Open Thread Update: Call Me…Maybe
Last time, I mentioned several frustrating examples of miscommunications among friends and financial and medical professionals about how best to contact me, among other communications pet peeves.
Not alone!
Seems like my issues touched a chord Several respondents said “thanks” or “Glad to see this” in the comments. (Thanks!) They weighed in with their comments, complaints and solutions.
Cellphone use (and abuse) is a big issue – many people (like me) reserve them for emergency use only, not day to day. Several readers simply don’t list or reveal their cellphone number to anyone but close family.
“I resolved the cellphone problem by not giving anyone the number! No point calling it, when it’s turned off and not on my person. It’s for my use when I’m out and need a phone.”
Helen W.
Several people bemoaned the complexity of communications technology.
“it’s become ridiculously difficult to communicate.”
–K. Dyani
The comments also reveal issues with passwords and their complexity, robocalls, and people who prioritize the cellphone contacts over the person right in front of them – we really hit a nerve!
Your communications pet peeves?
Reader Bella’s comments are pretty long but very thoughtful – check it out as well as the rest of the comments, and make sure to add your own!
Virge Randall is Senior Planet’s Managing Editor. She is also a freelance culture reporter who seeks out hidden gems and unsung (or undersung) treasures for Straus Newspapers; her blog “Don’t Get Me Started” puts a quirky new spin on Old School New York City. Send your suggestions for Open Threads to her at editor@seniorplanet.org.
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Comments
I’m hard of hearing and have difficulty on the phone, and especially with messages on my answering machine, so I prefer texts. I have the same issue as many others with doctor’s offices calling my cell phone, which goes immediately to voice mail because I don’t have good voice service in my rural area. (No problem receiving texts!) Then I’m unable to reach my mailbox to get the message. I’ve told these folks about this problem, and asked them to use my landline for voice calls, but they all seem to use my cell. We only have 2 prefixes here, so it’s not like they don’t know the difference! I regularly use a computer, email, and do lots of online ordering, and reading news articles.
What can I do with friends around my age (65) who say, when I ask if they received my call, “oh, I left my cell phone at home”. They don’t seem to understand the whole reason for having a cell phone. And, to make things worse, they say “oh, it’s turned off”. What are they thinking?
1) calls are for truly communicating, short of seeing someone in person.
2) emails are for giving detailed information, something which you can go back and look at, so that you don’t forget.
3) text messages are for short communication such as “I’m running late. Be there in 10 minutes” or “I’m in the vegetable aisle”.
For those who are afraid about our government or google having too much information about us, tell them that it’s too late. It has already happened and cannot be reversed.
Thank you.
I text the person I wish to call to see if they are available before I try to call. I hate lugging my cell phone all over the house with me. I leave it inside the house while I garden so it is safe. I am not happy with the idea that just because someone calls you on your cell-you feel you have to take the call-some of us have lives off the phone so I resent the intrusion on my time. Leave a voice mail and I will return your call when I have time.
I agree with the annoyances most commenters mentioned but I don’t ask or apologize for a ‘preferred’ method of communication with anyone but close friends. I’m not sure this is as much a ‘phone’ problem as a courtesy problem. Too many people have allowed their devices to overshadow their common sense.
I called SS and someone actually answered and helped me. I thanked him profusely. The worst company is Verizon. Horrible customer service and my call gets dropped all the time.
Error made:
“need to call” should read
“need to talk to”