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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Apparently there is something wrong with me!

204 replies

Furrydog7 · 16/07/2020 20:34

I hate the house phone with a passion. I much prefer texts and emails as i can answer when it is convenient for me. However my mum thinks that there is something wrong with me as i have the house phone unplugged a lot. She doesn't understand that i don't always want my time inturupted by people talking crap about what they have had for dinner etc and the only way to convey to certain members of my family that i cannot talk is to unplug the phone.

OP posts:
RedskyAtnight · 16/07/2020 21:20

Surely you just get an answerphone? So if it's not convenient for you to answer the other person can leave a message and you ring back when it is?

I think it's odd just to text and email and never want to actually talk to someone. Also, if your mum is of the same generation as mine, she's probably never really got to grips with doing either.

Ohffs66 · 16/07/2020 21:22

We no longer have a house phone. My mother no longer calls me as a result, I have to call her. When I pointed out she could call me on my mobile and I would answer just like I did with the house phone she said 'ooh no I can't do that, you might be busy or you might be out'. Luckily she now has what's app so if she wants to speak to me she what's apps me so I can call her!

mamansnet · 16/07/2020 21:23

Never use the landline as it's only random sales calls. Not even sure why we bother having it!

Hannah888 · 16/07/2020 21:24

All those Mums being told to get with it. I am housebound so don't have a contract for my !mobile so far too expensive to use mobile to chat. Mobile cost around £2 a month not the huge amounts contract cost. I also have emergency calling thingy so landline essential. Perhaps other mums keep it for the same reason.

LadyPrigsbottom · 16/07/2020 21:25

We also have our house phone unplugged as we got so many nuisance calls.

Mnhealth202020 · 16/07/2020 21:26

I’m with you. I text more than call. I don’t have a landline either.

Personally think the days of super long phone calls are over for me!

KilljoysDutch · 16/07/2020 21:28

We have a house phone as do most people I know, I wonder if its perhaps related to how much money you have spare. Most of the people around here, myself included can't afford mobile contracts especially as with social anxiety I'd barely use mine. I send maybe 6 texts a month I don't need a fancy phone for that.

Gobbycop · 16/07/2020 21:30

I know plenty of people with a house phone myself included.

It's called living rural in an area of utter shite reception.

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 16/07/2020 21:31

I have one with the broadband. Never used it though. Don't even know what the number is

Picklypickles · 16/07/2020 21:31

We have a house phone, can't get any mobile signal in the house at all on any network, neither can most people in our village. Nobody would ever be able to get hold of us on our mobiles unless we happened to be out somewhere and we don't go out much!

netflixismysidehustle · 16/07/2020 21:36

Not had a phone plugged into a landline since the early 00s. The landline is purely for the Internet here.

SmileyClare · 16/07/2020 21:37

I don't want my time interrupted by people telling me what they had for dinner etc.

By "people" you mean your mum don't you? Grin

It's your call (pun) but perhaps at least put some time aside to phone your mum on her landline then? Agree a day or time? I get it, my mum will go on a bit about what she had for dinner, her neighbours new car or other boring stuff but I endure it because I love her and she's found lockdown hard. Haven't we all.

Not saying you don't love your mum of course.

Floralnomad · 16/07/2020 21:37

We have a landline still because dh uses it to call his mum and vice versa , I never answer it even if I’m stood right next to it , anybody I want to talk to knows my mobile number .

PinkiOcelot · 16/07/2020 21:43

We haven’t had a landlIne for years. Since the rabbit chewed through the wires. Haven’t missed it at all.

FenellaVelour · 16/07/2020 21:44

I have a landline number, I think, and I have an old 1970s rotary dial phone somewhere in a cupboard which I could plug in if I was desperate, but otherwise I’ve not actually had a landline phone for years.

GinWithASplashOfTonic · 16/07/2020 21:45

Yanbu

We have a landline because our mobile signal is sketchy. I give either mobile or landline number depending on reason.

GinWithASplashOfTonic · 16/07/2020 21:45

Yanbu

We have a landline because our mobile signal is sketchy. I give either mobile or landline number depending on reason.

ChikiTIKI · 16/07/2020 21:46

Never had one in this house (6 years since we bought it).

Don't even know the number!

When children are older (currently toddler and baby), we might get one for emergencies.

Won't tell any family or friends the number though.

MrsTravers · 16/07/2020 21:46

We still have a landline because, despite being less than 30 miles from central London and on the tube, our mobile reception is awful. To the degree that the midwives gave out our number when I had home births as they weren't contactable on their networks (only 1 round here is reliable and even then, I can only take calls in one room).

Surely you just don't answer it if it's not convenient/let it go to voicemail? Exactly the same as a mobile.

MrsTravers · 16/07/2020 21:46

We still have a landline because, despite being less than 30 miles from central London and on the tube, our mobile reception is awful. To the degree that the midwives gave out our number when I had home births as they weren't contactable on their networks (only 1 round here is reliable and even then, I can only take calls in one room).

Surely you just don't answer it if it's not convenient/let it go to voicemail? Exactly the same as a mobile.

Clevererthanyou · 16/07/2020 21:47

Ty op for bringing to my attention the fact that my landline stopped working 2 years ago and I’ve just left it plugged in there like a hoarder 😞 I have to get up and finally get rid don’t I?

bananaskinsnomnom · 16/07/2020 21:49

OP I don’t even know my landline number! If it’s ever plugged in, I have to call my mobile to bring it up!

SmileyClare · 16/07/2020 21:49

PinkiOcelot we haven't had a landline for years. Since the rabbit chewed through the wires. Haven't missed it at all*

The rabbit or the phone? Wink

LockdownLump · 16/07/2020 21:49

We don't have a house phone. My mobile is on silent usually.

I do WhatsApp alot.

I talk on the phone for work for the main part of the day. I don't wanna chat on the phone all night too.

Everyone I know and love, knows I hate talking on the phone and respect that.

Happy with whatsapp convo's all night long, but chatting shit. Nah.

hellolittlebaby · 16/07/2020 21:50

I am 35 and have lived away from home since I was 18. I have never owned a house phone..