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Do you remember back in the days, before mobile phones, that if you were outside and the phone rang that it was a non-issue. Or what if someone called during dinner, and all you had to say was that you were ‘eating dinner’ and they would politely say they would call you later. Not to forget that you rarely got a call after eight pm, because calling late in the evening was considered rude. And if you ever called someone after eight or nine pm you felt really guilty for doing so.
No, I’m not talking about the ’60s. More like the ’90s.
If you weren’t at home when the phone rang and your friend asked why you didn’t pick up the phone that day, a common reply would be, “I weren’t at home.” Your friend would most likely just respond by saying, “Oh, okay,” and shrug. Because how can you be blamed for not answering the phone if you’re not at home?
However, society has changed — a lot. So much that instead of calling it extreme, I would much prefer to say we’ve gone insane regarding being available. You must be available at all time. Nor for yourself, but for everyone else. Doesn’t matter if it is inconvenient for you, as long as you can be reached, that is what matters now — apparently.
My first mobile phone was one of those huge Motorola things. Black, large and could easily be used as a weapon. It was sometimes referred to as the brick. Exciting times though. Being almost anywhere and make a phone call. Amazing! But it got barely used, only for quick calls. You only used it when you really had to. Not just because the old habits of when you should and should not call, but also because it was bloody expensive to call to and from mobile phones at that time.
Now these things are dirt-cheap to buy and own. Everyone has one. It is more common than a home phone. You know, those things that are connected to a wall, and you connect your call thanks through wires in the ground. Instead of using fancy wireless signals.
Unfortunately we’ve forgotten when to not call or that it can bloody wait! Twenty years ago you used the phone to pass on an important message or because you lived too far away from each other. Now we call to ask where the car keys are, that we bought a new t-shirt, your boss wants you to work unpaid overtime, etc. When you could instead wait for someone to come home or just keep looking till you find it. Your new shirt isn’t that great. And your boss can get stuffed! If you’re on your day off, you’re on your day off.
Although, if you don’t answer the phone you are apparently wasting a lot of valuable time. Because what you’re doing is not important at all…
From this point WordPress thought it was a good idea to log me out. Making realise I need to stop writing my posts in WordPress, only do final less-important edits. However, it might also be Firefox eating up my cookies. Regardless, it pisses me off!
…What you should be doing is to drop everything when that phone calls. Doesn’t matter what you are doing. It is far from as important as what your caller needs you to do; play ‘Simon Says’ with you.
It depends on how you communicate and what kind of job you have. The way I work, a phone has no value to me at all. It is a useless tool that is extremely distracting. The information I need to pass on or need to acquire is best received or sent in writing. How can I send an article to an editor via phone? Speak it out and have him write it down? Not to mention the nightmare to pass on photos I might have that needs to be printed with the article. Also, I have more important things to do than chit-chat
What if someone doens’t answer their phone, because they are busy. What do you think wastes more time? Calling that person 10+ times or sending them an email, so you can do other things while you wait for a reply. If you need a yes/no/maybe answer or discuss something, of course a phone is better. But when you are only exchanging information, email or Twitter are superior tools.
We need to get it out of our heads that people aren’t there waiting for our command. I’m guilty of that sometimes, hoping someone would reply to an email within 48h. But I try to be understanding and not chastise them for a late email. Only if it happens for the nth time. Not to mention, we need to figure out what is important. I really don’t mind having phone, it’s just that 90% of the calls I get could’ve been better in the form of an email or waited until we met face to face — or not happened at all.
Next time you pick up the phone to make a call. Ask yourself, can this wait, is it urgent or should I just send an email/SMS?
