are you comfortable using the phone...

[WalterMitty]

no, not really.

[Ebowed]

Sure, why not?

[Indy Texas]

I used to hate it when I was younger. But when you get just about any kind of office job, you make and answer so many phone calls to/from strangers in a given day that it just becomes mundane.

[7,052,770]

When I saw the subject, I was certain you were talking about using the phone while on the toilet...

[dead0man]

Not normally.  Which is odd since I work on phones.



edit....I don't work on the phone....I work on ....no, that's not right.  I maintain phones and their associate equipment.  Right.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

not at all

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Sure, why not?

Yeah... but these results do say a lot about Atlasites...

[angus]

Not entirely, nor with people I do know for that matter.  I avoid the phone whenever possible.  I generally will walk to a person's office rather than try to call them, even if it's in another building.  I also don't check my phone much.  I just don't think of it.  It stays in my backpack most of the time.  If I happen to hear it ring I'll answer it, but usually when I think of think of it, days have elapsed since I last checked it, and I take it out and see that it's dead.  When I plug it in I'll see that I have like 43 text messages and five voicemails or something.  I always ignore the text messages, but I usually bother to listen to the voicemails.  Typically, by then they're irrelevant.  It'll be a five-day-old message from the nurse at my son's school saying he feels sick and do I want to come pick him up?  If I'm actually expecting a call, then I'll walk around with it in my pocket, but generally speaking I guess I never really have been much of a phone talker.

[politicallefty]

When I saw the subject, I was certain you were talking about using the phone while on the toilet...

You weren't the only one.

As for the question, I suppose so. However, I don't really use the phone to just call and talk in general. If I'm calling someone, I have a reason.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I'm always ridiculously awkward on the phone.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

No. I spend my entire working day on the phone.

[memphis]

Depends. I would very much not want to be cold calling people to try to sell something, but I have no problem calling to order a pizza or whatever.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

I've always found using the phone to be weird in general. I strongly prefer in-person or internet/SMS communication.

[Smash255]

I used to hate it when I was younger. But when you get just about any kind of office job, you make and answer so many phone calls to/from strangers in a given day that it just becomes mundane.

This ^^^^^^^

[opebo]

I hate talking on the phone, but it has nothing whatever to do with whether I know my interlocutor.  I just don't like mobile phones in my ear, and I think the sound is very bad.  I prefer text messaging.  I miss the real phones of a better age (though I still wasn't fond of talking on the phone and only rarely did so).

[Torie]

The phone ringing in the midst of my little brain working to solve one of the many mysteries of this planet is one of the most baneful aspects of my existence. But God answered my prayers, by giving me the mute button.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

No.  I never really liked talking on the phone to anyone, especially via cell phone.  Though that's probably because the phones I own are practically crap.

[free my dawg]

My job last summer/fall consisted of talking to people who I don't know on the phone.

[angus]

Depends. I would very much not want to be cold calling people to try to sell something, but I have no problem calling to order a pizza or whatever.

you're so cool.  when we want a take-home pizza, I always get into the car, drive over there, order the pizza, go to whatever stores are nearby and hang out for 15 minutes, then go back to pick up the pizza.

I agree with opebo's comments about real phones.  I didn't like them much either, and my feelings about phones don't depend upon whether the person at the other end of the line is a stranger or an acquaintance, but back then I would at least use them to order pizzas. 

Skype, on the other hand, works well for me.  I've had a number of successful job interviews on skype.  Also, I enjoy talking to folks that way.  It's so Jetsons, don't you think?

[Mopsus]

I'm not comfortable using the phone to talk to people that I DO know. To me, non-verbal communication is just as important in conversation as verbal, so trying to communicate without it leaves me feeling handicapped... almost like I'm trying to navigate a corn maze while blindfolded.

[Supersonic]

It's the worst thing. Thankfully you can now order takeaways online so there is no need for the awkward phone order. Interviews over the phone though, geez, they kill me.

[opebo]

Skype, on the other hand, works well for me.  I've had a number of successful job interviews on skype.  Also, I enjoy talking to folks that way.  It's so Jetsons, don't you think?

I've never used Skype, don't know how.

[angus]

Skype, on the other hand, works well for me.  I've had a number of successful job interviews on skype.  Also, I enjoy talking to folks that way.  It's so Jetsons, don't you think?

I've never used Skype, don't know how.

Oh, it's great.  You point your browser to http://www.skype.com/ and download the free software.  Then you'll set up an account.  You can use the same account on all your laptops, but you'll have to download skype on each of those.  It doesn't take long. 

My wife used to use it all the time to talk to her parents.  When I first saw it, maybe five years ago, I was amazed.  It reminded me of those Jetsons cartoons that came on in the early 70s.  We never really got cars that could fly, or modular houses on poles way up in the sky, but we at least have little picture phones.  The voice quality depends upon your speakers.  I keep proper speakers connected to all our laptops at home. 

Obviously both parties have to downloaded the software and have skype accounts, and the computers at both ends have to have cameras.  If your computer doesn't have a built-in camera and mic, you can buy a USB one from Walmart for about 20 dollars that comes with a driver on CD.

I have a strong preference for skype over phone conversations, but it can be a delicate matter.  Skype is higher maintenance.  If for example you have a telephone job interview, you can stay in your pajamas, unshaved or topless.  If you have a skype interview, a shower, shave, and necktie are in order.  Also, even though I was already married by the time the Jetsons became reality, I can imagine that it causes a tension in the dating scene.  The girl that ended up spending the night at your apartment last night and then disappeared before you awoke (thankfully), may want you to call her at some point, but will she want face-to-face conversation unnanounced?  Will she make you wait till she does her hair?  Will she not answer if she's anxious about her complexion?  Will you not call if you're anxious about yours?  These are issues I haven't dealt with.

[opebo]

'All my laptops'?  Good lord man, I have one elderly second-hand laptop that doesn't work very well at all. 

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Not unless I have to (like when I'm alone and a telemarketer calls.)