<p>I just read the umpteenth CC post by a student looking for information that could be easily obtained by making a simple phone call. Will all my credits from community college transfer to my new school? What does this line of my financial aid letter mean? Can I move into my dorm before 8 am? And on and on. I understand that sometimes one gets put on hold for ages, or leaves a voicemail that’s never answered, but it seems in most of these cases the poster has never tried to call at all. The concept of making a “business” call to obtain information seems to be overwhelming to many young people. But certainly it would be far more efficient to simply place the call rather than post on CC and check back for a response–which may never appear or not be reliable. </p>
<p>I think this is a relatively new phenomenon that comes with the dominance of communicating primarily by text, IM and Facebook. (I won’t even get how deficient–lacking tone and nuance–I find non-spoken communication.) My own D finds speaking to someone on the phone to be very uncomfortable, and if it’s in a non-social context, I’m sometimes asked “What should I say?” Once when a friend’s cell phone was not working properly and she didn’t happen to be logged on to her IM service or looking at Facebook, I suggested a call to the girl’s house to answer a pressing question. My D was horrified–“What if her mother answers?” A spontaneous conversation on the phone just seemed too awkward, even though she would have happily chatted with the woman if we’d run into her in the supermarket. Even leaving a voicemail makes my D trip over her words. </p>
<p>When I was a teen, I spent literally hours on the phone with friends, so communicating that way was never unnatural to me. Ah well, I guess I’m just another old codger looking back fondly on the good old days…</p>
<p>Phone calls seriously stress me out. I do not text either. I think my issue stems from my parents divorce where my father would call up yelling on the phone and whatnot.</p>
<p>I sometimes am guilty of asking people questions that a call can most likely fix, but not because of calling itself. I mean, I send texts regularly that are over 100 words to few hundred, and I’ve sent several Facebook messages ranging from 1000-2000 words, so I love that type of communication (of the electrical kinds), but sometimes I would rather get an answer from someone I know for little reason other than preference. </p>
<p>Left a voicemail today about inquiring my status on signing up for a class, and had to remind myself to cut it short : P. Also had a several minute conversation with a teacher that randomly called me the other day-- its never a preferred method of talking except with family. Really if I feel like talking the phone is as easy as in person (I pace around constantly with my thoughts only on the conversation while on the phone), but it’s more of a nuisance when I’d rather not talk, since I put all of my energy into it.</p>
<p>Asking on a forum is a little lazy, but I can relate to the thought process- the method to receive the information is there, but your mind would like you to believe that its more difficult or a longer process than asking someone else. Anyways, my parents too often tell me to call to find out information, and in certain situations I find myself with the mindset you stated- it could also be that typing things out is on your own time and you can more easily guarantee the meaning you want from the words, plus you can elaborate, which I enjoy : ), although I’m sweating from the heat of this room and need to get to my room and sleep, so I must end it here without much of it.</p>
<p>DS hates the phone too. I practically forced him to take a receptionist job last year so that he could get over his fear. He is much better now, but will go to any lengths not to call unless it was absolutely necessary.</p>
<p>The phone is intrusive, and it leaves no written record of the communication. I can see why people prefer other methods of communication in most instances.</p>
<p>I worked in an office when I was young, then worked from home for 20 years, and then went back to an office environment about four years ago. I couldn’t believe how quiet it was at work, compared to what it had been like in the earlier period. The phones ring so rarely now.</p>
<p>I know plenty of 40+ year olds that won’t pick up a phone to ask questions either. I don’t think it is a new phenomenon at all. There are a lot of reasons for that. It’s no different then parents coming here asking questions about schools, classes to take, etc., etc. This board is here to gather information so what is wrong with asking??</p>
<p>My dd is the same way - phone phobic - she calls texting “talking” - ha! But my DS who is 15 is much better on the phone. Just more of his personality!</p>
<p>I will call when needed but am not crazy about it. I prefer to send a business email written like a letter with the points that I need clarification on. That way my question is more clear and the answers are usually quite specific. My daughter is the same way, but her brother is a caller. He would always call up anyone to find out what he needs from business hours to availability of items that he wants etc. H much prefers to talk in person. DH is the same way. They are both extroverts and talkers, though. D has always talked brother into making calls about logistics. He will look up numbers in the old school phone book or online to make business calls. It’s just how he is - no special “nurture” or culture involved.</p>
<p>The other thing about sounding out a chat board and better, writing an email is they aren’t time dependent. Living on the west coast by the time I get into needing information it is often after business hours on the east coast. With email I can send it when I think of it and they can address the question at their own convenience - often by the time I check messages in the morning if they deal with their messages first thing.</p>
<p>Hahaha, me and my mom call it “phone phobia” and we believe it exists! I also have a cousin who swears she too has it. I don’t think it’s a generational thing.</p>
<p>Btw, I am really good at getting answers to my questions from websites ( it seems more reliable to me) since it is all written down and I can refer to it at any time.</p>
<p>The rest of my family doesn’t like to answer the phone due to solicitations. I had one such call last night and it took about ten minutes to say no a bunch of times so my wife saw how I deal with these things but she doesn’t like to deal with them herself.</p>
<p>Son basically learned to deal with things in-person and over the phone in his first real job. Daughter is pretty good at dealing with people on the job. A lot of kids use the approach which takes the least effort or is the least discomforting. Adults of our generation are comfortable using the phone and have the verbal debating and persuasion skills to use the phone effectively.</p>
<p>I had some phone training in a communications course and in a customer service job that I had a long time ago.</p>
<p>Some people with anxiety issues, especially social anxiety, do have real issues making phone calls. For those of us who don’t have this problem, it’s a difficult concept to grasp. I have a family member with this issue and we role-play the call before it’s made to make it easier.</p>
<p>I do not like getting phone calls. I do not text, I do not even now how. I keep my cell turned off in my car. I do not have Facebook, I do not twit. I do not know how it is not stressful being connected 100% of the time. I like to stay diconnected. I do not know what is stress and how it feels. I feel sorry watching other members of my family having cell on them all the time. I do not even like to listen to music while exercising or doing something else. the only thing I tolerate is TV being on, while I am doing something else, priamrily on news. TV is very boring though, even news are not news after they are repeated ten times.</p>
<p>So, MiamiDAP, how do you stay connected to your friends? I have learned that I need to adapt to the norm in order to stay connected to those that I love.</p>
<p>I have office number and home number and hope that people do not call often. I do not like “nothing” talks, I am not into much talking at all. I feel very rewarded when my kids call me once in a while, the rest of the world better keep it silent.</p>
<p>If kids don’t like to deal with people over the phone - do they not like deal with people in person even more?</p>
<p>At the office, most people come to my office to chat - we don’t do a lot of phone calls - mainly because many work from home several days a week and walking to an office and then emailing them if you don’t find them is often the way to go. I only get phone calls from people that work remotely all the time and want your undivided attention at a particular time.</p>
<p>Well, I am a social person; I like people and I LOVE to talk. Ill pick up the phone and make a call or send a text on my cell. I hate calling a business and getting the 20 step routing machine. I am a loyal Nordstrom customer because they still have an operator that will route your call to the correct department.</p>
<p>The best inquiry is email since then you have something that has been documented. solid reference so to speak. I use email at work, I rarely use the phone, more so that I have to deal with whole Globe and while French and Germans will make sure that they are understood, no such case with UK, some people are better than others, of course. Email is always great, clear cut, great reference, not open to the rest of the world either.</p>
<p>There are many cases where you don’t want documentation of communications and private offices, and sometimes bathrooms, conference rooms and the great outdoors are good places for those communications.</p>
<p>I can understand why people don’t prefer the phone these days overall in comparison to email and texting, but I still think that learning good phone etiquette and being comfortable with it is an important skill. And it’s sometimes a quicker way for problem solving than the email tag game. With business phone calls I just make sure to get the name of the person with which I’m speaking-- not a record but it often helps. </p>
<p>The phone is still our main communication channel in my job (medical office), so a good phone communicator is still valuable!</p>