Telephone Conversations

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My mom is always asking me to make small talk on the phone before getting to the point. I refuse to ask questions I already know the answer to when I am for example asking to barrow a rake. Its a muckle nuisance . How many others hate the same thing?

I also hate leaving messages.

I really dislike having a phone conversation with an empty informational content too. The worse is people calling often to give or take news even if there is nothing new. I try to put up with it up to a point because they are mostly genuinely friendly people who want to show they value our relationship (I don't have any serious time wasters or attention whore in my directory) but I sometimes downright ignore calls from people I know are likely to do it, and I only call back immediately if they insist or leave a message. Otherwise I at least wait for a moment when I am more in the mood for that.

I don't like leaving messages very much and never do it except when needed for work (I use SMS, IM and e-mail instead as much as possible). But I hate much more listening to messages, in fact if I know who left it I call back immediately, and if I got the caller I delete the message without listening to it. I just have to tell I didn't listen to the message and called back immediately but it is usually not seen as rude (since all in all the person called you and well, you called her back).

My father especially has an habit of leaving very long messages where he is basically trying to have the complete discussion we didn't have, it can least several minutes and the relevant bits of information are spread everywhere. Several times I have tried to listen to his messages only to give up and call him back.

I don't call others unless I have something I need to call about. I don't see the point in calling just to call. I don't answer the phone unless I have a reason to pick up. I rarely leave messages because it's so, so awkward.

When placing a call I say "Hi, this is (name), how are you?" Then I get to the point after they respond with the obligatory "fine or well"

When receiving a call, because I know who is calling and do not accept numbers I am unfamiliar with I say "Hey (name of caller), what do you need?"

It should be noted that I avoid phone calls except my nightly call with my SO.

It's considered impolite to call someone just to ask them something and then hang up without even talking to them. My husband told me that when I did it to my aunt.

I hate leaving messages. I do it if I have to and I hope they call back. I also hate talking on the phone only because I can't do anything else then. I used to just have a time for talking on the phone to my ex boyfriend (back when we were together) and talking to my parents when I first moved.

I buy my own rake and don't answer my telephone if people ring and I don't want to make chitty chat.

If I do answer the phone I answer with

Me "Hello"
Them "Oh hello, you answer your phone once in a while then, you are impossible to get hold of"
Me "Yes when there is blue moon and hell has frozen over, I answer my phone indeed...How are you?"
Them "I am ok, how are you"
Me (wondering if I should have just carried on knitting and unplugged the phone instead) "I am fine thank you.....

silence

...........

silence

..........

Sile......


waits for them to speak or end the call lol

Occasionally I ask them a personal question if I know them well Ie so how did the party at the pub go that you went to last night then...

And then just leave them to answer whilst I zone in and out listening to all the social stories. I usually just ponder my knitting project list whilst they are rattling on. I am learning crochet, and making a throw.

I've grown to like phone conversations with certain people, but every time there's a point where I pause trying to figure out how to extend the conversation. Sometimes I go on to something else and others I just end it because it would get awkward for me.