to hate speaking to people on the phone?

[Megatron]

I am aware this makes me sound like an anti social arse but I really actively avoid actually talking to other human beings on the phone. I am pretty friendly and sociable but I will text, FB message ANYTHING to avoid it. I have even been known to phone people when I know they're out so that I can leave a message for them and not talk. What the hell is wrong with me?

I don't know what's wrong with you but whatever it is, I've got it too. I absolutely hate phones and have to really work up to it if I really need to phone anyone. Email is my friend.

I hate phones too.
I do tend to partially lip-read so I find phones tiring and awkward. But I suspect I'd be the same even if I could hear properly. Nasty, intrusive things.

I'm the same.

I actually work in a customer-facing role, always have done, so have to make/take calls at work and it doesn't bother me, I don't think about it in all honesty.

However, at home, I actively avoid calling people (friends and family) I just find it so awkward and feel under pressure. I have no idea why.

You wouldn't guess it from my posts on MN, but I don't talk lots and lots in social situations. I am far more comfortable with written/typed conversations.

I consider myself sociable, but only in situations where I am comfortable. I can't walk into a room and just start chatting to strangers (I have friends who can do this and I am very envious!) I am comfortable in a group of people where I am not the one doing all the talking as I find myself going OTT and talking utter shite just to fill the silence!

In a work situation I force myself to be 'perky' and chatty when meeting customers face to face - it takes a lot to do though.

I actually tut to myself if the phone rings in a 'how dare you' fashion. Terrible.

Ha me too. I would much rather talk face to face with someone than use the phone. I don't know why I'm like this. Sometimes I have to write down what I need to say before I ring someone because I get myself all tongue tied.

YANBU

I hate using the phone. Hate hate hatey hate hate ON STILTS. Will go to great lengths to avoid having to do so. Blegh.

I'm glad its not just me. I used to spend hours on the phone in my twenties but now its just such an effort.

briancox I could have written your post!

I hate talking on the phone. Find it awkward and annoying. Actually feel anxious if my phone rings when I'm not expecting it!

I too work in a customer facing role and regularly have to answer the phone and make calls. Doesn't bother me - don't give it a second thought really!

I will email and text everyone if I can get away with it. I even figured out how to get straight through to someone's voicemail rather than having to have a conversation!

I am exactly the same!

I hate it. Really hate it. My first Saturday job, I had to call and remind optician patients of their appts. I used to not dial the last number, and leave a pretend voicemail message to nothing. It terrified me that much. Id also flip the phone to mute so it wouldn't ring and I wouldn't have to answer it.

My second job, the manager clicked that I avoided answering the phone and literally chased me around the restaurant one night and forced me to answer it. I got slightly better after that.

In my current job I will email, or go direct over using the phone. I hate it.

Me too. I'm also sociable and friendly but dislike many forms of remote communication including written but especially phones. After much thought I think this is because I rely quite a lot on non verbal cues and it matters to me that people take what I'm saying in the way it was intended. - I hate accidentally offending someone for exsmple! It's much easier to assess the response to what you say face to face.

Briancox, I work in a frontline role too, where answering the phone plays a major part. Doesn't help being whinged at by patients who think they are the only patients that attend the hospital.

Strangely enough, lip biting is another major part of my role that runs alongside the phone calls....GO F@#KING PRIVATE THEN, YOU UNGRATEFUL...grrrr.

I personally think this is why I would rather text, than speak on the phone when at home. Too much like being at work. I am on a monthly contract to send texts's, but not for calls, though.

Our landline phone is on a quiet-ish ring so not to disturb me too much.
And when it does ring, megatron, I also do the 'how very dare you' thing.
Sorry,meant to say, no, YANBU.

My first job entailed taking a person's address over the phone and then post ing them an application form. If the manager was sat next to me I would disconnect the phone so that it wouldn't ring. I can't stand people listening to me on the phone. If I'm alone, its OK.
At work I have to take calls which are checked randomly. I feel so embarrased when I know someone is listening to me. I don't know why.

I hate talking on phones too. I did it at work because I had to. Now I don't if I can avoid it. Even arranged dc swimming lessons via messaging on fb.

I don't mind business/admin calls but I hate social calls. The only people I ever call in the phone for a chat are my parents (and DH if he's working away). I always arrange to see friends via text and I would never, ever ring for a chat.

I'm quite normal really but I do think this makes me a bit odd. The idea if ringing a friend "for a natter" leaves me cold.

Nope, YANBU, I having a feast of recognition here! I HATE phones, borrowing stilts!! Did also happily chat away when I was younger but now I just hate it and will do a lot LOT LOT to avoid. English is not my first language which makes it more difficult I guess, if people have an accent or I don't know them or they talk too fast I feel silly if I don't understand them, hyperfocus and it gets just too tiring. Used to work as a social worker, very stressful and phone stress is not something I seem to be able to 'get over'. Did not know there were so many of us!

The weird thing is that if I'm phoning a bank or a retailer or something I go mad if I have to deal with a machine and not a real person. It appears that I am just an awkward bastard.

Me too, OP. I HATE the phone. I am quite sociable and love talking to people face to face, but I hate the phone.

Luckily, I work in an international area, and most of my colleagues and clients are in different time zones, so I communicate with them 90% of the time by email.

Me too! DS almost missed out on a party last week because the other mum had only put a landline number on the invite and I had to ring rather than text to RSVP. It took me about four days to psych myself up for what was literally a five-second conversation. It's pathetic! I always worry that I'll be ringing at a bad time or interrupting something vital.

YANBU. Any other method of communication is preferable.

Just remembered.....our house phone never rings as I have turned the sound off.

Moi aussi! I screen almost every call, even if it means I have to call back - I suppose it means I do that under my own conditions. I used to be a real party animal, would chat to friends for hours on the phone. Now I hate it. Although when I worked I used the phone all the time. I think you are a bit weird and so are we all.
Seriously it can be an issue. I have ignored kindly phone calls from relatives since my Dad's death, even resorting to answering but when I realise who it is bellowing "Hello? Hello? HELLO????" then tutting and putting the phone down. Not sure if that foold anyone but it gets rid of them, anyway. How awful is that?

I've done that too Flossy how awful is that?

I hate phones too. Thank god I've got caller id so I can just ignore any numbers I don't recognise or people I can't be bothered talking to. My mum can talk pure drivel for hours on the phone and I'm get to the point ASAP, goodbye.