I have a big problem talking to other people on the phone in general. I try and think things through before I call other people, but I start stuttering and making a fool of myself once they answer, or don't answer and the answering machine comes on. I just called some people from my class that I know pretty well anyway, but I made a fool of myself on their answering machines because I lost track of my thoughts and I started talking fast and stuttering...
Anyone have any suggestions??
I have the same thing, but I learned to make my calls really short, if possible. Answering machines suck. I usually just forget about them. If I hear that faggy tone, I just hang up. If it's really necessary to leave a message, just make it as short as possible.
Also, I don't think you should worry about making a fool of yourself when on the phone with friends. Mine don't care, and know that I suck with phones, for a long time now.
if faced with an answearing machine:
hang up, review and rehearse what you want to say (exact words), and then repeat it to the answearing machine. Just don't try to do it the first time,...
OP here...
Ahhh... That's good advice from everyone. It makes me feel better already. I'll try that next time I'm forced to call someone.
Thanks ^_^
Write down what you want to say. Just put down the major points as bullet points and then check them off as you talk through.
i can barely call my own girlfriend. i feel your pain. try imagining that you're in person and not on the phone, maybe.
I have a problem calling people period. I always feel like I'm bothering them when I do call. Any advice?
i feel like i'm bothering them, too, even 411 operators. -.-;
I hate phones. They ring when you don't want them to, and you sound different when you're on the phone, and then you have people who expect you to call every day. There are exceptions, like when your family calls you to say "Happy Birthday", but I just hate having to leave messages for people. I usually don't bother leaving messages, because most people have caller ID, and since I usually call people as a last second emergency, I don't really need to leave messages because by the time they get them it's too late and I've called someone else.
I've got to admit that I'm not too fond of calling people since I feel like I may be inconveniencing them. The exception to that are my immediate family members and roommates.
I also generally hate talking on the phone for an extended period of time about nothing (e.g. - Whenever I converse with a female about a "serious topic").
I hate phones like nothing else. I have a mobile phone for SMS only, and get shitty if someone actually calls me on it (unless like, I'm in love with them. Then I might forgive them.)
I find the phone to be even more impersonal than email. With email at least you can show emotion with emoticons. With the phone you can't say shit like "smiley" after you make a joke, so when the other person misinterprets something problems happen.
You can infer emotions and meanings from voice intonation. Whereas text can often be ambiguous and it's up to the recipient to decide on a meaning, which could be the wrong one.
I sure can't. I find it much easier to read a smiley than try to guess someone from the intonation of their voice.
Some people don't put in smileys etc though. Also, sarcasm is the major example of something that is far too ambiguous in text whereas speach and being able to see the person's facial expression is a lot assertainable. OK I know on the phone you don't see somebody's face, but when somebody is sarcastic on the phone they are more obviously sarcastic with their voice.