Phone Conversations

Post Reply New Topic

Speaker phone is the best invention in the history of the human race. It is the only way I can talk on the phone.
If I am in public I will reject any phone calls and text the person instead.

I do not like talking on the phone at all.

If I must, I make business calls (setting up appointments, etc.) But if I can hand those over to my husband, I do!

If I talk socially on the phone, it is to family members. Only people I know intimately are ones I talk to on the phone. If you are not in that category, I email or IM.

Phone is tough for me, too.
Have a friend with whom we have an arrangement to talk once a week at specific time on same day of the week, every week-that predictable routine helps a lot.
I also take notes so I can see what we talked about in previous weeks, it helps me to focus & stay in the mindset of paying attention to this person (it's nothing against her, it's how I try to support my brain & keep my mind from wandering away).

At least she & I have understandings (since we've been friends for many years now) where I can say (if it's a topic about which I've no opinion) "I don't have anything for that", and if we've run out of things to say, one of us can say that & wrap up the call.

I've also learned over time to respond with murmurs, "mm-hmmms", and "oh, that's too bad" when someone else is talking, to make them feel as if I'm listening-
when my actually saying something longer would not be helpful, because the person wants to feel heard rather than have me blather on about myself or saying what I would do in their situation.

I hate the feeling I'm interrupting someone by calling out of the blue, so that's another reason I like email better (mostly).

Especially with online dating, it bugs me when someone wants my phone # because it's like walking a tightrope, without a net, having to come up with material to discuss in real time, instead of having plenty of time to consider, rearrange, and edit my words.
I feel I do better in person, face-to-face, compared with being on phone, because at least we're sharing an environment and can chat about the place we are (meeting) at.
I refuse to do instant messaging, because it has the downsides of typing (my words in print/on the screen) paired with the downsides of rapid speech (having to generate a response very quickly).

The ring of the phone (on my end) startles the heck out of me, so I often will leave the ringer off because I can't stand how much it jangles my nerves (makes my heart race).

Placing a call to an unknown person (such as a doctor's office) is something I put off a lot, because it's so scary for me, I feel so bizarre & don't want to have awkwardness (which will make me feel bad about myself & cause me to ruminate on my mistakes).
Having a script ahead of time that I've come up with on my own can be handy, but isn't usually enough to smooth things, plus it's a lot of work & I can't always be bothered to write it all out.

I'm very apprehensive talking on the phone, even to relatives. E-mail and text messages are much better.

I'm very apprehensive talking on the phone, even to relatives. E-mail and text messages are much better.

I only use my cellphone for WhatsApp, Facebook, calendar and e-mail. My phone rings about ten times a year, and usually it's my girlfriend or sometimes a telemarketer. I usually don't answer, if I don't recognize the number. I also usually keep my phone on silent mode.

I've always been scared of making phone calls. During rehabilitative work activity and work try-outs I've been forced to receive and make phone calls, and nowadays I'm able to do it, if I have to. But it still takes a lot of courage and I need to prepare well. Even if I'm just booking a doctor's appointment or something like that I usually write down the most important things that I have to remember during the phone call. I have to plan, what I'll say, if I'm asked certain questions.

I have hard time knowing, when it's my turn to speak, I'm always scared that I'll not understand or make myself understood, and I usually don't know when and how to end the phone call. That's why the phone calls I make usually have embarrassing quiet moments. It's also difficult for me, if the phone call takes an unexpected turn, for example if I my call has to be directed to someone else and I have to explain everything all over again.

So, I prefer not to use telephone, if there is any other way to get things communicated: e-mail, WhatsApp, text messages or even face to face.