Do you love the phone or hate the phone?

[artist]

I have a home phone and a cell phone, but I pretty much get annoyed with both. Often I conveniently "forget" to answer the phone, and usually take my sweet time to check messages. It tends to annoy other people. My best buddy insists I need a bluetooth thing on my head...so that I'll actually answer the stupid thing. That is the LAST thing I want! I also get so sick of hearing everyone ELSE'S phones constantly ringing. Except, nobody's phone ever rings. Instead, they all either beep high pitched piercing awful noises or play annoying songs! That and every five seconds people are snapping photos with their phones. You could be sitting there with a friend and suddenly they snap your photo on a bad hair day so that now EVERY time you call them, THAT is the image they see!

[penybryn]

Hate it.

Husband is addicted to both the home phone and his blackberry.

I rarely get calls because people know that I almost never answer! Thank God for caller ID.

Email though--can't live without it!

[eli1126]

I hate them because for some reason the phone has always felt like a demand to me. I also have friends and family members that will just keep calling until someone picks up. I love e-mail because I can do it at my convenience.

[nicole]

I can't really vote because I have to answer the phone at work and I hate hate hate it, but the phone is also my primary means of communication with my immediate family and DH's immediate family as most of them live out of state.

[AusAshMommy]

I'll take email over a phone convo ANY DAY!!

[melmo]

I hate them because for some reason the phone has always felt like a demand to me. I also have friends and family members that will just keep calling until someone picks up. I love e-mail because I can do it at my convenience.

Hate it.

Email though--can't live without it!


I thought I was the only one who felt this way! None of my friends understand when I don't pick up the phone if I am busy.

[PinkMartini]

Eh - it's a phone... Don't love it or hate it.

I do check caller ID on both the home phone & my cell phone before I answer them and if I don't recognize the number - I let it go to voicemail. I hate answering wrong numbers :rolleyes:

[Standrea]

I live on the phone...looks like I'm the only one!!
I'm the annoying person with call waiting, that ignores it when in the middle of a good story. Two of my greatest friends live far away (Hours and hours), so I have to rely on the phone to keep in contact with them personally.

[bluberry]

Another phone hater...if I could communicate entirely over email, I would.

[kdotp]

I really only enjoy talking to my family or my good friend. Otherwise, I could do without the phone and always screen before I answer.

I *hate* calling people I don't know well, even if it's something simple like making a Dr. appointment. I usually have to rehearse what I want to say two or three times in my head before I even pick up the phone to dial.

[Aimee]

I really only enjoy talking to my family or my good friend. Otherwise, I could do without the phone and always screen before I answer.

I *hate* calling people I don't know well, even if it's something simple like making a Dr. appointment. I usually have to rehearse what I want to say two or three times in my head before I even pick up the phone to dial.

What she said :)

I srsly hate talking on the phone so much, that I ask my poor secretary to call clients when it's something simple like a follow-up.

I agree with the others who wish they could communicate only via email. When I have clients that are email literate, it's so much easier for me.

[TX Sweetheart]

I've always hated talking on the phone... when I was a kid, I had near-panic attacks whenever I called my friends because I was terrified of talking to their parents... but had no problem talking to their parents in person :rolleyes:

Now the only time I ever answer the phone is for my mom, DH or, when I'm in a really brave mood, my in-laws (I adore them, it's just the whole talking on the phone thing LOL)... thankfully my mom lives 1500 miles away so we usually communicate by e-mail... so really the only person I talk to with any frequency on the phone is my DH when he's at work.

[Niobe]

I hate talking on phones. I live halfway across the country from all my friends and family and I never call anyone. I email, text message, and IM pretty much all conversations.

[Jessie]

I really only enjoy talking to my family or my good friend. Otherwise, I could do without the phone and always screen before I answer.

I *hate* calling people I don't know well, even if it's something simple like making a Dr. appointment. I usually have to rehearse what I want to say two or three times in my head before I even pick up the phone to dial.


Same here. I hate, hate, hate making calls to make appts. etc. Especially when it is a place I haven't called before. I try to avoid it as much as I can. What's weird is that I have no problem making those kinds of calls as part of a job, but when it's not for work I hate it.

The only people that even have my cell number are my DH, my Dad, and people who will have my kids (school, babysitter, etc.). Everyone else only has our home number.

[mmm0708]

I don't really enjoy talking on the phone. I prefer email.

You can call me, and get to the point, but I won't sit and chat. Very few people will I sit and just chat with... Also, with two kids, trying to have an uninterrupted phone conversation is more stressful than relaxing.

I especially hate when people leave a message... call me. Why not just tell me ON THE MESSAGE why you're calling. GRRR! KWIM?

[Wrighty26]

I hate the phone. I much prefer talking face-to-face or email. On the phone I always feel like there are uncomfortable pauses I need to fill -- and then I'll just ramble on about useless/pointless stuff.

[AHammer]

Often I conveniently "forget" to answer the phone, and usually take my sweet time to check messages. It tends to annoy other people.

That's me exactly. I check messages when I suspect there may be an important one. If I assume it's just people saying hi, I'll "not notice" them.

I really really really hate the phone. I get bored so quickly no matter who I'm talking to and whenever I leave messages I sound like a spaz.

[artist]

With the exception of a few people...it seems when people call, they tend to either want my time, my money, or both. Maybe that's why I'm not so fond of it! I completely agree with those of you who love e-mail.

Actually, it doesn't surprise me very much that MANY of us here feel the same way on this issue. Afterall, we are all addicted to writing things to each other on a message board!

I do enjoy talking to people in person. If I were sitting with one of you over a cup of coffee, I'd have a great time doing so. But not so much if the only way to talk to you was over the phone.

Once in a blue moon, with certain people, I DO enjoy a good phone conversation.

[tlew12778]

I love email bc I love having everything in writing (for work anyway). The main problem is that in my line of work, chit chatting is pretty critical and my boss is constantly on me to use the phone more.

For family, I don't have the time to sit and talk for an hour or more. DH and I text each other a lot. When we talk, it's for less than a 2 minutes usually. It's not so much that I hate the phone though. I just can't multitask as well when I am talking on the phone.

[kalogrias]

Like most people, I have very very little spare time, and I tend to find the phone an imposition on those precious minutes. There are people I do enjoy talking to -- people that aren't near me (like my best friend or my mom), but for people that I know I will see soon -- pffft. They can text me or set up a time for coffee if they really want to talk about something important.

I am, however, completely and utterly addicted to email :D

[Asha]

i hate using my cell phone, but i don't mind the home phone. since i am home alone a lot lately, its a way i can easily socialize with friends and family especially since i have unlimited local and long distance calling. i really only use email for short messages for plans and arrangements and exchanging photos with people. its not a way i maintain a relationship with others for the most part.

[Neen]

I don't like the my home phone. The only people who call my cell are the people who have my number. I'm a receptionist, so my job is to answer the phone all day, so that's why I don't answer the phone at home.

[EJH]

Hate the phone. Would gladly be rid of them entirely.

[kari]

Both my jobs include lots of phone usage. I have to make sales calls all day at job #1. I have to make cold calls and calls to potential recruits at job #2. So I get enough phone (and computer) 11 hours a day. DH does not understand why I don't want to answer the phone at home. I am on my cell for personal calls a few times a day.

[Happy1]

I love them for the fact that it's the best way for me to get a hold of most of the people I need to. It annoys me to no end that my brother rarely checks his messages and if he does he rarely gets back to me. There are times when it really is an emergency (and I tell him so) and yet he never gets back to me. Argh! What if mom and dad were dying and I needed to tell him that?!

For the record I'm a secretary so I'm on the phone pretty much all day but I still find them great!

Nikki :D

[chefker]

Hate them! I'm on the phone a lot at work, so the last thing I want to do when I get home, is yak on the phone. On rare occasions, I do enjoy a good phone conversation with my BFF, but email is just so much better.

[jbenny75]

I don't mind phone calls that have a point. Just blabbing on the phone is such a waste of my time, I just hate it. I avoid calling people back just to chat. I get so little time to myself that I hate spending it on a pointless phone call and I refuse to waste time with my DS being on the phone.

I had a friend (who I don't really talk to anymore because I put a stop to the endless phone calls), who would call me constantly and want to spend hours on the phone. She once called me three times in one day and kept me on the phone over an hour. I just don't have that kind of spare time. I know that she also has quite a few other friends that she talks to on the phone. I have no idea how she has any time for her children. She was one of those people who would just keep talking and talking when I told her that I needed to get off of the phone. My experience with her contributed greatly to my hatred of phone calls. I realized what a waste of time it was when DH would ask me what we talked about and I couldn't even tell him!

[eli1126]

I especially hate when people leave a message... call me. Why not just tell me ON THE MESSAGE why you're calling. GRRR! KWIM?

My friend does this all the time. Drives me crazy.

[Lauren23]

I have ALWAYS hated talking on the phone. I don't even like talking to my friends on the phone. I hardly ever call anyone, I just don't like to. Especially on a cell phone. I feel like the connection is always bad and I'm forever asking people to repeat themselves, which I hate to do.

Of course, all I do at my job is talk on the phone...I really love it. :rolleyes:

[ysolde]

Hate It!!!!

[Ribbit]

I really only enjoy talking to my family or my good friend. Otherwise, I could do without the phone and always screen before I answer.

I *hate* calling people I don't know well, even if it's something simple like making a Dr. appointment. I usually have to rehearse what I want to say two or three times in my head before I even pick up the phone to dial.

This is EXACTLY me...I love talking to the people I want to talk to, especially those that live out of state. I will qualify this by saying I'd much rather talk in person, as much of my expressiveness is lost over the phone. I also hate calling people I don't know and rehearse in my head what I want to say. I also hate leaving voice mail, and rehearse that if I think it will be likely.

[Tracie]

I really only enjoy talking to my family or my good friend. Otherwise, I could do without the phone and always screen before I answer.

I *hate* calling people I don't know well, even if it's something simple like making a Dr. appointment. I usually have to rehearse what I want to say two or three times in my head before I even pick up the phone to dial.

Yeah, me too! And I hate answering the phone at work. Or (I work at a doctor's office) if I have to call patients. Uck. I much prefer to use e-mail whenever possible.

[KrissyCat7]

Some days I love it, other days I hate it.

[BeakersTrio]

Hate it!

[Liz]

I really like talking on the phone. I talk on the phone for several hours a day usually.

[salysaturn]

DH wants me to get headset for the phone. I get off late from work (right artist:)), and he likes me to call as soon as I leave til I pull into the driveway. I have speaker phone, and I swear I don't need anything else. Prime example, he left work early, called me on the way to school...like an hour and a half from his work, and wants to talk the whole time. WHY!? Oh yeah, I hate phones. I hardly ever answer unless I am expecting a call.

[udsweetpea]

I can't stand it when people will respond by phone when I've written them an email (this pertains to people I work with at other companies). I can understand when you fully want to explain something, but don't call me if its something you can write in an email.

I could talk to BF all day long on the phone, but I rarely call anyone else.

[Irish Elf]

It's not the phone's fault I hate it; it's the stupid people who don't know how to use it.

I have a friend who will call the house phone, then my cell phone, then the house phone again. But she won't leave a message. Hello, leave a message if you want to talk. If I am home and want to talk I'll pick up. If I am home and don't pick up, repeat calling won't entice me to answer.

Another example - DH and I got home from running errands. We had been gone maybe 2.5 hours. We had 8 phone calls from the same person, spaced about 5 minutes apart. We of course panicked and called then back. Nothing serious, they just wanted an update on the inlaws and "don't like using answering machines." So they would keep calling rather than leave a simple message.

The problem is I don't answer the phone if I am BFing DD or changing her or putting her down for a nap. Repeat calling disturbs her and me. That's a sure fire way for me not to answer or to pick up and rudely ask "WHAT?"

However if it's my mom or DH then I answer b/c something must be up for then to keep calling.

[imagirliegirl]

I hate the phone. My mom uses it to call me ALL the time. :rolleyes:

[lauren f s]

I'm iffy with the phone.

I only talk to my sisters, my mom, and one very good friend who lives in another state. Everyone else I'd rather talk in person, email, text, whatever.

[BumbleB]

I HATE the phone too. ALWAYS have. :mad:

My cell phone is out of battery and not in use more often than not, I just conveniently don't re-charge it.

I hate making appointments by phone - I get major anxiety even though I know that is stupid.

[basketcase]

I HATE the phone, and this hatred has only been exacerbated since having kids (who *always* manage to scream, poop, or injure themselves as soon as I pick up the phone).

The only time I have to talk on the phone without chronic kid interruptions is 5am before they wake up, or 10pm after everyone is finally asleep for the night. And most of my friends aren't available to talk at those times, but then they get irritated when I don't call them back. :mad:

Email is the love of my life. If you want a quick response from me, just email!

I only wish my inlaws would get on board and become computer literate. My MIL is constantly hounding me for lengthy hour-long phone updates about the kids, or pictures, etc. If she would just learn how to use the internet, I could email updates and pics almost daily. As it stands now, I have to spend my precious free time talking to her on the phone or handwriting letters and printing out hard copies of pictures to mail her. How old school! ;)

[penybryn]

I srsly hate talking on the phone so much, that I ask my poor secretary to call clients when it's something simple like a follow-up.

Unfortunately, I am the poor secretary. Boss makes me do it all the time!