Mon 25 Aug 2008
Telephones are beyond ubiquitous, but some people spend a lot of time on them (by choice or by necessity) and some hardly use them at all. Which makes me wonder:
Do you remember when you first started using a phone regularly?
Did you like talking on the phone from an early age? Did you dislike it? Why?
Have you ever done phone-heavy work? Did you get into it on purpose? Did it change your non-work phone habits?
2 answers so far!
Okay, let's hear it.
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The only time I ever used the phone to “chat” was during my giggly schoolgirl phase. I’m not sure exactly how long that lasted. Junior high school (age 11) through sometime in high school?
Now I rarely use the phone to “chat” — e-mail is so much better for me. But I think that’s partially because my social skills aren’t as good as they used to be. (Giggly schoolgirls have great social skills among their peers.)
Before that, I did call my friends to make plans (“Can you play?” was our conversation starter of choice) but we didn’t really “chat”. I’m sure I used the phone for that during elementary school (age 5 – 10ish).
My use of the phone these days (age 36) is purely practical: receiving or giving information (directions, ETAs, making plans, etc.) but I much prefer to do all my “chatting” in person. And for work, when necessary. I prefer clients who prefer e-mail. :)
I do specifically recall that I started FEARING, HATING and AVOIDING the phone during college, because telemarketers were out of control then. There was no Caller ID, so I started screening calls using the answering machine. Honestly, I think I never quite got over that. I’ve pretty much feared, hated and avoided the phone ever since, even though all I use now is a cell phone (that receives precious few cold calls) with Caller ID. I mainly use my phone for texting, e-mailing, twittering, etc. (It’s a BlackBerry.)
When I have worked in places where I’m forced to use the phone, my phone habits/skills improve. But I’ve never had a particularly phone-heavy job.
I wish I didn’t fear the phone. I find I fear it much less when I’m not behind on a project, or something similar, because I’ve learned how to dispense of telemarketers, so most of what I have left to fear are irate clients. But I also avoid my “chatty” friends when I’m not in the mood, which is much of the time. I’m an introvert; shoot me. :)
I remember using it when I was about 5 to call my neighbor, who was about the same age, to come out and play. Of course, my mom or dad was watching.
When I was a teenager I could chat for 6-8 hours at a time. I don’t like to talk that much anymore.