To really hate phone calls

[TwinklyFawn]

I find phone calls really intrusive. I always forget what i want i want to say when i am talking on the phone even if i write down what i want to say first. When i talk to people face to face i have no trouble talking. I prefer texting to phone calls. I can reply later if i am busy.

It depends on the circumstances. Sometimes an instant response is required. For none urgent stuff a message will do.

However, you can't get upset if someone doesn't respond quickly.

I pre-date mobile phones and modern technology so I grew up with using a telephone being the only means of instant communication. My first few jobs involved making regular telephone calls. I also worked in telesales.

As a result making and taking phone calls doesn't faze me at all.

I grew up with technology. I don't expect people to respond quickly when i text. Obviously i would phone in an emergency.

I'm your age, maybe older, and will always avoid phone calls. I much prefer email, text or WhatsApp. If I can do anything online like car tax or renewing my driving licence (because I'm nearly 70) I will do it that way.

I don't love making phone calls but it's clear that in most admin/ bureaucracy/work situations they are more efficient (avoids toing and froing/ prevents the other person employing stalling tactics by asking random questions) and more likely to get you a resolution or a response. We are in the middle of a renovation and this is 100% the case with tradespeople. If you call for a quote, they tend to make an appointment on the call. If you email, half the time they just dont respond. I think it's just the extra effort required on their part and they CBA.

Edit to add: if it's a one way thing like car tax, then yes, online, but when it requires some sort of discussion/ dialogue, phone gets it done quicker most of the time

I hate them too. I panic everytime the phone rings and don't answer unless it's school/ a number I know will be important. I don't like being put on the spot and always say the wrong thing or people please if I'm asked a favour, that would cause me inconvenience, then regret it. I would rather be sent a message, have time to think about my answer and respond in my own time.

I just use the most efficient means to complete a task, so renewing car tax/driving licence/passport etc online is what I would do.

Sometimes booking a restaurant is quicker and easier by phone.

I do a lot online too. There is nothing worse than been on hold for ages.

Same here.

Absolutely hate phone calls, do everything I can to avoid them. They just make me so anxious and I don't really know why.

100% the same! When my phone rings I think..why are you ringing me? Send a text and ill reply when I can!

I like to respond in my own time too.

I have a couple of dickhead relatives who try to ring me for a chat while I'm at work. I have worked Monday-Friday 9am-5pm for the past 25 years so it's not like they don't know. Therefore I don't answer the phone to relatives during working hours. If it's urgent they'll try again or leave a message/voicemail.

No, OP; me too. I HATE phonecalls, and it's getting worse...thk God for texting!

This is one of my annoyances I'm afraid.

Unless someone is mute, or has an auditory/hard of hearing issue, there's no reason they can make a phone call.

I think in this case you're just annoyed by them rather than freaking out about the prospect of having to make one, which is different entirely. It absolutely sucks to be in hold for ages, I get that. I've been dealing with this myself the last week or so because dickhead here lost me phone so I've had to call various people to sort things out. I've heard so many repeats of terrible sounding hold music which IS rage inducing to be fair, but smartphone tech means you can browse other stuff at the same time so it's not the end of the world.

I love having a catch-up call with a friend or family because it makes me feel closer to them when I can hear them.

The thing that pisses me off about phone avoidant people is the idea that they are so fragile that it makes them afraid of using the phone. Seriously? Get a fucking grip it's just a phone call. It's not going to kill you and it won't be forever. I recently saw someone freaking out about their reasonable adjustment at work being removed for phone calls because it "gives them anxiety." Their new boss was quite rightly not having it. A grown adult should be able to make a phone call without having a ridiculous meltdown over it. If someone is having a meltdown at the idea of a phone call then I don't know how they're going to cope when something actually serious happens.

Voicemails and WhatsApp voice messages are even worse!

I hate them so much it's practically a phobia. I had a routine telephone hospital appointment today and I was a nervous wreck beforehand, especially because they rang about 20 minutes late. I was completely incapable of doing anything productive before the call and turned into a babbling imbecile as soon as I answered, even though I knew exactly what I needed to say. I will honestly do anything to avoid talking to anyone on the phone!!

Out of interest, are the people who avoid phone calls also the people who won’t answer the front door?

I like a phone call, particularly if it’s with family or friends. At work, I find I can sort things out more quickly over the phone than via emails (even quicker, and with more pleasantries, if I physically go and talk to the person I need to chat with.)

When i was arranging to have my kitchen fitted i did end up doing a lot by email. They had a nasty habbit of phoning when i was out. When i was in a position to phone back nobody answered the phone.

I prefer an email. That way no one can claim that something was said when it was not

I'm with you, OP. I'm not anxious at taking/making calls, I do it as part of my job. But a phone call is almost always less convenient than a message, text or doing something online. I feel twice as strongly about this now I have a small child at home with me. I can send a message or complete a task online while watching him, whereas chances to step away to make or take a call for more than a few minutes are much rarer. And if someone calls me, it's unlikely to be a moment I can step away from my son.

Being phone only makes me less likely to choose a service as well, if a competitor offers online booking or is willing to text/DM. My experience booking via phone is usually that it takes several attempts to actually speak to someone, or we end up in voicemail phone tag. If I do get through to a tradesman, they often can't make an appointment on the spot anyway (busy, diary at home etc) so another call is needed. Much simpler to just send a couple of texts back and forth, even if technically it might take longer.

It depends on who is at the front door. I will answer the door when it is family or friends. I don't answer the door when it is somebody selling something.

I grew up pre-mobiles too, but I still hate phone calls. Haven't spoken to my husband on the phone for probably 20+ years 😂

Phoning is so much faster, easier, and efficient because parties can respond in real time. It’s also much easier to read people’s emotional state and make jokes. Phone calls are all around superior to texts and emails. I hate texting because it’s too slow and tend to procrastinate on emails. I love a quick phone call to sort everything out.

I really do not understand the anxiety about it! Can someone please try to explain more? Why is it so scary to you?? Are you afraid of talking to people in general?

I hate them. Unfortunately so does my DH. So if we ever have to make a phone call we are sat there trying to convince the other one to do it lol!
We both have to make them at work but that's easier as I know exactly what it is I'm supposed to be doing.
Social calls I absolutely hate. Just send the facts in a txt.

I can talk to people face to face all day. I just dislike dropping everything so that i can talk on the phone.