Is the world terrified of phone calls?

[Luziyca]

I will admit that I have phone anxiety. Takes me a while to get the courage to actually call someone for whatever reason, and well, if I don't recognize the number, I will not answer. Given I have no voice machine, that means any calls I get from unknown numbers just disappear into the ether, never to be seen again.

[Thermodolia]

I will admit that I have phone anxiety. Takes me a while to get the courage to actually call someone for whatever reason, and well, if I don't recognize the number, I will not answer. Given I have no voice machine, that means any calls I get from unknown numbers just disappear into the ether, never to be seen again.

Im definitely the minority in this thread as I’ll answer pretty much any number that calls.

I don’t know what that says about me

[CoraSpia]

I will admit that I have phone anxiety. Takes me a while to get the courage to actually call someone for whatever reason, and well, if I don't recognize the number, I will not answer. Given I have no voice machine, that means any calls I get from unknown numbers just disappear into the ether, never to be seen again.

Im definitely the minority in this thread as I’ll answer pretty much any number that calls.

I don’t know what that says about me

That you're on every telemarketers list now

[Hammer Britannia]

Jesus, is it really that bad? 81 percent?

Now I feel great about my social skills. I can pick up the phone no matter who it is.

[Thermodolia]

Im definitely the minority in this thread as I’ll answer pretty much any number that calls.

I don’t know what that says about me

That you're on every telemarketers list now

Just because I answer doesn’t mean I listen for long

[Kasa Tkoth Sphere]

As someone with anxiety, I'm actually really surprised people are citing it as the reason they avoid phone calls. To me, phone calls are pretty easy, because I only need to know enough to phrase the first few sentences correctly, and from then on the other person can help walk me through things. There's a high tolerance for error, because everyone knows people make mistakes in a conversation, and I really appreciate that.

In an email, on the other hand, I have to get everything perfectly right the first time, down to exact word choice and phrasing. I have to come across with exactly the correct level of formality, and split my paragraphs at the right place to avoid coming across as tacky or, at the other extreme, creating walls of text. (This post, for example, has an unacceptable degree of syntactical sloppiness that I would pore over correcting for a good half-hour or so when writing an email.)

[Victorious Decepticons]

I'm not too bad with getting calls (of course, I only answer if I know the number or at least expect a call), but I'm terrified of making them. I've actually been putting off setting up a much-needed dentist appointment for over a week because of this. Years ago, I lived where I had a dentist two blocks away, and I never called them. I would just walk in if I unexpectedly needed an appointment. Same went for the next dentist, which was two miles away, and still an easy drive. But now, everything's 15-20 miles away (sometimes more), making that a bit impractical.

I still might drive to the new one to set up my first appointment instead. Fuck calls.

ETA: Gen X

[Page]

As someone with anxiety, I'm actually really surprised people are citing it as the reason they avoid phone calls. To me, phone calls are pretty easy, because I only need to know enough to phrase the first few sentences correctly, and from then on the other person can help walk me through things. There's a high tolerance for error, because everyone knows people make mistakes in a conversation, and I really appreciate that.

In an email, on the other hand, I have to get everything perfectly right the first time, down to exact word choice and phrasing. I have to come across with exactly the correct level of formality, and split my paragraphs at the right place to avoid coming across as tacky or, at the other extreme, creating walls of text. (This post, for example, has an unacceptable degree of syntactical sloppiness that I would pore over correcting for a good half-hour or so when writing an email.)

But people are only going to judge you a tiny little bit if you use the wrong there/their/they're in an email. They're going to judge you a lot if your phone conversation is full of "like" and "um" and timidly spoken sentences.

[Esternial]

I typically answer phone calls, but if I miss them I don't bother calling back. When I need to contact someone I typically prefer not to have a phone call - mostly because it feels like a drag and I am more structured in passing on information through writing.

At work phone calls are incredibly disruptive, so I prefer colleagues don't call me if it's not urgent to avoid having to make costly context switches. Furthermore, email and chat leave a log that I can consult later if I need to revisit important information.

[Ethel mermania]

I typically answer phone calls, but if I miss them I don't bother calling back. When I need to contact someone I typically prefer not to have a phone call - mostly because it feels like a drag and I am more structured in passing on information through writing.

At work phone calls are incredibly disruptive, so I prefer colleagues don't call me if it's not urgent to avoid having to make costly context switches. Furthermore, email and chat leave a log that I can consult later if I need to revisit important information.

Your right about what you say the issue is text or email is a lot more time consuming than a phone call.

If I am issuing direction to someone, even if I do it via voice I will always follow up with an email that states the direction I am giving.

But for a preliminary or general conversation about a subject voice is both quicker and more fluid.

[The Blaatschapen]

https://youtu.be/Sd8uJswc2Tc?t=14s

Generation Z problems

So, I have no problem with phone calls, but they lack proper archiving and search functions.

At least, for the end user, the CIA probably has something in place, but we don't have access

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

As someone with anxiety, I'm actually really surprised people are citing it as the reason they avoid phone calls. To me, phone calls are pretty easy, because I only need to know enough to phrase the first few sentences correctly, and from then on the other person can help walk me through things. There's a high tolerance for error, because everyone knows people make mistakes in a conversation, and I really appreciate that.

In an email, on the other hand, I have to get everything perfectly right the first time, down to exact word choice and phrasing. I have to come across with exactly the correct level of formality, and split my paragraphs at the right place to avoid coming across as tacky or, at the other extreme, creating walls of text. (This post, for example, has an unacceptable degree of syntactical sloppiness that I would pore over correcting for a good half-hour or so when writing an email.)

Anxiety has different manifestations, as varied as those who have anxiety conditions. Yours just doesn’t manifest in having phone anxiety.

[Jerzylvania]

Im definitely the minority in this thread as I’ll answer pretty much any number that calls.

I don’t know what that says about me

That you're on every telemarketers list now

Unless he answers in another language. That drives them nuts. I love doing that.

[The Reformed American Republic]

Well I’m definitely in the minority. I prefer phone calls as I can’t type fast enough nor can I spell. So talking is easier for me

No, we get it. You're a marine.

[Thermodolia]

As someone with anxiety, I'm actually really surprised people are citing it as the reason they avoid phone calls. To me, phone calls are pretty easy, because I only need to know enough to phrase the first few sentences correctly, and from then on the other person can help walk me through things. There's a high tolerance for error, because everyone knows people make mistakes in a conversation, and I really appreciate that.

In an email, on the other hand, I have to get everything perfectly right the first time, down to exact word choice and phrasing. I have to come across with exactly the correct level of formality, and split my paragraphs at the right place to avoid coming across as tacky or, at the other extreme, creating walls of text. (This post, for example, has an unacceptable degree of syntactical sloppiness that I would pore over correcting for a good half-hour or so when writing an email.)

Anxiety has different manifestations, as varied as those who have anxiety conditions. Yours just doesn’t manifest in having phone anxiety.

Yup. My anxiety tends to flare up in high stress situations like car wrecks or gunshots (or anything that sounds close to them) or occasionally stores and a night for some weird reasons

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Anxiety has different manifestations, as varied as those who have anxiety conditions. Yours just doesn’t manifest in having phone anxiety.

Yup. My anxiety tends to flare up in high stress situations like car wrecks or gunshots (or anything that sounds close to them) or occasionally stores and a night for some weird reasons

No shade on this person, but I do wish some people (particularly those who do not have an anxiety condition) understood that anxiety manifests in different ways because we’re all different.

Trying to call a doctor’s office, for example, can be excruciatingly difficult to some anxiety sufferers. Causing sweating, palpitations, fear, trembling… you make it.

Personally, I have to write down and rehearse what I’ll say before calling, say, my bank or a restaurant, or anyplace really. I prefer texting, all the way. It sucks, but that’s my account on why I’m incredibly scared of phone calls.

[Jerzylvania]

Help for phone addicts

[Jinggangshan]

That's what number displays and an answering machine are for: I set mine to 4 rings, and if it's an unknown number I let them tell who they are before deciding about picking up. "Oh, so sorry, I was occupied and didn't make it before the answering maching started, now... Mr. Dude, how can I help you?" Anyone worth my time is either known by number or calls my work phone anyway.

Mobile I have a little modded app that allows me to be unreachable to numbers I can safe as profiles: when I'm in my free time certain people will have to make do with "the number you have called is currently..."

[Katganistan]

Zoomer here.

If I don't know the number, I don't answer. Leave a message and I'll call you back if I care enough. Otherwise, I prefer texting. It's more convenient. Also I hate small talk with a passion.

I prefer phone, but only if I know you. Political bullshit calls, notification that the warranty on my 15yr old car is about to expire, robocalls of any kind can go die in a fire.

If I know your number I pick up or call back immediately.
If it's a doctor's office or someone I do business with, I call back.

All others: My home is my sanctuary from the outside world. Don't intrude.

I text, but usually for brief messages 1) someplace where making a call would be inappropriate 2) if I know the other person is very busy and I just need a quick answer or to give them a quick heads up 3)if I know they are sick - a quick check in and offer to pick up whatever, or to remind them to call/text if they need help with anything.

[Ethel mermania]

I treat the cell phone as my convenience not others. I pick up a call when I want too

Same at home.

[Jerzylvania]

I treat the cell phone as my convenience not others. I pick up a call when I want too

Same at home.

Damn straight, Ace.

The owner of the phone pays for the device and service provider. Incoming calls are screened as he sees fit.

It's good to be King ...or Queen. Spam callers are Jokers that don't know Jack. They get deleted.

[Esternial]

I typically answer my phone when I get a call, but I do never call back if I get a missed call. If it's important they'll either call me back, leave a voicemail or use an alternative method of communication.

At work I'm not too big a fan of calling my colleagues. If I had to pick between calling them on the phone and talking to them in-person, I would prefer the latter. Phone calls just have something more aggressive to it. If you go up to someone's desk and you see they're busy, you can wait. You call someone out of the blue, they're immediately pulled off-focus by that annoying jingle/noise of <insert corporate chat/phone client>. If you want to talk about things via the phone, ping them first to see if they're actually available for a call and not in the middle of e.g. a live deployment or detailed code review. It's usually good to keep people on your good side so they can grease the gears in the future when you really need it.

[Countesia]

I don't like phone calls but i will answer it if I know the number. I don't answer unknown numbers as a rule. Too many shady mfs around.

[Genivaria]

I just received a phone call 20 minutes ago, it was a scam call masquerading as Medicaid.

[Jinggangshan]

I just received a phone call 20 minutes ago, it was a scam call masquerading as Medicaid.

LOL @ nations that haven't outlawed cold calling.