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I hate telephones

jameshfisher.com

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Re: I hate telephones

#121

Post by [deleted] »

kibwen wrote: post #102
programbreeding wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This isn't exactly what you're asking for but on Android: Settings > Sound > Do Not Disturb > Allowed in Priority Only > Calls From Contacts Only (or Calls from Starred Contacts Only if you really want to lock it down). Optionally enable: If the same person calls a second time within a 15 minute period, allow it (might allow someone really trying to reach you to get through, might also allow a spam caller through).

I appreciate the advice, I hadn't considered using DND, but wouldn't that also silence e.g. texts as well?

[deleted]

Re: I hate telephones

#122

Post by jpatokal »

dataker wrote: post #49

It's not just customers. I manage teams of support engineers/agents. They will do anything to avoid a phone call. Indeed, almost all the time, phone calls lead nowhere, only to emotional distress. If you have a really serious issue, you need to escalate to an actual software/platform engineer, and that's something that takes hours, if not days.

I also manage a support team. Phone calls are indeed not very useful for solving issues, but they are critical for reducing customer anxiety and ensuring that you've understood their problem correctly.

Re: I hate telephones

#123

Post by lazyasciiart »

veb wrote: post #107
_nalply wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had to phone them and reread the text. The first two times they didn't understand me. I felt stupid. It was like shouting nonsense in the woods. Perhaps they have different identification rules for people not in the US.

In NZ they call me with their verification code. A bit hard when I'm deaf... ;-) Took me a few tries!

I had to do that and I'm in the US.

Re: I hate telephones

#124

Post by lifeformed »

Getting a phone call always feels so rude. It's like it's saying, "Whatever you are doing, stop RIGHT NOW and listen to me. NOW! NOW! I'm giving you TEN SECONDS! LISTEN TO ME."

Re: I hate telephones

#125

Post by taf2 »

Uh why allow anyone other than people on your contact list to even get anything other than a busy signal ... I do this on my home phone and mobile. If my phone rings it’s someone I know.

Re: I hate telephones

#126

Post by moonbug22 »

izacus wrote: post #65
kibwen wrote: post #37

I receive about 20 spam calls per day. In contrast, I receive about 0.2 legitimate calls per day. Google itself suspects that these are spam calls, because it pops up a bright red "SUSPECTED SPAM CALLER" warning when the phone begins ringing. And yet, I have found no option to have the phone automatically decline the call. There's not even an option to silence the ringer for any call not from my contacts; I actually…

20 spam calls per day? That sounds like torture... is there really no body in USA that would prevent that from happening? (I've never received a spam call on my now 20 year old phone number.)

Just another reason why it sucks here.

Re: I hate telephones

#127

Post by ipsin »

While I don't have a phone phobia, I do hate how much time it takes to get a simple piece of information.

A recent example: I wanted to book a suite at a hotel. The hotel is not tall, and it overlooks a very noisy bar on one side. Is it possible to get a suite on the other side? Where will I be located, anyway?

This information is not online. Instead I have to engage in a phone call. Spend some time on hold. Bounce between people who work in the hotel and a reservations desk a couple of time. Eventually I get the answer, and it's exactly what I want.

But. I'm bothered in two directions. One, that the information is not at my fingertips.

The other, that I find it irritating to have that actual conversation to get the information I want. I'd like to have a better handle on this mental impatience.

Re: I hate telephones

#128

Post by danieltillett »

ipsin wrote: post #127

While I don't have a phone phobia, I do hate how much time it takes to get a simple piece of information. A recent example: I wanted to book a suite at a hotel. The hotel is not tall, and it overlooks a very noisy bar on one side. Is it possible to get a suite on the other side? Where will I be located, anyway? This information is not online. Instead I have to engage in a phone call. Spend some time on hold. Bounce b…

I think you might find this lack of information is a feature not a bug.

Re: I hate telephones

#129

Post by gonehome »

kibwen wrote: post #97
auggierose wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can install an app that kills all unknown calls. That's what I did.

I've certainly thought about it (if anyone wants to suggest one they use, feel free), but I'm always held back by wondering whether or not those apps aren't simply yet another phone-number harvesting operation selling to spammers. (The fact that it would initially seem irrational to target people who are going out of their way to block spam callers would first require the entire notion of spam calling to be rational…

I use nomorobo and highly recommend it.

They don’t store your contacts in the cloud and access to contacts is even optional (though they won’t be able to block spoofed ‘neighbor’ calls if you don’t give access, but they can label them).

They also market themselves as focused on privacy and they charge a $2/month subscription.

I haven’t gotten a spam call since I’ve used them.

Re: I hate telephones

#130

Post by top256 »

kibwen wrote: post #37

I receive about 20 spam calls per day. In contrast, I receive about 0.2 legitimate calls per day. Google itself suspects that these are spam calls, because it pops up a bright red "SUSPECTED SPAM CALLER" warning when the phone begins ringing. And yet, I have found no option to have the phone automatically decline the call. There's not even an option to silence the ringer for any call not from my contacts; I actually…

I can do it from my Android. I have a block list/block all unknown. It's super easy to access
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