Does anyone else out there get as annoyed with the phone as I do? It rings at inconvenient times, and inevitably features some one on the other end wanting or needing something. What's your opinion?
Once a broker called back after I'd given instructions. I was in the tub, dashed like an Ethiopian track star (not as quick, but of surer sexual identity) to the phone only to have my request ignored and told what I should be doing. My mood was less than congenial.
When working 25 years ago, I'd answer the phone and customers would be calling in. My head has collided with an auger and an air conditioner (children be careful running to the phone when something starting with an "a" is in the vicinity) while going 10 miles an hour. I've turned an ankle twice.
One phenomenon that I've noticed in recent years is that most of these same people who are insistent that you answer the phone or return their calls IMMEDIATELY consistently adopt a very lax attitude toward returning your emails. It doesn't occur to them that this is an alternative form of communication - one you may prefer.
Just because they prefer to use the phone and check their emails every other day doesn't mean that I do. In fact, they would never equate ignoring emails for a day or two with not returning a phone message.
It's obviously nothing more than a matter of people being left behind in the modern IT age.
How about the ones that leave an urgent message to call them immediately, so you do and get voice mail-leave a message that you are returning their message and never hear anything more from them until you get another urgent message days later? These people are jackasses. In fact, most people with a cell phone glued to their ear or a headset surgically implanted are jackasses.
Have you ever tried to talk to some one with one of those headsets on? Even if the clerk of a store is trying to get them to sign or enter a pin or something, these idiots ignore them. It's almost as though you are less important than a phone call!
I'm sure thay would be mighty upset if the tables were turned and they were waiting in a line and the clerk repeatedly made them wait while answering incoming calls.
I hate talking to people that always talk at the same time I am. You finally say,"Go ahead." Then they say nothing. So you say something and they start talking again at the same time. These people must need eye contact to communicate. My wife is really bad at this. But now that I think about it, she talks at the same time I do all the time.
I have found that one of our pet peeves seems to be that occasionally you'll make a dash to the phone, only to find no one on the line, or a computer-generated message. Sometimes they actually ask you to hold.
And why do some people have an aversion to leaving a message? I rarely return a call when no message is left.
AMEN Marty! If it werent for the local monopoly requiring me to have a phone line to have DSL, I would have taken mine out years ago. If I want you bugging me, then I would give you my cell number. I rarely answer my landline and dont even have an answering machine.
I guess I don't mind answering the phone. I probably don't have that much to do. But, I hate those infernal machine generated hang up calls to see if it is an active line and then later get those pre-recorded messages that want you help you reduce your credit card debt or sign you up for an extended warranty on your car. The "Do Not Call List" helps some, but those pesky politicians didn't include themselves in the bill which means they can call you all they want. One fellow asked me if I owned my house and I turned it around asking if he owned his house. He told me that he did until recently, but his wife got the house in the divorce. Always fun to answer a question with a question!
When I call a friend and get an answering machine, I expect to be called back in a reasonable length of time. Sometimes they never return my calls which I consider rude. If they don't want to return calls how about disconnecting the answering machine?
Braxton - I have signed up all 6 of my phones on the "Do Not Call" list. That is the land line and all of my cellular dependent household members. Just guessing, I would say maybe a 20% decrease in unwanted calls. Good but no cigar. I still have telemarketers call my cell phones often. These people know what they can get away with. Also, any business enterprise you have dealt with in the past or in the future is not covered. It is for blind calls only. Like I said, it's a start, but it won't stop.
Thanks for pointing out the shortcomings of the "do not call" list. Almost as annoying as those calls are the people who tell you that all you have to do is state that verbatim to the pest on the other end of the line. That is a very weak and ineffective defense.
Folks who say that apparently aren't hounded as often as I am. Also, many times I've lived to regret donating to a cause only to find out that they respond by calling me several times a year for additional funds. I no longer donate any money over the phone, thanks to them.
13 comments:
Once a broker called back after I'd given instructions. I was in the tub, dashed like an Ethiopian track star (not as quick, but of surer sexual identity) to the phone only to have my request ignored and told what I should be doing. My mood was less than congenial.
When working 25 years ago, I'd answer the phone and customers would be calling in. My head has collided with an auger and an air conditioner (children be careful running to the phone when something starting with an "a" is in the vicinity) while going 10 miles an hour. I've turned an ankle twice.
I no longer answer the phone at all. People can leave a message - that way I can use the phone at a time that is convenient to me.
One phenomenon that I've noticed in recent years is that most of these same people who are insistent that you answer the phone or return their calls IMMEDIATELY consistently adopt a very lax attitude toward returning your emails. It doesn't occur to them that this is an alternative form of communication - one you may prefer.
Just because they prefer to use the phone and check their emails every other day doesn't mean that I do. In fact, they would never equate ignoring emails for a day or two with not returning a phone message.
It's obviously nothing more than a matter of people being left behind in the modern IT age.
How about the ones that leave an urgent message to call them immediately, so you do and get voice mail-leave a message that you are returning their message and never hear anything more from them until you get another urgent message days later? These people are jackasses. In fact, most people with a cell phone glued to their ear or a headset surgically implanted are jackasses.
Jackass,Jackass,Jackass.
Have you ever tried to talk to some one with one of those headsets on? Even if the clerk of a store is trying to get them to sign or enter a pin or something, these idiots ignore them. It's almost as though you are less important than a phone call!
I'm sure thay would be mighty upset if the tables were turned and they were waiting in a line and the clerk repeatedly made them wait while answering incoming calls.
I hate talking to people that always talk at the same time I am. You finally say,"Go ahead." Then they say nothing. So you say something and they start talking again at the same time. These people must need eye contact to communicate. My wife is really bad at this. But now that I think about it, she talks at the same time I do all the time.
I have found that one of our pet peeves seems to be that occasionally you'll make a dash to the phone, only to find no one on the line, or a computer-generated message. Sometimes they actually ask you to hold.
And why do some people have an aversion to leaving a message? I rarely return a call when no message is left.
I would never dash to my phone, because the people that are important to talk to have either my email address or one of my cell #'s.
AMEN Marty! If it werent for the local monopoly requiring me to have a phone line to have DSL, I would have taken mine out years ago. If I want you bugging me, then I would give you my cell number. I rarely answer my landline and dont even have an answering machine.
I guess I don't mind answering the phone. I probably don't have that much to do. But, I hate those infernal machine generated hang up calls to see if it is an active line and then later get those pre-recorded messages that want you help you reduce your credit card debt or sign you up for an extended warranty on your car. The "Do Not Call List" helps some, but those pesky politicians didn't include themselves in the bill which means they can call you all they want. One fellow asked me if I owned my house and I turned it around asking if he owned his house. He told me that he did until recently, but his wife got the house in the divorce. Always fun to answer a question with a question!
When I call a friend and get an answering machine, I expect to be called back in a reasonable length of time. Sometimes they never return my calls which I consider rude. If they don't want to return calls how about disconnecting the answering machine?
Braxton Hicks
Braxton - I have signed up all 6 of my phones on the "Do Not Call" list. That is the land line and all of my cellular dependent household members. Just guessing, I would say maybe a 20% decrease in unwanted calls. Good but no cigar. I still have telemarketers call my cell phones often. These people know what they can get away with. Also, any business enterprise you have dealt with in the past or in the future is not covered. It is for blind calls only. Like I said, it's a start, but it won't stop.
Thanks for pointing out the shortcomings of the "do not call" list. Almost as annoying as those calls are the people who tell you that all you have to do is state that verbatim to the pest on the other end of the line. That is a very weak and ineffective defense.
Folks who say that apparently aren't hounded as often as I am. Also, many times I've lived to regret donating to a cause only to find out that they respond by calling me several times a year for additional funds. I no longer donate any money over the phone, thanks to them.
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