phones

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What is your opinion of them? I hate them. I hate answering them since I don't know who it will be so can't prepare for the conversation. I hate calling since I'm never sure how to introduce myself to most people. If I know the person will recognize who I am then it's ok although I still would rather talk to them in person. But for calling people that I don't know if they will recognize who I am, I never know if I should introduce myself and if so by my first name, first and last name, or first name and say how I know them.

When I'm talking to someone I still can't look at them but somehow it is still easier than a phone. Also phones are more likely to be unexpected interuptions.

I despise talking on the phone, I have to answer phones at work and it drains me. I have a blackberry that never leaves my side but I never spend more than 10 minutes a month actually speaking on it. Its primary functions are internet and music player (typing on it right now), but for those instances where communication is necessary I relay on texts. I taught my parents how to do it and everyone I know knows that is the best way to get ahold of me.

Yes! I am so with you on this one. I really hate phones. I think it's the interrupting thing for me. I've been known to swear at work when my phone rings.

It's the interruption aspect that drives me nuts.

My entire life I've had a rather severe phone phobia. I can make phone calls now though it is extremely stressful, but it used to be that just thinking about using the phone would cause a panic attack.

I text a lot though.

Most of us have this in common! I hate the phones too. Love the wireless e-mail and internet on the phone... but never use it to call anyone other than close friends and family. And I never answer the calls. I let the voicemail pickup.

I don't have any problems using the phone, I think it's a perfectly normal way to communicate.

I HATE talking on the phone! I can tolerate it if i need to talk to someone for an actual reason, though. I hate being expected to just chit-chat. There needs to be a point, some kind of important information being communicated, and then it needs to stop. I don't even have a cell phone except for the old-ish one i take with me when i go somewhere and mom wants me to call to check in. I don't really completely know why i hate talking on the phone so much. I know that i don't like being expected to chitchat about things, i know that i can have a difficult time understanding what people say on the phone, and i know that i often don't know what to say when i'm on the phone. Somehow this is just all even harder over the phone than when you're with the person.

At home, I don't answer the phone. I just let it ring. It's never for me anyway and if it's important, they'll leave a message.

At work, I'm okay with answering. I have a script to follow "[my workplace] this is Liz, how can I help you?" People usually don't call and when they do, there are only a couple of different things they might want so I'm not often caught off guard.

I can't actually make a phone call myself. It's just one of those things I can't do. Even if it's to call a pizza place and I'm starving, I can't do it. If my internet doesn't work and I want to know when the outage will be over and I'm getting pissed off, I can't do it. If I just broke my leg and I need an ambulance, I can't do it.

I don't have a problem with them, in fact, I prefer them.

There are going to be times where I may have to ask for help, or want to talk to someone and I am not near a computer at the time.

Same as OP, except I can't even stand calling people I know unless it's someone very close to me.

I don't have a problem with calling people I know, but I do feel uncofortable having to call unfamiliar people.

I'm terrified of the telephone!

Having mostly grown up without Internet, I got used to using the phone. As a teenager, I would even chat on the phone sometimes. It is actually better for us, than being in person, because there are no nonverbal signals to mis-interpret. I have used this to my advantage many times. But, I still hate it because I don't always get the subtle signals NTs give with their tone of voice. And the interruption factor drives me up the wall!

Now I communicate mainly by email and I will only answer the phone if its someone I know. Otherwise, I let the voice mail get it so I can be prepared if/when I do have to call them back. I just got an iPhone and I love it!

I hate using them. It's mostly because I don't know who's calling, and also because I get nervous if I have to call someone. I get really nervous when talking to people in real life, and it's just as bad (perhaps worse) when using the phone!

I do not particularly like phones. If I have to make a call, I can do it by using a script or at least an outline. ("Hello? ... Is this the city water department? ... I'd like to ask about getting a water meter put in at my house... How much will it cost? ... When can you do it? ... Are there any things that will be required of me - do I have to be home at the time? ... Thank you ... I'll see you Tuesday afternoon then... Goodbye.) If I don't write down everything I need to say, then I'll get rattled and forget stuff, and end up having to call back.

This doesn't always work. In fact, it doesn't work very much of the time, because the person I'm talking to will often say something I don't expect. Either I have to try to go with it, outside of my script, or ignore it completely. The risk of ignoring it is that I might miss some vital information. And trying to "go with it" results in my forgetting what I need to ask, usually.

Oddly, I do ok with some people over the phone. Very oddly, these aren't necessarily the people I'm closest to.

When people call me, I can generally choose not to answer it. After all, it's *my* phone. If they need to talk to me, they can leave a voicemail, and I can get it later and then have time to formulate my response. This works well. I've even managed to make this work at work. I requested to not have a phone, got one anyway, and leave it on "do not disturb" all the time. Since nobody ever calls me anyway, this is fine. I think I've gotten two calls in four months. This meant I had to figure out how to get my voicemail. I've forgotten again already.