my phone phobia...advice please?

[her_20th_summer]

Let's take a break from the usual here...I have been thinking about something recently. I always joke around and say that I hate talking on the phone, but it's really not even a joke. I insisted my mom get Caller ID for us years and years ago, so I would know who was calling at all times, and would never have to pick up if it wasn't for me. Yeah,

Comments

[rawins418]

I myself am not a phone talker. If someone is calling me it's for a reason and never to just "talk" because they know I don't spend hours on the phone for no reason. And either way most of the people I talk to on the phone are the same way. They only want to get their point across and hang up. Usually if you send that message out to people to get your message across and not have excessive small talk your time on the phone won't be dreaded. At home (if I'm alone) I only answer if I know the number, other than that the machine gets it because if they want something then they can leave a message. As for ANY person calling if they need to get a hold of me or someone and they get the machine or voice mail, I'll know the call wasn't pointless if they left a message. I don't really have much advice other than tell people that when they call get their point across and leave a message if you don't answer (then you can decide to call back if it's urgent)!!!

[her_20th_summer]

I am glad to hear that so many others have this same problem...haha not because I enjoy the suffering of others (nooo, not me!) but because it's nice to know I'm not alone.

[ebbonygirl]

I know when my phone phobia first started, it was when I was about 8 years old. My mom has an in-home business, and I would answer the phone for her, even though I rarely knew what I was talking about, but I could take messages. Well, I screwed something up twice in a week, and have never answered the phone since. Now my phobia is just based on that I don't talk on the phone and am not used to it. I have grown much more accustomed to talking to people face to face, and talking on the phone is just not as fun for me. I am always afraid that I'm going to screw something up, and it will be "my fault" if I do something wrong (no matter how silly it is). On IM and LJ and other computer stuff where you just type it all out, I am more comfortable because I can think about my answers, and fix things if they don't come out right. In person, I can see the person and judge somewhat what they are thinking. On the phone, you just have a disembodied voice, and you don't have the time to think, nor do you have the visual factor to judge by,

[her_20th_summer]

I think your idea of answering one unknown call a week is a good idea! I will have to try that. I think I can start with the phone in my room, it doesn't have caller ID on it, so I'll be forced to pick up without knowing who it is. Hardly anyone I know calls my house phone, they always use my cell. But still, that might even be better. I should also work on calling people back! What a shitty habit.

[paulfxor]

i can't help you here. i justed to have the same problem, and i got over it some how. that was a while ago. i guess i just grew out of it. you can always solve the akward silences problem by saying you're watching your minutes. Mandi and i barely even talk for more than 2 mins now. only more if one of us if freaking out or something. blah, i'm done. i can't force myself to keep typing......
^collapses^

[her_20th_summer]

Awww no collapsing! I forbid it!

Ally

[rocky63215]

Welcome to my world. I hate making phone calls and talking on the phone. But look at the job I have now I answer calls all day. I still hate talking on the phone but with these people its for a few minutes and it doesn't take too long cause all you are doing is picking up the phone. Other than that I would talk with Angela but she'd get mad because I'd lose interest because I rather see the person I'm talking too.

Re: Ally

[her_20th_summer]

Yeah I know, I bet I could do your job though, it's not so bad when they are complete strangers. I guess that doesn't even really make sense and seems totally backwards but oh well!