to call her as soon as possible.

Me personally, I'm laid-back about that kind of stuff. I just figure they'll call when it's convenient.

 

[Maleficent13]

I can tell when someone knows it's me and just doesn't want to talk to me. I can tell by the ring.

Nah, if they don't answer I don't usually sweat it.

 

[JayBee]

My Mom(80) has some peculiar beliefs also.

When her sister "forgot" to stop by after going to the Senior Health Club, she called her and asked if she forgot. Sister said she had "things to do" and didn't have time.(MOm is homebound so this really upset her). What really irked her was that Sis didn't tell her exactly what erands were more important than visiting her sister.....Mom said to me"you know I'm her only living sister" (No , Mom, I never knew that! )

 

[Beth76]

My dad calls me all the time (he's retired, mom's not) and always hangs up before I answer the phone. I have two small children that keep me busy and sometimes I have to search for the cordless phone. He usually only gives me 3 rings. Hello!! I don't sit around waiting for the phone to ring. When I call him back he acts all coy and thinks he "caught" me screening my calls--always!!! No, dad, you just didn't give me enough time to get to the phone. Besides, he knows I have caller ID, I don't need to screen my calls.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I don't like talking on the phone.

We have a rule at our house....we do not answer the phone during dinner. Inevitably people call during that time and get mad that we don't answer.

If I call someone and they don't answer, I just figure they are not near the phone, they're out or they otherwise are occupied with something.

 

[SandraM]

Originally posted by EsmeraldaX
I don't like talking on the phone.

We have a rule at our house....we do not answer the phone during dinner. Inevitably people call during that time and get mad that we don't answer.

If I call someone and they don't answer, I just figure they are not near the phone, they're out or they otherwise are occupied with something.

Esmeralda, it's funny but I had a picture of you as being a real chatty person, so I'm surprised you don't like talking on the phone.
In our house, as it's a business line, DH & I will always answer if we possibly can, and sometimes I forget to look at the caller id and get an unwanted sales call, but I'm getting better at fending those off, lol!
Generally speaking, the only time I will let the answering machine pick up is if the caller is not identified.
If I call someone and they don't answer, well I'll just try later. Pity my mother can't think that way! Everything has to be a drama