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I hate telephones

jameshfisher.com

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Re: I hate telephones

#151

Post by mrmondo »

Not alone here, I have my work phone unplugged or permanently on do not disturb (straight to voicemail which gets converted into text in an email), likewise on my cell phone I reject almost all calls and an automatic reply via text saying “I’m sorry, I’m not able to take your call or you’re calling for an unknown number, please email or iMessage me instead”, if the number calling is a land line my carrier converts this to a robo-voice and calls them back to say this, if the number is blocked - tough luck.

Not only are 99% of phone calls a waste of time, you’re inefficient with no written log of the conversation (not even for security but also to improve workflow and prioritisation / memory recall), furthermore the impact of the context shifting from what I’m currently working on / deep in thought over to a jarring phone conversation at the time that suits the caller - is incredibly disruptive.

Re: I hate telephones

#152

Post by TheAdamist »

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?

Dnd-priority on Android does not silence texts from known contacts, I've been forced to use it because of spam calls too.

Re: I hate telephones

#153

Post by quicklime »

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 don't get enough (any) spam calls to do this, but have you ever thought about using http://www.jollyrogertelco.com/?

Instead of blocking the spam calls, it connects a bot that ties up the caller in a pointless conversation for as long as it can. I'm sure this would result in the telemarketers removing you from their lists themselves.

Re: I hate telephones

#154

Post by JumpCrisscross »

I suspect a good fraction of my excess income is a product of enjoying in-person meetings and phone calls and working in tech. For certain classes of coördination and problems, voice is more efficient.

Re: I hate telephones

#155

Post by mastax »

a_e_k wrote: post #145
yoodenvranx wrote: post #133

> If I were rich, I would have a permanent secretary. If I ever play and win the lottery this is the one thing I would spent big money on. No expensive cars, no expensive wine, just a person which takes care of everything. Need a new insurance for the car? Tell the secretary to do it. Car is broken? Tell the secretary to take care of it. Need a hotel? Tell the personal secretary to book one. Phone broken? Just send a…

There's a shared service a bit like that that I've seen discussed here before: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10846540

It's gone from $100/hr to $.59/min ($35/hr) since then. Suddenly I'm much more interested...

Re: I hate telephones

#156

Post by johansch »

mcculley wrote: post #66

I have seen this with young people in general (I don’t know the author’s age). They have anxiety about having a real time conversation on the phone. They don’t seem to have problems talking face-to-face, so it must be related to not being able to see the face of the interlocutor. It is a problem when doing business. Sometimes a phone call is the best way to resolve an issue.

It's a very clear issue affecting loads of millenials.

Re: I hate telephones

#157

Post by tialaramex »

marssaxman wrote: post #143
microcolonel wrote: post #21

I love telephones, they're useful for having efficient and comfortable synchronous conversations. I don't think the level of hatred expressed here is warranted. Yeah, it's annoying when occasionally you receive a phone call at an unwanted hour, but sometimes it's crucial for people to get in contact with you. I have a publicly listed number (in addition to a private one), and I have not received a spam call this year…

Why do you want to have synchronous remote conversations?

Not the above poster but: it is _so_ much faster to figure out what somebody is doing wrong like this.

My first preference is a screenshare or video conference, so I can see what they see. Second is a phone call. Third is live chat like IRC or Slack and emails are a distant last place.

Re: I hate telephones

#158

Post by noir_lord »

I hate the phone because the lack of visual cues and the delay makes a conversation really hard, I find myself starting to talk too early/too late and I find it exhausting.

I really hate the phone when someone rings me and spends 10 minutes getting to the point of the call which is something that could have been done in a text/email, wasn't urgent and largely is a yes/no thing.

Also if you send and email and then ring 20 minutes later to see if I got the email a) I hate you b) I'll DND your extension (I read the manual for our phones at work - I think I am probably the only one who has).

The only person who can actually make my work phone make a ringing noise is the boss, everyone else who isn't on the DND list just makes the display flash blue.

Re: I hate telephones

#159

Post by maxerickson »

gonehome wrote: post #135
maxerickson wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The internet myth is that it doesn't work but all you have to do is answer and ask them to put you on their do not call list. Not give them a big tiresome speech about how they are breaking the law, just ask them not to call anymore ("Please put this number on your courtesy do not call list"). They actually don't want to waste their time...

This depends on the caller. A lot of the calls I used to get were the ones where they spoof a phone number that has the same first few digits as yours to make it seem like a local number and then the caller is a scammer “You owe money to the IRS”, “Your computer has a virus and you have to pay to fix it”. Engaging these callers is probably not useful.

No, it is useful, they still don't want to waste time calling people that aren't going to take part in the scam.

Re: I hate telephones

#160

Post by kinkrtyavimoodh »

charlysisto wrote: post #51
stretchwithme wrote: post #31

I'd love it if my cell phone auto-screened calls from numbers not in my address book. Give them a special message that explains the only way they'll get through is to leave a message. Or that they can register their number in a public registry that fully explains who they are and then I can decide whether to take calls from that number.

Excellent idea, there's a huge market for new phone management apps it seems, what are we waiting for

Mostly no market, given most people would be unwilling to pay for them
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