Playing phone tag!

I’m one of them. 

When I get a phone call, I let it go straight to voicemail. I rarely, if ever, pick up my phone. I never use my phone as, well, a phone. I suspect many people are like me. 

The numbers back me up. Hiya, an industry firm in the nuisance and scam call protection business, studied the phone industry and found that half of calls are sent to voicemail and, when the call comes from an unidentified number, the statistic rises to more than 75% going unanswered. 

Ringing off the hook

Oh, back in the day, things were different. Caller ID didn’t start becoming available until the late 80s. Without Caller ID, you had to answer the phone to see who was calling.

I much prefer how things are now, but the problem is that my wife likes to chat on her way home from work. We’re two different type of phone talkers: She’s the chatty one and I’m more of a grunt if you’re alive kind of talker. 

Oh, it’s all simple “how was your day” kind of stuff, but I inevitably find myself in trouble for failing to pay proper attention or saying the wrong thing. I don’t mean to be a complete jerk, but I’ve never been good with small talk or chit-chat. I prefer conversations to be focused and to mean something.

Take our most recent conversation. My wife just wanted to talk about her day. She wanted to tell me about something that happened with her boss. Of course, I dove immediately into problem solving mode. She needed me to just listen, but I was giving her advice on how to solve the problem and improve her day. 

Neither one of us really heard the other. The next thing I knew she was getting frustrated with me. Of course, I put my foot firmly in my mouth by saying that if it wasn’t that big of problem then she should have waited until she got home to chat instead of calling. Uh-oh.

Sirens didn’t go off, but they should have. I was in deep do-do. For an instant, everything slowed down and I could see my comment bouncing slow motion style from cell phone tower to cell phone tower and me putting my life on the line.

I phoned it in

Yea, I know now that wasn’t the smartest thing for me say. In my defense, I’m just not used to phone conversations anymore. Fortunately, I came to my senses and instantly pulled it back, telling my wife that I was sorry, frustrated with my own day, and that I didn’t mean it. She got it.

We talked about what she needed. In this case, just the chance to vent and I lived to fight another day. Yes, yes, I need to go back to phone communications 101. Now I love my phone, but if it were up to me, I’d remove the phone part of my smartphone.

Who’s with me?

Image by Pexels.

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34 thoughts on “Playing phone tag!”

  3. I think it all depends on the person. I have a very dear friend, over 20 years, who has poor communication skills. Anything she says just comes out wrong, whether it’s on the phone or in an email. She used to be a bad listener because she gets very excited she wants to speak over others (which is understandable). I gently pointed this out to her; she’s made an effort, but it’s still bad.
    The only time we truly connect is in person.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. I pretty much abhor talking on a telephone, no matter if it cellular or landline. Being an up-front employee for 20+ years, I’d come home from work and just want peace and quiet. It’s gotten worse with retirement. If I have to make phone calls, I hold off until I have at least 3 that must be made, then pull up my big girl panties and make them all in the same morning! I have a landline only for the purpose of making those outgoing calls because it’s more comfortable than holding a small rectangular up against my face for an extended period of time.

    I also dislike phone calls because the information is only verbal. I prefer having a physical way to document the information being given for any future need.

    Mainly, though, I appreciate emails the most because they allow me to digest the included information in my own time with no expectation for a more immediate response.

    Liked by 3 people

  5. I’m not much of a phone talker. I seem to communicate more by texting these days and writing my message seems to help with communication problems. I can change my message before I send it! well remember the olden days when you had to answer the phone and fretted if you didn’t get to the phone in time.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ha, ha, I love it Belinda. Great to hear that I’m not the only one. Now I can get bothered sometimes with the size of the phone, but still better to write out what I want to say. I know that’s not everyone, but hate getting on the phone and figuring out what I have or want to say. Ugh.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Oh….”I’m more of a grunt if you’re alive kind of talker.” I know someone like that…um…he’s the hubster. And I’m the ‘let me share every gory detail’ kind of girl. Thanks for the morning chuckle. 🤣🤣🤣

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Here’s a test for you. Grunt sometime in one of your conversations to check to see if he’s listening. Ha, ha, could make for an interesting conversation. The funny thing is that I have no problems with hearing every little gory detail . . . I love to hear them all, just not on the phone!!!! Yes, I’m certifiable.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Oh…gotcha. Well…the hubs is the same, now that think about it. Better in-person but he hates a long phone chat and heaven help us all if I start a lengthy back-and-forth text trail…LOL! And I like your ‘grunt’ experiment suggestion! 🤣

        Liked by 1 person

  7. I remember phones being fastened to the wall with a 400-foot-long cord attached.

    Recently, I endured about 45 days of spam calls from a source that my ex and I were members of years ago. Why were they trying to contact me now?

    I guess the point is that caller ID and applications that block these freaks are worth the money for your peace of mind.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. I love how you presented this Brian. My phone skills need some improvement too. The problem might be that we prefer to write than to talk? I’d rather text than talk and I know that’s just lack of practice. Let me know when you get that phone course together. I imagine it would be a sell out! Hugs, C

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh yes, much prefer writing over talking. Now I’m not always the best at typing on my smartphone, but definitely prefer writing out my responses. Ha, ha. Funny how talking on the phone used to be the only way to reach out to others, now I avoid it at all costs. Ugh.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. I could relate to this: “I inevitably find myself in trouble for failing to pay proper attention or saying the wrong thing.” My kids call me while they are driving or walking to chat. I may be focused on something else at the time and they can tell and call me out.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Nicely written and that you understood what your wife needed. We do hide behind our phones. Sad when talking can be so much quicker… that’s when certain conversations go “on an on,” too much typing. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  13. “Sirens didn’t go off, but they should have. I was in deep do-do. For an instant, everything slowed down and I could see my comment bouncing slow motion style from cell phone tower to cell phone tower and me putting my life on the line.”

    Haha this is a beautiful paragraph. Made me laugh out out.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Not my best moment!!!! Ha, ha, Ab . . . When my wife got home, she looked at me and was like, “what are you, stupid.” Okay, maybe not she didn’t phrase it exactly like that, but pretty close. I’ve chalked that up as my “I’ve lived to tell you about it” moments. Ha, ha. I’m glad you liked it.

      Like

  15. I love this, Brian. I remember those old landlines. When I was younger, we had a red one with a curly lead to it, which never quite stretched as far as I needed it to. It’s funny that, even on mobile phones, we still say I’m dialling the number or I’m hanging up this call. I love my mobile (my landline is only used by one elderly friend who always calls me on it).

    I often prefer to text or email as I can think more carefully about what I’m writing before I press the send button. However, depending on who I’m talking to, I do sometimes prefer talking on my phone – but not for too long. The only significant drawback is that you can’t see facial expressions nor read body language, which is very important in a conversation, certainly with people I don’t know all that well.

    Currently, I have one fairly new acquaintance who is phoning me nearly every day, which is driving me up the wall as I don’t have time to talk so often; the calls go on for about an hour, and I don’t like to be rude and say that I can’t talk right now. If I say, I can’t speak for long, she completely ignores that and continues to chat. It’s got to the stage now that I’m on edge the whole time waiting for her next call. I know I need to be more assertive, but that’s never been my strong point. Stupid, I know.

    Anyway, I’m glad you and your wife reached an understanding over that incident. I had a wonderful vision of your comment bouncing from one cell phone tower to another in slow motion. Beautifully put.

    It’s been good to read your post today, Brian. As you know, I’ve got so behind with reading blogs, so it’s not just yours that I’ve not been able to read recently. I admire the way you manage to write every day – it must take up a fair bit of time. My blog posts have dwindled to once a week or, perhaps, twice if I’m lucky. Thanks for your patience.

    Liked by 1 person

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