Phone Polling

[andrewducker]

[Poll #1278290]

Comments

[dalglir.livejournal.com]

I try never to call/text folk late night/early morning. I don't know if anyone turns off their ring/SMS profile at night and I rarely have anything to say that can't wait until the next day. Txting strikes me as a good way of checking availability because it the receiver can reply in their own time. That is to say, you're less likely to interrupt while they're in a meeting, driving, etc.

[hawkida.livejournal.com]

I'd rather send a text *instead* of making a phonecall. There are a few exceptions, mostly family, but I'll just ring them outright.

[meaningrequired.livejournal.com]

I feel the same.

[meaningrequired.livejournal.com]

My grandparents don't have text, if they did, I'd be a lot more inclined to text them first before calling.

[a-pawson.livejournal.com]

Sending a text before every call seems rather time consuming. If someone is not free, I would expect their phone to be off, or them not to answer.

[cdave]

I suspect that this was, at least in part, inspired by a (now locked) post where I was saying I don't like phoning people partially because you interrupt whatever they're doing.

[andrewducker]

Yup, you're right. It's been brewing for a while, and you triggered it :->

[cdave]

Only fair. hawkida triggered my post.

[matgb]

I concur—I've never liked ringing people except when it's B2B, and even then I'm not keen. That a lot of my jobs have required a lot of calling is probably why I've tended to leave them smartish...

[cybik.livejournal.com]

I say always, but that's not completely true. Depends on circumstances. I'm more likely to not phone someone if I can posibly help it. I really, really, REALLY don't like talking to people on the phone unless it's someone I know very well. And strangers, feh, I'll avoid phoning them for as long as possible.

[kashandara.livejournal.com]

It's entirely dependant on who it is, and what I've got left free on my phone, and if I'm in the mood to actually talk on the phone. For that matter a few of the people I am most likely to call still don't have mobile phones to be honest.

[andabusers.livejournal.com]

Family I'll call whenever even if I know they'll be busy .. Everyone else I'll text first unless I'm supposed to be meeting them.

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

I almost never phone anyone, at all. And if I do, it's usually a thirty second question.

[zz]

on the rare occasions i use the phone network, i'll text OR phone, depending on whether i have a question that requires an immediate answer or convoluted discussion.

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

... "sometimes" - depending on the person, the relationship, the time and so on.

[daisyflip.livejournal.com]

Anyone who likes talking on the phone is evil and should be killed

[bohemiancoast.livejournal.com]

I suspect the 'send a text first' is a generational thing. I never phone unless it's the only way to transact business. Or, exceptionally, my mum.

[marrog.livejournal.com]

I tend to phone people who have a habit of phoning me. If I can't even remember having been phoned by someone I probably won't phone them. So I'll talk to yourself, Sarah, Debbie and the like on the phone if I need to organise something but I'd probably text, say for example, Julie.

Then there's the fact I'll probably also phone people I can't rely upon to read or answer text messages. I'll almost always phone Ari not because she always phones me but because if I text I'll never know whether she has her phone off, has lost or broken it, or is simply feeling a little diffuse today. Lizzie and Jackie on the other hand I can rely upon to answer a text as soon as they get it, generally, so I'll text them and know that if they don't answer, I probably wouldn't have got them on the phone anyway.

You actually come into the same category as Lizzie and Jackie but since I know you're happy with phone conversation and usually phone rather than text me, I default to the first option. You follow?

On the early morning/late night thing, I just don't phone people before nine am or after ten pm unless it's important or I know they're out somewhere - say I'm meeting them at a club or party for example.

As for family, if I spoke to my family, I imagine I'd phone them.

So in conclusion, I guess, I will first use the option I know the other person to prefer and then second phone if it's more convenient for me, and usually only just text people I know will read and answer. And I would never text first and then phone, that's just weird.

[andrewducker]

I assume that was aimed at me, and not BohemianCoast...

[marrog.livejournal.com]

Ah yes. I dislike that your permalink page has a 'post a comment' only at the top, and the only link at the bottom of the page is to reply to the last comment. Apparently.

[shannon_a]

It must be a generational thing, because that's the weirdest damned thing that I've ever heard of.

If you don't want to be interrupted, *don't* answer the phone!

[blackmanxy.livejournal.com]

I've had some conversations about cell phone use lately and learned that some people, generally younger folks, actually consider it rude not to answer their cellphone if it's reasonable for them to do so. I found this absolutely mystifying, particularly since I consider it rude to answer the phone if I'm involved in something face-to-face.

Also, I see you've met the troll!

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

In theory, if I actually wanted to know if they were free to talk, though in practice it almost always turns out to be (a) I want to ask a short question and get a reply, in which case ringing is barely more hassle or (b) I want to chat, and don't admit that I want to enough to try ringing anyway.

If there's a significant chance they're really not there, I'll probably just email; for most people I know that's nearly as fast.