Calls 06/03/23
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Do you have a cell phone? Do you remember when that was a reasonable
question to ask people? In case you're not old enough to remember,
life was in fact better without cell phones. Don't make me explain it,
if you don't know then you probably wouldn't agree anyway.
I have a cell phone. Perhaps one day I won't again, but for now, I do.
That said, I only answer calls/texts/emails that come in on the device
when it suits me. And I never install apps that I don't absolutely
need, plus a few I want. But this post is about calls, specifically.
Most of the people who call me are older. Some call and text, others
text and email, some only text, others only email. You see where this
is going I suppose--people are picky, and they want what they want. I
can't fault them for that! But the phone calls generally come from
older generations.
The ones who call are sometimes interesting. I think there's this idea
floating around out there in some heads, that if they call, I should
answer. The thing is, I only answer calls when it suits me, like I
said. I figure I'm the one paying the bill, the device should serve
me. I'm not paying for a service for other people, if that makes
sense. If they want me to always answer, they should offer to buy me a
phone, and pay the exorbitant on-call surcharge that would accompany
such an absurd arrangement.
Sounds a little selfish, maybe. But in reality, a massive boundary is
crossed by just having the device at all. If I were to always answer
it, what kind of a relationship would I have with the phone? With the
other parties? A bad one, where I was dancing around to serve them. If
you have a cell phone, do you have these kinds of relationships?
I have a friend who seems to prefer the ability to instantly contact
me. Maybe he reads on here, but I seriously doubt it. Anyway, if
you're reading this, don't take it personally (though, I don't know
how else you could take it.) He'll text, or call, or text and call.
And if I don't answer, he'll sometimes drive to my house and knock on
my door. He'll say his piece, and then throw in a jab about how hard
it is to get a hold of me. And all of this during my workday, often
times.
He has been gently informed on multiple occasions that I work during
the day, that I often have my phone on silent, and that yes, in fact,
I am a tough guy to get a hold of. No apologies, just information. Yet
he persists. Once, he told me that he always has his phone on, even at
night, so that people can get a hold of him at any moment. I've told
him, at least once, that I shut my phone off at night, and that if
people need something they should probably dial emergency services.
Calls don't bother me in and of themselves. But calls that expect to
be answered immediately, those do get on my nerves.
