Technology seems to have killed phone etiquette.
While etiquette is not something that I am overly concerned with, I can't help but to be appalled by what has become acceptable:
-A call comes in from I-know-not who and the caller says, "Hey."
I don't even know who it is, but clearly I'm supposed to. Caller ID is not necessary, except when I get a phone call like this. Which happens more often than it should.
-I've gotten lots of phone calls from people who say stuff like, "I don't know who I'm calling, but I missed a call from this number."
If it was important, I will call you back. Or someone else used my phone and I don't know what you're talking about.
-Last night (and this is what prompted this post), I got a text from someone that read: "Who is this?"
I realize that phone etiquette is going to change as technology changes, but some of this stuff is just rude.
I also realize that this makes me sound old.
Screw it: I am old (relatively speaking, of course).
I have tried to teach my children good phone manners, but they are convinced that I am a dinosaur. To them, it's perfectly acceptable to grunt as a greeting and they expect a phone call back from someone they called even if they didn't leave a message. As a matter of fact, leaving a message is uncool - the person you're calling already knows who it is, or at least your phone number.
Generational differences widened by technology. How far do I lean in toward the gap? I won't jump over, but obviously a certain amount of understanding is required.
On both sides.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Phone Etiquette
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1 comment:
Good to know that I am not the only one appalled by telephone etiquette. ;) When my oldest daughter calls me, I say hello, she says hay!. Oh well at my age, I am glad to hear from my children, even if I feel they are trying to feed the horses;)
Youngest child has a better grasp on the English language, or at least I thought she did, when she calls, I say hello, she says, hello Mamacita. So much for the English language;)
But again, it is good to have a connection with them. Wonder if anyone else understands the new etiquette? We need a map to find the gap, that we need for interaction with the next generation. ttyl
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