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I hate telephones

jameshfisher.com

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Re: I hate telephones

#251

Post by SerLava »

anotherevan wrote: post #111

I’m probably a bit the other way in that I get frustrated with text messages going back and forth and back and forth when a one minute phone call will sort everything out far more efficiently. Probably also has something to do with hating tapping away at tiny virtual keyboard on the phone, too. My teenage daughter seems very reluctant to make a phone call. Watching her try and organise something with her friends driv…

> “Why don’t you just call them, and get it all figured out right now?”

Because it's rude. It has always been rude, but now with the phone in your pocket it's that much worse. She doesn't know what her friend isn't doing at the moment, and shouldn't impose.

The featured article gives a better impression of this than I can... but I'll add that the tragedy of the commons is a factor.

You can't just show up from outer space and scream out of someone's pocket whenever you want. This will hopefully be a fleeting technological phenomenon.

Re: I hate telephones

#252

Post by georgeecollins »

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 use Truecaller on my Samsung phone and it really helps.

Re: I hate telephones

#253

Post by astura »

I literally will patronize business that cost a little more just because they let me schedule online.

For me, I'll give an example - chimney sweep. The company I use lets me request a service appointment online and lists it's prices online. The rest I saw I had to call for both prices and appointments. No, thanks.

Re: I hate telephones

#255

Post by tony101 »

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 am not a lawyer, but if you can figure out who is calling you, I believe you can file a lawsuit against them for violating the TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act), which carries statutory damages of up to $1,500 per violation.

Sources:

https://michaelrkn.github.io/how-to-sue-a-telemarketer/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/legalnewsline/2016/08/25/filing...

Re: I hate telephones

#256

Post by astura »

paulie_a wrote: post #231
drewmol wrote: post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just curious where you got this information? I did it online a few years ago and iirc I was able to opt out of all the spammy 'covienience' services offered by USPS affiliates

From the USPS directly. I recently attempted to do it online and that was not an option available. I emailed them regarding that and was told I should fill out a card at the post office.

USPS does not sell or disclose phone numbers to third parties.

Re: I hate telephones

#257

Post by jessriedel »

SerLava wrote: post #251
anotherevan wrote: post #111

I’m probably a bit the other way in that I get frustrated with text messages going back and forth and back and forth when a one minute phone call will sort everything out far more efficiently. Probably also has something to do with hating tapping away at tiny virtual keyboard on the phone, too. My teenage daughter seems very reluctant to make a phone call. Watching her try and organise something with her friends driv…

> “Why don’t you just call them, and get it all figured out right now?” Because it's rude. It has always been rude, but now with the phone in your pocket it's that much worse. She doesn't know what her friend isn't doing at the moment, and shouldn't impose. The featured article gives a better impression of this than I can... but I'll add that the tragedy of the commons is a factor. You can't just show up from outer s…

Even if you subscribed to this bizarre principle that it's rude to call someone unannounced, you could always just ask by text.

Re: I hate telephones

#258

Post by Feniks »

simonbarker87 wrote: post #184
Feniks wrote: post #101

Want to reach me? WhatsApp or a good old fashioned email. Your call be unanswered and I haven't listened to voicemail in years. Life is too short for inane babbling. I can read faster than the average person can talk.

But the average person can’t type faster than they can talk. Generally a conversation has two sides and typing forces both sides to express themselves in a much slower manner, the time you save reading you will waste typing

Typing forces people to think before they act. It is marvelous. Synchronous communication is overrated. A well written message of a few sentences can replace an hour of talking.

Re: I hate telephones

#259

Post by daveFNbuck »

vilmosi wrote: post #109
kemayo wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Strangely enough, given Android's comparatively-customizable nature, I think this is an area where iOS does it better? (Others might correct me.) iOS 10 added "call blocking" as an app-type, which lets you choose apps which can filter phone calls for you. They can flag calls as possible-spam, or completely block them. (See [1] for Hiya's options screen, as an example.) An "only ring for my friends" feature is sort of…

Android can absolutely do this. Either via settings or replacing the default calling app.

How can you do this via settings in Android? I've spent hours searching for the answer and have yet to find it.

Re: I hate telephones

#260

Post by mbrameld »

giblfiz wrote: post #146
gonehome wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think that’s basically what this company does (though I haven’t used them): https://www.zirtual.com/plans-pricing

In general this doesn't work out as well as you would hope. In many cases (financial, medical, legal) another person can't trivially act as your agent. (I.E. your secretary can't do it for you) I think the very wealthy handle this via specialists with specific licensing, but I personally had no luck going the virtual assistant route.

Is that true even with a power of attorney?
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