Topic: Luddite Local # 42

[LadyVirginia]

I swiped the thread title from RickZ's post on another thread.

I recently had a conversation with my oldest on the whole idea of needing to connect with the world via one's cell phone. She doesn't have a smartphone.  She said she didn't have anything that required her to pay a fee each month for that service.

My smartphone broke and I dug out an old phone from the junk drawer to replace it.  I've actually been very annoyed at the other parents on my kid's sports team who assume everyone is tied to their phone so it's ok to send messages late at night with schedule changes and assume everyone got them.    I'm busy.  I don't care to check my phone every 5 minutes to find out that Ashley's mom is bringing the juice boxes tomorrow.

I annoy family members because I answer my phone when I want not when someone cares to interrupt me.

My husband loves his blackberry. My other child loves the iphone. I like my "old" one in that it stores music and takes great pictures. I like to text. I like having a phone for security/safety reasons. But a cell phone isn't an integral part of who I am as it is for many.

(Maybe I just hate phones.  I screen calls on the landline.

I had 2 jobs in college answering phones.  Maybe that scarred me.)

[Pandora]

I don't text; I just found out the burner phone has a texting feature, but I don't know how to use it and I probably won't learn.

I have friends that, unless one texts them, are very hard to contact because they don't answer their phones and they don't return messages.  I don't expect anyone to be a slave to the phone, but there's no common phone etiquette any longer, it seems.

We've still got an answering machine for the landline (talk about Luddite!) with a 30-second message limit.  People are so used to blathering on to voicemail, they're routinely cut off until they catch a clue.  Just tell me who you are and that you want to speak -- I'll call you back -- no need to tell a whole story.

[AmericanPatriot]

I would have sworn I was the resident Luddite.

I refuse to be "connected" 24/7/365

I finally decided that I wasn't a Luddite but was almost the farthest thing from being an early adopter

[LadyVirginia]

I think I like texting because it's mostly me and my kids texting each other. They're at school or work so it's less intrusive than calling or leaving a message and playing phone tag all day.   I'm not texting other people all that often--I don't have a reason to.  If have something to say to them I call or send an email.

I do return calls at my convenience. And I don't call people at meal times or after 9 pm.  When I was a kid it was considered rude to call late at night.  Now I guess it's not.  Not rude either to text someone at 11 pm either.

I'm upfront with people--I do screen my calls.   If I know you I'll probably answer you right then unless it's meal time or I'm in the middle of something I can't stop easily or conveniently.  If I don't know you and you don't leave me a reason to call you back I probably won't.  I mostly use my landline number for applications, membership lists, etc things I know will get me sales calls eventually.  I have a friend who leaves messages on every number she has for you. Annoying.

People who leave me voice mails that get cut off and so they call back two more times to get their entire message to me don't get quick return calls from me.  I learned that they think what they have to say is so important they must tell me it all and think I'll agree and call back ASAP.  I don't and eventually they stop leaving those messages. And if I'm lucky they stop calling.

Gee, I sound like an old fuddy duddy.  But I've been this way since college.

On the other hand, I do like VCRs, DVRs, streaming, downloading music, etc  When I was in high school I would use the cassette tape recorder to "record" my favorite shows so I could listen to them while I worked on school projects (we didn't have a tv in every room)and I didn't want to listen to music. Same function talk radio provides for me today.

[Pandora]

When I was younger, and single, I'd tell my Mother not to call me right after work, and she knew why:  I'd hit the bed for a twenty minute nap as soon as I walked in the door.  (This was before answering machines and I wasn't hip to the phones having a ringer turn-off.)

Do you think she listened?  No.  Every time, it was a new reason why she had to call just then instead of a stinkin' hour later.

Most days, the ringers on the phones are turned off  from 1 to about 8PM; Gunsmith is sleeping (and I might also be napping or out) and I don't want the phone waking him.  He's been working nights/sleeping days for a decade; one would think it wouldn't take that long for folks to catch on.

[AlanS]

I like texting. I'll send a text and when I get a response, I call.

[Alphabet Soup]

I don't have many issues revolving around phones in my personal life. My professional life is altogether different. Especially since my new boss is so politically correct. And a micro-manager (although I am breaking him of that habit!)

"Just because the phone rings doesn't mean that I am obligated to answer it"

I don't know how many times I've chanted that. More than most I try to be considerate in my communications - but in full recognition that it is a two-way street. I answer the phone when I can and usually more than my contemporaries do. If I don't answer the phone there is a good reason. Some of my contemporaries block their phone number in some sort of oddball attempt to protect their anonymity. If the phone rings and the screen shows "Unknown" I don't answer. If it is important they will leave a message. If it's really important they will unblock their phone.

I'm not afraid to give out my phone number. But I tell people that if they abuse it by calling me with inanities or after hours they become persona non grata and I won't answer their calls anymore.

I don't text unless prearranged. I don't text for trivial reasons. I don't IM. At work we now have a Microsoft app called "Lync". It's an instant messaging program. I hate the damned thing. When they first announced it I shrugged and said "no thanks". It got auto-installed on my work machine anyway. I uninstalled it. A week later it was back. So I uninstalled it, created a directory with the same name as the program and "locked the door" by removing all permissions to the folder. Now it can't be installed on my machine ;')

[Dan]

Lady V I think we're kindred spirits! I liken modern phone calls, with caller ID, akin to knocking on someone's door and not responding when asked "Who's there?" Blocked numbers get zero response from me. I like texting because its at my leisure, and if its important, then we can talk.
Soup, I drive my wife crazy when I ignore a ringing phone. She gets stuck talking to telemarketers at dinner. I ignore her anguish as the kids and I eat.
As long as my family is in the same place, I couldn't  care less where my phone is...unless I want to play poker online.

[LadyVirginia]

Lady V I think we're kindred spirits! I liken modern phone calls, with caller ID, akin to knocking on someone's door and not responding when asked "Who's there?" Blocked numbers get zero response from me. I like texting because its at my leisure, and if its important, then we can talk.
Soup, I drive my wife crazy when I ignore a ringing phone. She gets stuck talking to telemarketers at dinner. I ignore her anguish as the kids and I eat.
As long as my family is in the same place, I couldn't  care less where my phone is...unless I want to play poker online.

I remember one night at dinner years ago the phone rang and I let it ring.  My husband asked aren't you going to answer? (never mind he didn't get up either) Nope, that's what the answering machine is for-- so our dinner's not interrupted. 

I figure if it's important they'll leave a message.

My husband thinks it's rude NOT to answer a phone.  He also thinks a person is obligated to accept every invitation that comes along. If I want to go to someone's wedding I do; if not, I don't.

I know.  How'd we ever end up together? 

[Dan]

The saying "opposites attract" vis a vis a relationship overlooks the core values which are the bedrock of a successful marriage. I don't love her because she answers the phone...

[Pandora]

Opposites attract, and then become the repellant.  In the interim, we need to find common ground.  The more successful of us do.

[Alphabet Soup]

Lady V I think we're kindred spirits! I liken modern phone calls, with caller ID, akin to knocking on someone's door and not responding when asked "Who's there?" Blocked numbers get zero response from me. I like texting because its at my leisure, and if its important, then we can talk.
Soup, I drive my wife crazy when I ignore a ringing phone. She gets stuck talking to telemarketers at dinner. I ignore her anguish as the kids and I eat.
As long as my family is in the same place, I couldn't  care less where my phone is...unless I want to play poker online.

Fortunately my phone has an "ignore" function that shuts off the ringer - for that call. Since I'm on-call so often I can't shut it off altogether.

My dad was the same way. I'd be visiting and the phone would ring. He'd look anxiously at me like "Well...aren't ya gonna answer it?!!"  and I'd look back at him and say " 'F' 'em - I'm busy talking to you"

[RickZ]

I saw the title of this thread and said to myself, 'Wait a minute!  I didn't start this one.'

I screen all phone calls.  It's amazing how many hang ups I get, not to mention the extremely long winded (well, long winded for a robo call) 'we have an important message for you' health insurance calls.  As said above, if it's someone I want to speak with, I'll pick up.  If not, I'll get back to you at my convenience, if at all.  I've had people complain that I should pick up the phone.  I then ask them 'Are you paying my phone bill?  No?  Then I'll do as I please.'

I've never understood the compulsion some have to pick up a ringing phone.

[Libertas]

I annoy family members because I answer my phone when I want not when someone cares to interrupt me.

My husband loves his blackberry. My other child loves the iphone. I like my "old" one in that it stores music and takes great pictures. I like to text. I like having a phone for security/safety reasons. But a cell phone isn't an integral part of who I am as it is for many.

(Maybe I just hate phones.  I screen calls on the landline.

LV, you got another kindred spirit here!  I could have written this myself!      

[Weisshaupt]

Just tell me who you are and that you want to speak -- I'll call you back -- no need to tell a whole story.

Nope. You better give me a subject to. Even better, tell me what you want so I can call back and answer your question at the same time.
On second thought, send me an email with a full description. I can read much faster than I talk.


Of course I pretty much hate other people ( you start with a 50%  change they are a liberal, a 50%  chance they talk to much, a 25% they can only talk about themselves and so on) - there is a very good chance that if I look into your eyes I will be revolted by what I see ( or more accurately - don't see-- I heate the Soul less and I meet so many, I am pretty sure Heaven ran out..) 
 In the end I like about 10%  of the people I meet, so I would rather limit my contact as much as possible by default..

[Septugenarian]

We all seem to share a lot of views in common.  I also check the caller's ID.  If unknown, or if an unfamiliar number, I don't answer and let it go to voice mail.  No message, no problem.  I have one of the latest smart phones but only use it as a phone except to see who I'm receiving email from (but don't read it).

My FIL has a dumb phone and he's hard of hearing.  When his phone rings it takes a while for him to notice (if he's in the same room).  Then he removes his hearing aid before answering.  By then the call has gone to voice mail and he wonders why "because he answered it right away".

[LadyVirginia]

Soooo if I call y'all gonna pick up or let it go to voice mail?   

[Pandora]

Depends on if I know you.  And want to talk to you.

Nobody calls me house, just about, that I don't know.  Which is why the best thing is to leave an "it's me, call me back" message if the machine picks it up.

[LadyVirginia]

Did Pan just say she's not going to answer when I call?

 

[Pandora]

No, Pan did not say that. 

As if you'd ever call.  ::snort::