if I don't like talking on the phone?

[BeyonceZ]

I prefer to email or text if non-emergency.

How do I tell someone who calls me that I'd rather text without being offensive?

Well some people don't like to text so you may have a problem there. If it's a friend Would it really hurt to take the call and keep it short?

I'm the same. I can say what I need to quicker by text or email than over the phone.
I don't tend to answer my phone unless I have to
Everyone that knows me knows I will be in touch when I'm free.

*If it's a friend Would it really hurt to take the call and keep it short"

If it's a friend would it really hurt to email or text?

If it's an organisation, you can often say how you would prefer to be contacted. If you send them an email, tell them you want them to email you back. Don't give a phone number, or if it's a compulsory field just fill it with zeros or something.

YANBU, it's fine to not like phones. I particularly don't like voicemail as people don't just say "it's x can you phone me back, number is y" but leave a long involved message that I don't want to listen to. And they rattle through their number so quickly, without repeating it, that I have to relisten to the long involved message. An email is so much easier.

And you don't play phone tag all day when you ring and they're in a meeting. Then they phone back and you're on the loo. Then you call back and they're at lunch. Etc.

Yanbu

Just say you don't like talking on the phone, only text.. that's all you need to say. I'm the same OP! Texting is much nicer.. no immediate response required!

I don't like talking on the phone either. Would rather email and text initially but if it's a nearby friend then meeting up for a chat is way better. I also find phone calls so intrusive as they always come at dinner time, in the middle of your favourite TV or when in a rush so unless you know someone's routine really well I prefer not to call.

I tell people I "don't do phonecalls". No one usually makes a bother but if they do I tell them that I never have my phone on me any way ..which is true enough.

I have a friend who is similar and she just tells people "I don't chat on the phone"

Fine, I have never thought twice about it. I just text and email. I also have a friend who has dyslexia and she never uses texts or emails as she finds them very stressful - she likewise just tells people not to text her and rather to phone her.

Me too, I hate talking on the phone. I vary rarely do.

Am on phone a great deal at work. At home nowadays it's usually only my mother who phones.

I hate it too. I end up chatting shit because I'm scared of awkward silences.

It depends - if it's at work then YABU, I'm not at all keen on the phone but it's a really important way of establishing and maintaining a relationship with colleagues and stakeholders, so I grin and bear it rather than ask people not to call me. Sometimes it's much quicker and easier to talk someone through an issue than to have endless back-and-forth email exchanges, so colleagues who don't answer their phone or try to prevent people getting their number get short shrift from most people.

If it's family or friends - a lot more info can be conveyed in a call than a text, although email can be a good substitute. However, if it's someone you don't see face to face often it's difficult to maintain a close relationship via words on a screen (not impossible but harder). There does need to be some compromise on both sides and an understanding that you both need to communicate in different ways so a mix is probably best.

I just say that I hate phone calls. And I only answer the phone if it's someone that I'm prepared to talk to (so rarely). Life is too short to suffer needlessly