to think phone calls are an arrogant, intrusive form of communication?

[oranges]

You decide you want to talk to someone, so pick up the phone, dial and basically insist that they talk to you RIGHT NOW whatever they may be doing. Yes, there is voicemail, but if someone knows you are home, its hard to not pick up. I much prefer emails, texts, even people ringing the doorbell.

I totally agree. I often take the 'phone off the hook in the evening (provided that DC are safe at home) to avoid this intrusion. I am ex directory and give short shrift to any sales people who call. When I am asked if i may be contacted regarding future products of interest, I always say e-mail is fine but I do not want to be contacted by telephone. If I do have to give a 'phone number I will give my mobile, which is genrally left on silent - but I always pick up e-mails and texts ery quickly on my BlackBerry. It's much more time efficient to communicate that way. Sorry, just me - although DH is the same - I know people who are never off the 'phone and that's their choice, but it's not mine!

YANBU. Loathe the bloody phone. Am on it all day at work - the last thing I want to do is have people yacking in my earhole all evening too. If you ignore it long enough, eventually people stop calling. Result!

Yes, we don't have any phones in our house because if we did, I'd find the temptation all too much and I'd end up picking them all up at once.

We only have grapes and bananas.

YABVU - If you don't want to pick up the phone, just don't pick it up. Or say that you're busy and offer to ring back later. Surely ringing the doorbell is far more intrusive - you can't pretend not to be in as they can look through the window, and you are obliged to invite them into your house, however messy it is, and offer them food and drink.

Whilst emails and text have their place, phonecalls are much more personal, you can hear their voice and have a proper two way conversation.

I agree as well. Only a select few people will I answer to 'on the spot' -everyone else gets 'screened' especially anyone that wants to chat aimlessly on the phone.

Arrogant and intrusive ? What nonsense put your ansafone on or just dont pick up

I like talking to people ,maybe I'm odd

I do try and say to the callee ""are you busy? Can you talk for a min''? Cos in all the years I have been a Mum both my Mum and Auntie always happen to phone when I am busy and just go straight into conversation.

YANBU.

My heart sinks when our house phone goes. Unless its at a time when I definatly know it will be dh from work. When he's here I make him answer and he knows that he will be in trouble if he hands over the phone to me and there is anyone other than my Mum or my best friend on the other end.

I'd much rather people call my mobile, than you have a choice to ignore it what you can see who is calling, and it's easy to say it was on silent or whatever.

You sound weird... get caller display and only pick up the calls that you want to.

Telephone calls are quite normal - on my planet anyhow. It's usually only older people - anyone under 50 texts or emails

YANBU. I hate talking on the phone!

Eh? If I ring someone, I'm not insisting they talk to me, I'm finding out whether they're free to talk. If they're busy, presumably they will either not pick up, or pick up and ask me to call back later.

It's only rude if you keep calling until you get an answer.

I hope everyone you call ignores you then

Yes, ClaraSage - that's just it. People who ring for no discernible reason and then just launch in without checking whether it's convenient. I'm looking at YOU mother. Phone is lovely for people who like to talk. It's a bit fucking rough on the listeners sometimes though.

It's less intrusive than going to someone's house and screeching through the letterbox.

I usually text before phoning anyone to make sure they're in and it's convenient to call though

KitchenRoll, I just have a mobile. I deliberately won't have a landline. Anyone who I want to speak to knows my mobile number!

What gettingeasier said. If you're busy/tired switch the phone ringer off. If you feel that way about the phone - why have one???

i like my phone but im quite chatty.

i dont understand why people dont just switch the ringers off if they dont want calls?

so on that basis, YABU! cos i like mine. and if i didnt want to talk the ringer would go off and the answer phone would go on!

No wonder so many people round here complain about not having any friends.

What with people dropping by/coming to stay/phoning all being too stressful.....

Well assuming that it's not some cold-calling sales call, then the people who ring are my friends or family. Phoning with news, phoning for a chat because they're loney or excited about something. Phoning becuase we haven't spoken for a while and they want to know that I'm OK / family is well. It's communication.

I love it when the phone rings, it lets me know that I'm part of a valued circle of family and friends.

I think you'll find the people who moan about not having friends are not the ones who don't like talking on the phone. Different groups entirely.

I still think the phone is for needy bores who sit around the house all evening feeling left out.

CrispLeCrisp - if that's aimed at me, I actually like people dropping by, I was just pointing out that if you object to phone calls because they're intrusive, surely visitors are more intrusive.

I have one to use when I want to phone people Llanbobl. I just don't. Like the fact that it works both ways!

I don't use my landline and it's not plugged in - just have to have it for broadband. And I turn my mobile to voicemail if I'm busy - probably about 70% of the time.