On 5/2/2013 4:16 PM, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>> sf wrote:
>>>
>>> Screen your calls with an answering machine.
>>>
>> I do that. But having the phone ringing many times a day only to hear
>> <click> when the machine kicks in is driving me to distraction.
>
> An answering machine can't screen calls unless the caller leaves a
> message... many people, including me, don't always leave a message
> unless they have something important to say because they hate playing
> telephone tag... and too many people do not return calls for days only
> to assert dominance. You need to look at your caller ID and if a
> number is displayed that you recognize as someone you know then you
> would be wise to answer your phone, or they will likely make more
> attempts. If I see a number of someone I know I always answer my
> phone... If I can't talk at the moment I simply say I will call back
> at a particular time and then I do... I don't play telephone games,
> especially pretending I'm not there. Before I give out my phone
> number I decide if it's someone I value enough to answer when they
> call and that they will respect me enough to answer when I call. I
> take the telephone seriously, it's an important tool, not a toy for
> playing infantile mind games.
>
I'm not talking about pretending I'm not home, although it is certainly
my right not to answer if I don't feel like it. I'm not a slave to the
telephone.

I was talking about auto-dialed phone calls. They don't display a
number or name. The systems disconnect if they get a machine or
voicemail. They'll auto-dial again periodically. This is particularly
true when elections are going on.

As far as "telephone games", I'll say this. I'm sure as hell not
rushing to check the caller ID if I hear the phone and I'm in the
shower. I don't feel like slipping and breaking my neck because chances
are it's not important. If it is, the person will leave me a message.
Many a time I've been unloading bags of groceries and the phone rings.
They can wait, I'm busy. Then again, I also consider myself busy if I'm
simply sitting outside enjoying a book. Or cooking or eating.

If someone *really* needed to reach me in an emergency, they know how.
But really, nothing short of an evacuation is that much of an emergency.

Jill