Social Post May 07, 2015 at 01:16AM

Okay, so it seems I need to clear something up. In general, I really dislike talking on the phone. I always have, from the time I was little. I find that more often than not it is a huge waste of time, and could easily be replaced with a quick email or message.

I do realize that some things are easier to discuss on the phone, for things like information that is complex, or questions that lead to other questions, or discussions that have a lot of back and forth, but those are rare. That’s fine. I do talk on the phone from time to time, and I do not begrudge the necessity of it, but if I am short on the pleasantries, you will understand why. However, if it is something that could easily be handled with an email or message, which it usually is, I will not be happy about it.

The thing is, I am rarely in a place that it is convenient to just answer the phone when it rings randomly. I am either in the middle of a project that requires some concentration, something that I am short on and something that a ringing phone interrupts, or I am in a loud social situation with a camera in one hand engaged in conversation or photographing it for our website. Either way, I have to take away my focus from whatever project I am working on, and then regain my focus after the call, a task that is difficult for me. I usually keep my ringer off, even the vibrate, when I am in those situations, so it will not interrupt me.

In addition, I get a small panic attack every time the phone rings unexpectedly. If you are trying to get on my good side, calling me out of the blue and making my heart race for anything less than an emergency is going to do just the opposite. If it is an emergency, such as someone bleeding out immediately, then yeah, call me, I have an adrenaline rush from the anxiety and am hyped and ready for action. (But, call 911 first!) But, really, just be careful and don’t bleed out.

A scheduled phone call is fine because I am expecting and ready for it. It is also why I usually try to schedule phone calls where I call the other person. That way I don’t have to hear the phone ring. And, like I said, I do understand some things are better discussed via phone. And, that is fine, as long as it is scheduled.

Funny thing is, many of my friends understand this, so if I call them out of the blue, they panic, because they assume it must be an emergency. They are always right. I won’t ever call out of the blue unless it is an emergency.

I mean, I wish I had an administrative assistant, like most executives do, who could answer your call and set up a schedule for me to call you back, but that is just not a possibility right now. Hopefully it will be soon.

So, moral of the story, don’t call me out of the blue if you are trying to make a good impression. It’s just the way it is.

Oh yeah, and don’t leave a voicemail, I like those even less than the actual phone call. via Facebook

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