Fear of the phone?

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Why don't you get caller ID? You can see who it is calling if you get it.

I'm okay with talking to random people, like tech support or to order a pizza. Talking to people for social reasons, AAAHHHH!! ! I stumble on when it is time to take my turn, I don't know when or how to appropriately end a conversation, and mostly I screen with my answering machine and respond via e-mail when possible or just don't bother. My friends know and accept this, and text me, lol Even hearing the phone ring gives me a jolt of adrenaline.

I'm almost always talking on the phone. Sometimes I'm on both my cell phone and the land phone at once! lol My record so far is over nine hours straight!

The longest I've stayed on the phone with someone is about 30 seconds
i just tell them what I want to say, or listen to what they need to say then hang up. I don't like to chit-chat on the phone.

The only reason I pick up the phone is to stop the ringing. After that I often have trouble thinking of what to say. Too many embarrasing blank spots, but I do manage to muddle my way through most calls.

I like to be prepared and if I don't know who's ringing never mind what the calls going to be about it does makes me anxious so I just prefer to let someone else answer it. If it was a call I was expecting and I've had time to prepare what I need to say I'm less anxious about it. I say less because the person the other end could go off topic.

I do that sometimes too.

I've learned that the best thing to do when you have to make a phone call is NOT TO PUT IT OFF. It gets worse the longer you wait.

I also hate to talk on the phone in public, like with a cell phone. *shudders*

Oh my god, I completely agree! The woman I go horsebackriding with always wants me to talk on the phone to her, and uhg, I HATE it. ><; I HATE PHONES, UHG. I refuse to talk on them seriously, evilevil things. Gaaah.

I absolutely hate the phone, it really freaks me out. I never know what to say, if I absolutely have to make a phone call I'll practice what I'm going to say before doing it. It makes my heart pound and just...ugh.

Already posted earlier in thread, my comment was mostly about loathesomeness of phone.

However, it's more complicated than that: when I was a kid, I liked using the phone. Was lonely & pretty clueless about picking up on others' reactions (might know something was amiss, yet no idea why) & could converse at length (an hour) with friends or acquaintances. Used to feel able to talk to all sorts of people (over the phone, or meeting face-to-face) when I was young & naive, before fear of people took over-so that change affects my current phone usage (or lack thereof). The more time passes, the more I learn how completely unaware & innocent (or ignorant) I was in previous years-to both my benefit and my detriment.

There were also times during teenage & adult life where I spent even more hours (maybe almot nine-and this is with landline, on my end) talking on phone all night. Those have been stages where I had no other source for friendship/interaction, so I was driven to desperation. In the periods where I've sufficient social life without the phone, then I go back to avoiding & despising it. Strange how I've adapted back & forth, depending on demands of circumstance. On sensory & mental level, I dislike phone & much prefer other modes-when available.

fear of the phone,FEAR OF THE PHONE!..i feel that someone is always whatching there

I hate the phone. I steer clear of it. If someone asks me to get the phone, I just carry the phone to them.
If it rings, and no one else is around to answer, I either turn it off, or I find someone and just put the phone down in front of them.

Another vote for hate the phone.

I still haven't set up my voicemail at work and I've been there almost two years. My coworkers think it's odd, but it hasn't been a problem so far. (Usually, if someone needs me, they know to just come find me or send me an email.)

I'm with some of the folks here - the biggest problem for me is calling strangers, for example, to make appointments. I haven't been to the dentist in a long time, and it's not because I'm afraid of the dentist. It's because I can't force myself to make the phone call to make the appointment. I usually only make those calls when I know I absolutely have to make them.

But it seems like mostly, I don't call people because I'm afraid I'll be interrupting them. My brother calls me every now and again and leaves a message, but he's so busy that I can never figure out a good time to call him back. He tells me I can call him whenever, but I just can't bring myself to do it.

Fortunately, I usually don't need to call people because I usually don't have anything to say.

I am afraid of the phone. I'm always unconvinced that I'm in a real conversation and I run out of things to say incredibly fast.

I only hate phoning somebody if i aint got a clue what to say. Or if what i am going to say may cause a conflict

I hate using the phone.

I am loathe to use the damn thing if I don't have to. And you can absolutely FORGET me using the thing to just call up someone and just chat. Ugh! Screw that!