On Thu, 02 May 2013 17:06:15 -0400, jmcquown >
wrote:

>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.

If you feel like a slave to the telephone then maybe you need to
reconsider having a phone... in this high tech world you really can't
have a phone where you get to choose who calls you and when. You
either go along with teh program or suffer the consequences of
receiving an inordinate number of annoying calls... remember, you're
the one who started this thread, you're the one with tha problem,
you're the one who asked for help... so don't pull a Julie.

No, you're not compelled to answer your phone, but if you don't then
you're setting yourself up for receiving an extra ordinary dose of
annoying phone calls, especially with your phone number in your
answering machine message. If you're there you do yourself a big
favor by picking up before your answering machine comes on, and it
just may be someone you know who's calling, then you can either talk
to them or head them off at the pass by saying you're busy and will
call them back... otherwise they may keep trying to get you. I very
often receive calls from people I know when I am unable to talk (and
you know why), it's better for me to call back when it's convenient
for me talk... and when I say I will call back at a particular time I
do, it's very rude not to.

>I was talking about auto-dialed phone calls. They don't display a
>number or name.

That's not true, I get lots of auto-dialed calls that display a phone
number and many a name as well... my mail order pharmacy auto-dials
several times a week, I see the number and the state(s), they have
offices in I think five states but all with the same 800 number...
those calls are to say an Rx was sent, then again to ask if I have
questions about the medicine to call their phamacist, another call to
apprise me that it's my last renewal and to explain the several
procedures for renewal, and other calls too... can be annoying but I
need to answer or the robot keeps dialing, and naturally I need the
Rx. My local Rite Aid also does auto-dial, they display their phone
number but not their name... I always pick up when I see that number
because the instructions are almost always important and if I ignore
it the robot keeps dialing. My doctors the same... in these high tech
times nearly every business auto-dildoes.

>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.

For some strange reason I don't ever get political/survey calls

>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.

Naturally if you're truly indisposed it's a given you're not going to
answer a call.

>Then again, I also consider myself busy if I'm
>simply sitting outside enjoying a book. Or cooking or eating.

I don't consider those situations such that I can't answer a call...
it's far better to answer and say you just sat down to dinner and
you'll call back in an hour... I'd not have the nerve to tell a friend
I can't talk now, that reading a book is more important then our
friendship.

>If someone *really* needed to reach me in an emergency, they know how.

In a *real* emergency no one will call you, you're the last person
they'd think to call, they'll dial 911.