Do people just not ring each other any more, is this normal?

It’s actually hard for me to talk on the phone when my kids are around. They are noisy and want attention all the time. I wouldn’t be able to enjoy talking as there would be so many interruptions.

No,
no and
no.

I can’t stand phone calls. I find them so awkward.
I use WhatsApp Voice Notes sometimes if I’m telling someone a story/anecdote of some sort. But messaging all the way for me.

I'm in my 60s, been texting for years. Yes, I agree 'phone conversations are dying out, and these days there are more people who prefer not to have a 'phone conversation than those who do.

I include myself in that.

Whereas years ago I'd have a long telephone call with someone, nowadays I don't want to. If I want a good old chat I'll arrange to meet up for a coffee and a catch up in person, otherwise it's text and WhatsApp. I actually find them quicker and easier, I can reply when I'm ready. I actually leave my mobile permanently on silent so no-one can disturb me...send me a message if you want a reply!

I’ll tell you who talks on the phone- Russians and Eastern Europeans. I am always hearing them out in the street and on public transport, talking away. No idea what they are saying of course but it doesn’t look/sound like business stuff. I’m always amazed they have so much to say to each other!

The only person I ring/text is my elderly mum. She doesn't do Whatsapp.
If it's likely to turn into an essay I'll ring others. Other than that it's Whatsapp all the way for me. We've used Whatsapp for so long now that I hate phone calls for a catch up as my mind goes blank & I run out of things to say. Meet face to face for lunch & we'll all rattle on for hours & the convo flows freely. I don't mind receiving voice notes either.
We have a very poor mobile signal so I tend not to bother trying to call unless I have to.
Still got the house phone for emergencies (calls are dear on the package we're on). Quite like the house phone as it reminds me of the old days

Voice notes come to me to die. Hate them.

The text conversation would be more efficient with me because I'd have a chance to look at my calendar and check with my family if I'd forgotten any promises etc. Whereas if you called, the conversation would be over in a few minutes, but two days later I'd probably be contacting you saying "Sorry! Forgot I'd promised DD I'd take her to soccer."!

I'm in my 50s and texting has been a part of my life for over 25 years, which is longer than the time when I was using phones and didn't text.

I can't remember the last time I called a friend up, but I do video chat with some.

Mobiles were a bane until texting became standard. House phones weren't so bad as more limited, easier to ignore and when you did answer them, better audio, generally quieter environment (with some notable exceptions!) and a comfy place to chat. But I found mobiles intrusive. Then texting became standard and you could answer at your leisure, text when it was convenient and get a reply when it was convenient for other party. Way better. Much easier to stay up to date with friends than having to catch us both at a convenient time - especially when some live on different continents.

Me too.

This is very familiar! 🤣 I would much rather have the above conversation (which I think is fun - you both sound delightful) over the course of a day whilst going about my business (and probably interspersed with a meme or two and random observations about traffic and Traitors Ireland) than a two minute phone call.

I’d enjoy that conversation. Efficiency isn’t really paramount for that sort of thing, for me personally (although I appreciate I’m not the poster you were responding to).

The only way for my family to get through to me is via my landline phone. We do have group chats on email sometimes.

You’re sorry that people have different preferences to you? How very odd.

@Clafoutie what you mean by "a sort of pathology" please?

Telephone calls do seem to be not only dying out completely, but something that has developed a sort of pathology almost. It’s ironic that we still call mobile phones ‘phones’ really. It feels like one of those things that have gone for good and in some ways that does seem a shame, although I can see how/why it’s happened.

The inefficiency of texting isn't really about the time it takes to type (though no one types as fast as they speak, and there's the delay in response), but the time it takes to have a simple two way conversation. For example...

Angela (A): Hey you, how are you? Do you want to do something this weekend?
Theresa (T): Hi, I'm ok, you? Hmm maybe, what are you thinking of?
A: Dunno; we could go out for a drink. I could do with one, that rusky is doing my head in.
T: Ahh, not sure about a drink, or even a pub. I'm meant to do be doing dry January. It's soooo boring. I don't think I can even set foot inside a pub, as the aperol spritz will be calling me, ha ha. Sorry about the rusky. You know what I've suggested you do with him, teehee.
A: Yeah, sorry about dry Jan, I forgot.
T: Well, we could go for a walk. Though it is a bit muddy out there. Do you mind it being muddy? I could bring the dog; and maybe the kids too. They could all do with a bit of exercise. Won't bring the old man though, he's such a misery.
A: Alas I don't have any wellies an the moment. Went for a walk a couple of weeks ago with all that rain. Remember all the rain, and floods? Was having fun skipping through flood waters when I found I had a titanic size gash in the side of my welly.
T: Oh no, that's annoying. Are they old?
A: Yeah, had them about a year.
T: Well you'll need to get new ones, you can't do without wellies around here. When are you getting some?
A: Well, it might take a while. I want Hunters, but I'm not paying 200 bloody quid for them! So I've been browsing ebay, and am waiting for the holy grail; an immaculate pair of 'never worns' for 25 quid! ha ha.
T: You could be waiting a while.
A: Yeah.
T: Look sod it. Let's just go to the pub. Sod dry January. Sod the kids, and the old man. And the dog too. Actually, maybe the dog can come, I like him.
A: Woohoo! Right, when shall we go? And which pub?
T: OK, looking at the diary, can't do Saturday until late as kids have shit on all day...............

So, this conversation for example could take at least 12, or even 24 hours back and forth by text between two busy ladies. However the same conversation on an actual call would take about 2 minutes!

I'm not a huge fan of the pressure "modern technology" puts on us to be constantly available. Now, I chat to people every day, with a few texts, rather than once a week. I don't like it at all.

Generally though I do chit chat via text, but if there's a specific conversation I want to have with someone, I'll phone them.

@Gurolou i'm not sure if you're still looking at the thread

I am with you. I think it's part of a decline in personal communication. Which in turn is leading to a decline in many things.

I think some posters must be seeing people face-to-face on quite a regular basis. I live on my own and I used to absolutely love talking to friends on the telephone - it's not always possible to meet up unless you live nearby.

I don't think it's a coincidence that friendship is on the decline when chatting on the phone is also on the decline. I don't think it's age related. I actually don't know what it is. One of mum's friends in her 70s said that she will have a message chat with someone and then find herself wondering "why didn't we just have a phone call?"

I haven't read the whole thread as it's so long. I've read all of your posts. I think probably a lot of posters who message now would have used the telephone in the past, I appreciate younger posters won't have done that.

It's amazing how vociferous people are about not wanting to talk

I think chatting in spaces like here has replaced personal relationships. And I think it's a real shame, but I don't know what to do about it.

One of my failed friendships, I tried to get some phone chat in and I do actually wonder if that's one of the things that made it fall apart. She didn't specifically say to me that she hates chatting on the phone but for whatever reason it just feels like too much for some people these days.

Mid 40s, the only person who rings me just for a chat is my mum. All my friends just text and I much prefer it.

You don’t have to have notifications switched on - there’s no need for anyone’s phone to ping at them any more!

I'm genuinely sorry for that.

I will, thanks ☺️

Yes, but you asked what people do if they don’t live close enough to meet face to face.

If you mean is chatting on the phone easier, more fun and more personal than messaging, then no. For a lot of us, it is considerably less enjoyable.

well you do you.....

Drop in on Alexa

Bur surely having a chat to and fro, face to face, is easier, more personal and more fun than texting?