Poll of the Day > Are you averse to answering your phone?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I feel like Ive succumbed to the whole please text instead of calling if you dont need to and I almost have a conditioned response to my phone ringing.

Back in the days of landlines I wasnt like this.
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Yes.
But there's a lot of scammers calling. I don't even get calls often and 99% of them are scam calls.
Spouse gets a ton too.

I am adverse to answering my phone, but it has nothing to do with texting and everything to do with robocalls and scammers.

I'll pick up if it's someone I recognize and feel like talking to, otherwise my attitude is "If it's important they'll leave a voicemail and I'll get back to them."

I actually dislike texting and avoid doing it.
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If I get called from an unknown number I answer it like a sex hot line. It will almost always get you on their no call list.
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My phone has a smart call screening feature that's handy

If I know who it is I'll answer if not I'll swipe to screen and pick up if it seems legit. 99% of the time it's not

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I always answer my phone. It could be important and if its not you can always hang up.

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Only if its someone calling me from the bar asking me in front of my family if I can find them anything. Or important stuff that I dont really want to deal with but should. Like my boss calling to see if I can work in a couple hours. I really could, but sitting on my back on the couch watching TV is more ideal.

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ParanoidObsessive posted...

I am adverse to answering my phone, but it has nothing to do with texting and everything to do with robocalls and scammers.

This.

If someone calls me and I don't recognize the number, it goes to voicemail. If no voicemail is left, they clearly didn't have anything of dire importance to say.

I flat-out don't respond to texts, because I find them obnoxious. Either e-mail me, so I can respond to you on a proper keyboard instead of a tiny touchscreen, or call me - your pick.
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Yes. I don't answer unless I recognize the caller. I get several spam calls per day, I understand it's best not to answer because that just tells them it's a working number that they can sell to other scammers.

Even sending spam calls direct to voicemail, in addition to the usual "your Social Security number is being suspended due to illegal activity" and "a warrant is being issued for your arrest for back taxes", I've started getting calls about my Federal guaranteed student loan (sorry, the loans for my doctoral work were paid back 30 years ago!).I

I wish the FCC would do something, spam calls made my landline phone worthless and the cell phone is getting there.
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I hate answering the phone. I have always hated using the phone, even when I was younger and used landlines. I always feel rushed on the phone, like I have a timer to get everything out in a short time. That or it's like the party lines and someone could be listening at any moment

I barely text as well and when I do actually text, it's responding to a text or because it is important

There's very few people I will answer when they call. I have to recognize the number first and there aren't too many people who call me

As a kid the phone was a bearer of bad news or a teacher calling home because I've been a nuisance. Conditioned me to hate the ringing sound. These days everyone uses some sort of Internet based app for normal every day shit so when a phone rings it's always some bothersome official nonsense or telephone marketers, which has just made my aversion to the my ringtone even worse.
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Depends. If I know the number and want to talk to them, I answer. If I know the number and dont want to talk, I let it ring. If I dont know the number, I check to see if I can recognize where its from (like how on base, the first 6 numbers are always the same). I also try to remember if I had anything set up (Doctors appointment, dentist appointment, etc.) Then make a decision based on that.

The best way to reach me is text. I cant always answer the phone depending on the job. And I rarely check email. I try, but it happens. But with text, I have my phone and will answer in break...
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Yes, if it is a number I dont recognise. If they call back again right after I will be more inclined to pick up because the scammers I get only call once and never again

darkknight109 posted...

This.

If someone calls me and I don't recognize the number, it goes to voicemail. If no voicemail is left, they clearly didn't have anything of dire importance to say.

I flat-out don't respond to texts, because I find them obnoxious. Either e-mail me, so I can respond to you on a proper keyboard instead of a tiny touchscreen, or call me - your pick.

I hate voicemails more though as they take me time to listen and then respond, whilst also preventing me from multitasking. I wish everyone would just email me.

Alternatively even though I work in a client service industry so taking calls is part and parcel of the job, 99% of the time, queries couldve been answered by one of my team members anyway.

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I feel like I'm with a lot of people here in being selective about when I answer the phone, but not necessarily avoidant of it. If it's someone I know, I'll pick up if I feel like talking. If I don't and they leave a voicemail, I'll typically listen to it immediately and call back if it was important. Texting is somewhat in the same camp for me. I'll respond immediately if it's someone I feel like talking to (or a topic that requires urgency), but otherwise? I don't worry too much about it and tackle it when I feel like engaging that person in conversation.
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Do many people in this thread have more than one mobile phone? Ive had a work and personal phone for as long as I can remember, and I also have an app on my work phone and Apple Watch which connects to my landline number at work (is I can disable the app or set hours so it isnt always connected).

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If I dont know who is calling me I dont answer the phone

I dont answer the door either

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I program every number I might ever possibly talk to into my phone. That way if someone calls me I can see immediately who it is. And if someone else calls me, I just send it right to voice mail. If it was important, they'll leave a message. And hopefully Google Voice won't mangle the transcription too badly.
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Yes; because seemingly 90+% of my calls these days are garbage, I've come to cringe when the phone begins to ring.
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I've always preferred calling to texting.

Having something in written record that the other person can easily store always has me a bit on edge and cautious about anything I say, lest it end up being dumb / embarrassing / unintentionally offensive to somebody later later on. Really don't get how so many prefer texting to voice.

That said, the fucking scourge of the VOIP scam calling has led me to stop answering my phone if I don't recognize the number. I get like 2-3 a day, on top of other more "honest" telemarketing type calls from legit numbers.

If it is someone I know, I will usually answer unless I'm working or otherwise unable to.
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Mead posted...

If I dont know who is calling me I dont answer the phone

I dont answer the door either

God dang millennials, putting the doorbell industry out of business too!
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streamofthesky posted...

Really don't get how so many prefer texting to voice.

So that I have written confirmation of what my landlord says. Also, so I wont forget certain things...
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SpeedDemon20 posted...

God dang millennials, putting the doorbell industry out of business too!

We actually got one of those camera doorbell things

So I can look at the person outside from my phone while not answering the door

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streamofthesky posted...

I've always preferred calling to texting.

Having something in written record that the other person can easily store always has me a bit on edge and cautious about anything I say, lest it end up being dumb / embarrassing / unintentionally offensive to somebody later later on. Really don't get how so many prefer texting to voice.

That's precisely why I prefer things in writing. It's alot easier to point to in the future, and I can search through it if needed.

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Mead posted...

If I dont know who is calling me I dont answer the phone

I dont answer the door either

This. If I don't know the number I'll Google it after I give them the bitch button and 99% of the time it's a known scam call. The other 1% are old people dialing the wrong number.

If I don't know someone is coming over and the doorbell rings I won't move an inch. No one rings doorbells these days anyway...everyone just sends a "here" text and I open the door for them.
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DocDelicious posted...

Mead posted...

If I dont know who is calling me I dont answer the phone

I dont answer the door either

This. If I don't know the number I'll Google it after I give them the bitch button and 99% of the time it's a known scam call. The other 1% are old people dialing the wrong number.

If I don't know someone is coming over and the doorbell rings I won't move an inch. No one rings doorbells these days anyway...everyone just sends a "here" text and I open the door for them.

I open the door. But it could be food delivery. My roommate sometimes orders stuff and I would spend a lot of time in the living room. Sometime, I order, as well. And sometimes, people come over out of nowhere...
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I have friends and family that will call instead of texting and it bothers me lol

Im just against talking to people in general.
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not going to answer if i don't know the number.

they can leave a message if it's legitimate
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LinkPizza posted...

streamofthesky posted...

Really don't get how so many prefer texting to voice.

So that I have written confirmation of what my landlord says. Also, so I wont forget certain things...

gloBal enemy posted...

streamofthesky posted...

I've always preferred calling to texting.

Having something in written record that the other person can easily store always has me a bit on edge and cautious about anything I say, lest it end up being dumb / embarrassing / unintentionally offensive to somebody later later on. Really don't get how so many prefer texting to voice.

That's precisely why I prefer things in writing. It's alot easier to point to in the future, and I can search through it if needed.

Ok, both of you are talking about business type communication. Wanting things in writing for that makes sense.

I was talking about personal communication, not over money or the like.

streamofthesky posted...

LinkPizza posted...

streamofthesky posted...

Really don't get how so many prefer texting to voice.

So that I have written confirmation of what my landlord says. Also, so I wont forget certain things...

gloBal enemy posted...

streamofthesky posted...

I've always preferred calling to texting.

Having something in written record that the other person can easily store always has me a bit on edge and cautious about anything I say, lest it end up being dumb / embarrassing / unintentionally offensive to somebody later later on. Really don't get how so many prefer texting to voice.

That's precisely why I prefer things in writing. It's alot easier to point to in the future, and I can search through it if needed.

Ok, both of you are talking about business type communication. Wanting things in writing for that makes sense.

I was talking about personal communication, not over money or the like.

Oh. Well, I still prefer text. Not everyone is free at the same time. Makes it possible to still communicate with others. For example, I cant always use my phone while working. If I need to ask someone something, I text. Theyll text back when they can. And Ill read the reply when I can. Its a way to communicate when you cant talk. Which can be for a number of reasons. If I can talk, awesome. But most of the time, I cant...
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I hate talking on the phone because I have to drop everything else I'm in the middle of doing just to talk to some fucker. Sure I can put it on speaker, but if there's anyone around, my conversation is now public. I have to let people know up front that they're on speaker because I never know what unpredictable shit is going to come out the mouths of people I know.

I only answer the phone to folk who I know are calling. I still prefer typing.

Mead posted...

I dont answer the door either

This too unless it's expected.
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I only answer the phone for my mom, but luckily no one else ever calls me.
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My landline phone, yes. Nearly all the calls I receive on that line are scams.
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For work, no.
Personal, yes.
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