busyI agree with these. I will add that telephone technology has evolved in ways that make me hate them more, not less. They are more pervasive and intrusive now. They demand attention in being charged. The sound quality has become so horrendous that I can barely make out what anyone is saying, and in the case of any speakerphone function actually hurts my ears. And they're ruining the restaurant experience, which creates fallout that I have to deal with even though I know better than to play with my fucking phone at the table.
So if you like me and wish to communicate with me, I am happy to do that via email or facetime. I am never happy on the phone and use it only as an absolute last resort. The chance of accurate communication is only so-so and the chance of pleasurable communication approaches zero and costs me spoons to fake it.
Re: So totally YES!!
August 19 2015, 08:10:34 UTC 5 years ago
I can never even say 'hi' to some of my neighbors. They're on the phone as they're exiting their apartment, or busy texting/reading/poking at their phone. They're beyond "situationally unaware". These are the folks who get hit by cars and trains.
Re: So totally YES!!
August 19 2015, 22:05:01 UTC 5 years ago
It's amazing how quickly and directly prepaid minutes are teaching some (painfully tactful, circuitous, emotion-sensing) people to *get to the point*. In live conversation you do need greeting words to establish attention. On the cell phone, the ringing phone does that, so no need to waste a second on greeting words. I pick up the phone, know who's calling and why, and instead of needing to do the "Hello, how are you?" routine I immediately say "On the way" or "Five more minutes." And people don't even wail about this being "abrupt" and Yankee-ish.