Confession: I have major phone anxiety.
Sure, Tiff and I once set, what has to be, a world record by talking on the phone for a whopping 8 1/2 hours.
Sure, Katie and I still talk on the phone about 4 times a week, sometimes for longer than average periods of time.
It's not talking to my friends that worries me, it's not even talking to people I don't know that worries me, it's the actual ACT of making the phone call.
What if I interrupt the person in the middle of something important?
What if I catch them off guard and they don't know how to respond?
What should I say when they answer... especially if it's a cell phone, is it stupid to ask for the person, should I assume it is their phone?
I also have this random fear that I am going to forget who I called or what I'm doing while the phone is ringing. I know... irrational.
It is my PET PEEVE when I e-mail someone, and they respond, "I'd love to talk about this further, call me at _____" If I wanted to talk about this on the phone, I'd have CALLED you. Would someone ever call someone back to say, "hey can you e-mail me?" No! Get with the times people. E-mail is where it's at. E-mail can be read and responded to at a time that is best for both people. Let's say you are one of those "I don't like things in writing" people (obviously I'm not haha), then let's make plans to get together. Yes, I'd rather meet up with someone any day rather than talk on the phone. True story.
This is actually a fear I've tried to do something about, since turning into a stress mess whenever I have to call someone is kind of a pain in life. In college, I volunteered for the admissions office at BC. I was in charge of calling people to congratulate them on getting into BC and asking if they have any questions about the school. Yes... 2 hours of nothing but CALLING PEOPLE. It's called facing fear and kicking it in the butt.
Well, this didn't really work... sure, I made it through those 2 hours with only a small amount of panic. But, unfortunately, calling high school students did not translate into life after college where I'd have to call my student's parents (only if I absolutely HAVE to haha), and other random people that I usually care slightly more about than some random high school student.
I continue to wonder what the best time to call is, what I should say when I do... etc, etc, etc. And then, after all that- I usually get a machine and then my "duty" is still not over, I have to wait for them to call me back (which is less anxiety inducing than calling people but does not leave me with the "my job is finished" e-mail that writing up an e-mail and pressing the send button does).
Are you a phone person or do you prefer e-mail? Do you have any other random fears that you have tried to overcome?
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Oh my gosh, I HATE when people call me in response to an email. I love email 1) because it gives me an exact record of the exchange, no mincing words that are preserved electronically, and 2) it allows me to do a bunch of things like run to meetings, talk to colleagues, etc while I get in touch. I am just not really used to talking on the phone anymore, even to my friends.
ReplyDeleteTotally an email person here. I screen calls like it's my job and have no remorse.
ReplyDeleteEspecially when it comes to dealing with parents I try to be strictly email. I love the instant transaction record. No he said, she said!
I HATE the phone also and much prefer email or BBM. I really had to get over my phone fear in journalism school though and one time I picked a random woman out of the phonebook to call for an interview - that was nervewracking but she ended up being a great source for the story!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the phone anxiety! Nothing freaks me out more than having to make a cold call. It's much easier to take care of details over email.
ReplyDeleteThis is totally me!!! I pray while the phone is ringing that I get their machine!!! I even hate calling to order food!
ReplyDeletei have such a huge case of phone anxiety. which is terrible because i have to call people (and pharmaceutical companies!) every day. it's so scary and i sweat every time. hopefully it gets easier as time goes on? hahah
ReplyDeleteI don't mind email, but sometimes I would just prefer to talk on the phone because it would be easier. I see your point about not knowing when to call...especially when people all eat dinner at a different time. This is something Patrick would worry about and I wouldn't think about at all. Hahaha...
ReplyDeleteIn general, I kind of HATE the phone... I am more of a bbm or email person. The exception is when there is too big of a story to tell and I don't feel like typing it out... or if it's a sensitive subject and things could get misconstrayed over email... other than that, I am all about email.
ReplyDeleteseriously, we are TWINS. every "admission" you make i am like THAT IS SO ME TOO! lol. when i have to call a vendor for work i stress about it for a couple hours before finally making myself call them (and it's never anything worth stressing over either of course).
ReplyDeleteAhhh I'm the EXACT same way!! I can talk to friends, no problem, but anyone else, I freak. NO idea why. I think I just way over-think it and then I ask all the same questions to myself you do. Also, I'm a writer, so I think I'm much better at taking the time to get my thoughts down in writing. Basically I sit and stare at the phone for 10 minutes before calling... Or else I just say, "I'll call tomorrow" and I instantly feel better. Until tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThe ironic thing is... Though I LOVE when I can just leave a voicemail, I leave the longest most ridiculous voicemails ever. I just do not know how to end them. Ugh. I'm getting all panicked just thinking about this. Glad I'm not alone! :)
Sues
OMG! I thought there was something wrong with me. I'm terrrrible with the phone. T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E!! I always talk out of turn, interrupt, and then spend the a majority of the convo going, "You go" "No you go" "you go first"
ReplyDeleteAHHH!
Emails people. 21st century.
Iy yi yi.
I love emailing and love that my parents are on the email bandwagon this year! Just today I emailed a parent to let her know about some poor behavior and she emailed me back and it didn't take a whole 20 minutes of my day. I prefer being able to really formulate what I want to say. Also, twice this past week I mis-identified parents as the wrong gender when calling about conferences...Yikes. I was so embarrassed.
ReplyDeleteOh, jeez. I am WAY MORE an e-mail person. I hate, hate, hate calling people, especially when it's for a source for a story.
ReplyDeleteI also feel that way, though, about g-chat. Sometimes, I don't message a person because I'm afraid they'll be too busy and don't even realize they're on g-chat, ha!
EMAIL!
ReplyDeleteI hate calling people. Sometimes I give myself rewards I hate it so much. Like I can spend 15 minutes reading blogs if I call x person. Or candy. Works every time.
Holy crap, i could have written this. I have NEVER liked calling people. I would always rather email. I was stoked when texting became "in" because it meant less time on the phone for me!
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of phone calls AT ALL. We rarely answer the phone at home and I only call someone if it's REQUIRED. I also hate hate when people respond to an email asking me to call. I usually don't do it and reply instead. :)
ReplyDeleteI am so not a phone person. And part of my job is to be on the phone all day- so I especially hate it outside of my job!
ReplyDeleteI too suffer from this. I make my husband make all phone calls if possible hahaha. I would rather go drive to a business to talk to them in person. And email is sooo much better. Would rather email all day long. If you call me and I don't know your number? Voicemail. If i know your number but have no idea why you would be calling me? Voicemail. (in hopes i dont have to call you back hahaha)
ReplyDeleteI hate talking on the phone. Even when I call my husband, I try to get off the phone as quickly as possible.
ReplyDelete