For the record

[hummingwolf]

Some of us benighted souls still don't have Caller ID. I know, I know, it's horrible to contemplate such an existence, yet it's a fact of life all the same. Some of us don't even have cell phones, so unless we happen to be in a room where a telephone connected to our old-fashioned landline can be heard as it rings, we will not know that anyone is calling us.

So if you make repeated phone calls to someone without bothering to leave a single message on their machine, please don't assume that the other person must know you're trying to reach them and is actively avoiding the phone calls they have no possible way of knowing you've made. Honestly, that kind of paranoia really doesn't help the image you're trying to cultivate as the Sane And Rational One in any given situation.

(Note: As far as I know, nobody reading the entry has done this to me. But if you ever do find yourself starting to think this way? Stop and take a moment to laugh at yourself. Thanks!)

Comments

NO CALLER ID?

[mommybabou.livejournal.com]

OMG, you neanderthal!

*runs away, giggling*

Re: NO CALLER ID?

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

::hangs head in shame::

[hai-kah-uhk.livejournal.com]

Okay, I will.

I don't have a cell phone either. I'm proud of this fact, in a sick, twisted way that amounts to "Ha! You can't reach me unless I want you to!" Much like how I don't have speakers on my computer and refuse to hook up the set I own, so that nobody can compel me to listen to their mp3 of their little brother reading poetry aloud.

Okay, okay, it's a stretch. But I don't have anything to rebel against anymore, so I have to get creative.

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Heh. At least you're not one of those people who wanders around the grocery store bumping into other people because you're too busy talking into your phone to notice what's going on around you. Of course, nothing stops you from being one of those people bumping into other people because you're too busy talking to yourself (I, erm, may be guilty of the latter).

Hey, if you want to rebel against something, rebelling against cell phones is as good a choice as anything else.

[hai-kah-uhk.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm a bumping-type people too. I don't always talk while I'm bumping into other people... often I just find the action in my mind infinitely more interesting than anything going on externally. I'm sure that's not too hard to believe. :)

And yes, I agree that cell phones are worth rebelling against. I'd be morally opposed to them if I had any morals. I'm sure I have some morals, but they're generally not there for the purpose of opposition.

[xforge.livejournal.com]

I fricking hate when people don't leave messages on my machine. WTF do you think I have a machine for you idiots????? Grr, Arrgh!! = )

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Heh. Some of the worst offenders are people who complained for years about my not having a machine.

People are pretty much insane.

[xforge.livejournal.com]

"Where the hell have you been? I called you six times yesterday and no answer!"

"Did you leave voicemail?"

"Oh no, I HATE talking to those things."

(stab repeatedly)

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Eek! In fairness, I've been known to call people repeatedly without talking to a machine (though I stopped doing this so much since a friend told me that that messes up the info on her caller ID). But even if I've called people some ridiculous number of times that day, I don't get upset or whine that they're avoiding me if they had no way of knowing I called!

[evilhenchcat.livejournal.com]

I was bumping around journals and stumbled on this one--this is one of my pet peeves. I actually have on my voicemail message:

"If you are thinking of calling me every 5 minutes in the hopes of perstering me to pick up, please don't call again. Ever."

I hate that sh*t!

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Heh. Though I do sometimes call people more times than is reasonable, I wouldn't call someone every 5 minutes unless I had some reason to believe there was an emergency. Calling that often just to pester someone into picking up? Nah, I left high school ages ago.

[sophy.livejournal.com]

Amen!
Actually, I am often avoiding the phone. But I don't think there's anything wrong with that, either. Must I be in the mood to talk just because you are? Gah, that's what the voice mail is there for. Leave me a damned message and tell me when you're free to talk, and if one of those times works for me, I'll call you then. Don't just expect me drop whatever I'm doing and talk to you any ole time you want!

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Actually, I am often avoiding the phone. But I don't think there's anything wrong with that, either.

Neither do I. I guess we're both just weird, eh?

[sophy.livejournal.com]

Yea, but we knew that already! ;)

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I do like it when the cautionary tale is something there is not remote possibility I could have done wrong, as it saves me all kinds of misplaced guilt.

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Hee! The post was just an expression of frustration. As far as I know, nobody who's acted this way with me is likely to be reading my LJ. No guilt intended for anybody here!