Do people just not ring each other any more, is this normal?

[Gurolou]

All my friends want to text or WhatsApp, it seems to be a thing, I hate it. We are all in our forties and fifties so texting wasn't even a thing for most of our lives. Is this really the same for everyone and just how things are? Because I actually hate texts and WhatsApp it just feels like stuff piling on top of me, and I miss talking to people.

Well apart from one or two people this is incredibly depressing but confirms what I thought. No one values human contact.

I’m the same. I hate having to text all the time. It just feels like another job to remember. I’m happy to arrange to speak or get together via text but you can say SO much more in less time over the phone. Texting just doesn’t cut it for me. Personally, I prefer FaceTime to calls, as well. I live quite far away from my family so I love a weekly FaceTime call!

My DH, who is pretty good at making a living, reckons that two people talking to one another are more likely to make a profit than people who don't connect to talk. We are very strongly team talk.

So switch off the sound! My phone is constantly on silent.

I do still talk to people on the phone but by and large it's by arrangement at a pre agreed time, then we both know we'll have the time and space for a good blether.

But then I will miss work (self employed).

I never ring anyone except my Mum. But, hypocritically, on the very rare occasion a good friend rings just to chat I really like it.

I arrange chats on the phone regularly if not all that frequently with several friends and family members. Sometimes I ring someone up on the off chance just for the hell of it, thinking what does it matter if they are not free to talk - they will either answer and ask me to ring back, or just not answer. This seems to be a rather bold thing to do these days.
But I love Whatsapp and email too. Like writing a letter but quicker and easier.

My three adult children have all called me today for various reasons. Am so glad they like a good chat. All busy ,but quicker than texting/ WattsApping . We do the above as well but just hearing their voices is lovely especially as one is in Australia.

Agree. My parents were born in the 40’s and they are the only people i know who still make regular phone calls. My mum does use WhatsApp as well but she’s mostly a talker.

I hate talking on the phone. Rather text it’s much quicker.

Reading all these messages, NO WONDER THE WORLD IS SO FUCKING SAD. Most of you won't even talk to your "friends" spontaneously..................

Most people I would imagine. Most of the time anyway!

I'm with you OP. I much prefer a phone call to any sort of messaging, it's much more efficient IMO.

Not at all. I enjoy daily social contact with many people. And to be honest there is nothing more annoying than the phone ringing while I'm in the middle of an actual conversation with a person who is in the room with me.

Who has said they don't talk to their friends spontaneously?

Batshit comment!

Agree100% 👆

This seems to be a rather bold thing to do these days.

See I don't understand how we've got to this stage, where it's "bold" to make a phone call.

I am old school, i use my phone to phone. Nobody leaves me voice notes as they know i will not bother with them. whatsapp i will use for one off messages, if it is going to go back and forth then you better call me or i will stop answering.

That’s a bit of a leap tbh. Peoples preferred meteors of communicating bears no relation to not calling human contact I’d rather meet and talk face to face with friends than have long phone calls.

I'm much older than you and I communicate with friends and family via WhatsApp. If they phone I worry because normally it means something is wrong.

I do both. I love a chat and will ring people if I know they also like a chat - eg I have a friend who hates speaking on the phone, so I WhatsApp her. My best friend and I chat on the phone once a month or so and usually arrange a time earlier in the day. The thing I don’t like is people sending ‘???’ if you don’t reply to a message almost immediately. It makes me want to reply even less.

This. ^ To assume everyone who doesn't talk on the phone to people much - unless it's business/official, doesn't speak to or connect with their friends and family is ludicrous. I SEE my friends and family plenty, and don't NEED to speak on the feckin phone.

Maybe the 'always have to speak on the phone' posters should try seeing people in real life more often!

Only person I phone regularly is my OH…he HATES texting! Phones everyone. He has ASD and dyslexia so anything other than sending pictures or a very short update that doesn’t require a response, he just can’t understand.
Absolutely everyone else I keep up with on WhatsApp. Love voice notes for a group chat, equally don’t mind long messages as updates.
My phone is on silent 24/7, get notifications on my garmin watch so can glance and decide if it’s something I want to pick my phone up
and look at or read later. Busy group chats that are never going to be urgent don’t have any notifications at all.
If I do ever phone my mum/sister for a time sensitive answer they immediately think there’s a dire emergency 😂

I'm 46 and although I don't have any problem picking up the phone, I cannot be bothered to listen to people bleeting on anymore. The only two I speak on the phone to are my husband and elderly mother.
(Apart from doctors, occasional bank and paid services, of course).