I hate leaving messages

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Do others have more of an issue leaving messages than having a conversation on the phone? I feel like I can't figure out what I'm supposed to say at all, and if I'm leaving information out, and unless I script it entirely beforehand, I end up not saying anything because I get tied up trying to figure out what to say and making sure I include everything. And of course, because you tend not to know you need to leave a message until you get there, scripting is hard.

It's hard to script too, because you need to predict what information is relevant.

I prefer giving some information, them asking for more, then giving more information, then them asking for more, and then that being all of it. They can ask me when I haven't given enough. I actually prefer typing best but some places don't have online chat helps and they're silly because online chat helps are just better.

(I was just needing to call because something I ordered hasn't shown up yet, but the help forced me to leave a message and I called 4 times before I actually left a message at all.)

I know what you mean. I don't like it, I feel very self-conscious about doing it, like someone is listening even if I'm in a room on my own and no-one can hear. It's extra difficult if there actually are people around and can hear what I'm saying. I don't really like having phone conversations anyway but especially if I'm the one making the call and have to explain to someone who I am and why I'm calling.

Weird isn't it? Sometimes I wonder how I've got through my life so far when such little things can seem so difficult. But then maybe lots of people don't like this sort of stuff either, whether they're aspie or not.

I can honestly say that I avoid the phone at all costs, I usually only text. I personally sound really awkward on the phone and I have a hard time speaking clearly. I had to call people for my old job, and dreaded every moment of it! I would get extremely anxious all the time over it.

I find sometimes I can't avoid the phone. I can avoid it frequently, I can't avoid it always. I'll type if its an option, its not always an option. (For example today, a medical device of mine got lost in the mail and I needed them to ship a new one to me, which required calling and leaving a message. I hated it so much, but they did the fast shipping for free for me at least.)

I can't usually leave a message if I'd been expecting to talk to somebody. I can do it if I sit down and work out the best thing to say before I call, but even then I don't like it. It also often results in a return call from them, at some random time. It's not just the task, it's the way it suddenly happens. I think I could become much better at it if I was making phone calls a lot.

Yes me too, it's even harder now, you have to sort of plan the script

Name
Issue
Your ohone number

That's what I do but it can be stressful

I hate it too, worse than actually talking to a person. Either way I have to think through what I'm going to say ahead of time.

I also hate answering machines as well. I hate it when I call someone and I get an answering machine. I push myself to leave a message, anyways. My two close friends also don't care for answering machines.

Yeah, I hate it too.

I have left a message exactly once, and despite having scripted it I still croaked like a frog and stuttered and got it out wrong. I never heard back from them.

I just hang up when I get answering machines. Can't be bothered.

I hate speaking on the phone only a bit less than leaving messages. I find it especially hard when I have to call somewhere. It's easier if I'm answering a phone, because then I just let whoever called do the work and follow their lead.

Here is a very easy format to use and it applies to almost every business call. "This is a call for John Smith. My name is Mary Jones and my number is 205-123-4567. I'm calling in reference to my bill. Please return my call at your earliest convenience. Thank you." Of course use your own name, number and reason you called. Just the basics is all they need, what you are calling in reference too not the details of it such as "I'm calling in reference to my bill. There is a discrepancy there from August that hasn't been taken care of and I've called about this three times already". Don't do that.

If you are leaving a message for a friend try something like "Hey girl! It's Susan, call me." or "Whats up man? This is Tommy. Hit me up when you get a chance".

That makes it pretty simple. You may want to try that.

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I'm giving it another shot. We will see.
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I usually don't leave messages and will just try to call later. People nowadays have caller ID and can call back easily. I mean who on earth still listen to the messages, copy down your phone # on a little piece of paper, then call back? I'd only do it grudgingly if it's for doctors, somehow most of the medical clinics here are stuck in the dark ages, they use fax machines, paper files and make phone calls for everything.

The funny thing is my husband hates answering, calling and leave messages even more even though he's NT. For a while our answering machine said "We are not taking phone calls, please email us."

I hate having to leave messages too for those reasons but thankfully I don't have to make many calls at all.