Somebody Answer the Phone

[pharmer]

When I was a kid everybody in the house ran to answer. My dad put a phone in every room so it was easy. Now, no matter who/where I call either no one picks up, goes to voicemail or the dreaded "listen carefully as out options have recently changed."
My phone is in my shirt pocket and as long as it isn't in "silent" mode I'll talk to you.
And per chance you have a specific request, well, YOU CAN"T GET THERE FROM HERE.
Example: Yesterday, since my "Primary Care" office closed up I need an Rx for Amoxicillin for a sinus infection. My insurance (PPO) has assigned me to a "senior care specialist center." When I call back, after they assure me they will call me, I tell them what's wrong and what I need; "Next appointment is 3rd week in June." Me: "Thanks anyway but by then I'll be dead or well and not in need of the appointment."
Going to ENT Doc on Tuesday.
Somebody with "answers", answer the @#$%&*%$@ phone. Joe

 

[Chuck24]

When we were kids, we used to fight over who HAD to answer it, until my sister started dating, then you couldn't get out of the way fast enough

 

[LVSteve]

The novelty of the phone wore off some time ago. Ma-in-law#1 saw it as a necessity to answer a ringing phone, but not me when I've got a meal in front of me. For example, big dinner at my place with us all in the proper dining room and the 'phone starts ringing. I carry on shoveling food in my face, while MIL looks on in horror.

"Steve, the 'phone's ringing."

"Yes, ghastly noise isn't it, perhaps I should of turned off the ringer before we sat down. Sorry folks."

Late wife#1 is biting chunks out of her fist not to laugh, because she knows where this is going.

MIL, "But it might be important!"

I look at the assembled group and say, "How? Everyone important is here, if it's that big a deal they can leave an 'important' message," and shovel another forkful in my pie-hole. Fun evening.

As for the lead time on the OP's doctor's appointment, I had no idea that Florida had slid as low as Vegas in that respect. Does the PPO cover a visit to a quick care facility for a sinus inspection?

 

[MelvinWalker]

Growing up, we had a rotary phone because my parents didn't want to pay the $3 per month difference for the luxury of push buttons.

I didn't have an answering machine till I got married 30 years ago, and then it had a micro-cassette that the messages were recorded on.

Man, I'm old.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I rarely have phone conversations with medicos. I have three MyChart accounts. I log in, type a message or request and receive a reply via text or email shortly thereafter.

George Jetson would be proud.

 

[Rustyt1953]

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cbV3y6adI4A[/ame]

 

[Dave.357]

In the old days I took phone off hook when I sat down to eat.
My 3 daughters raced to hang it up when I left the table.

 

[madmikeb]

And of course this is after you wade through 10 different menus!

I'm guilty of not answering the phone. I worked as a parts manager for 34 years and if I never answer another phone it will work for me. If the phone rings 99.9% of the time it's for my wife so I let the answering machine pick up.

It irritates her to no end that I can be sitting right beside it and not answer it!

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Way out in the Sticks, Party Line!
Eight folks on the same twisted pair.
You could only hear four, but got a busy if any of the eight were talking.
Used to talk to this Young Lady and a Buddy would pick up and join in.
Now adays, I only answer if I see a known caller ID.
'These Times They Are a Changing.' Dylan

 

[StrawHat]

I have a cell phone, no land line. My cell number is also my business number. I do not answer when I am eating or in the bath room. Leave a message or don't.

Kevin

 

[Greyman50]

Have totally had it with all the computers that answer most insurance co. phones. I just keep repeating agent please or customer service rep. Then there are the " furreners" that answer and can not understand….

 

[Rudi]

I have gotten hundreds of robo calls from various morons trying to sell me stuff. The AI computer girl asks a few questions so I play along to get to a human. They are all ESL, but they don't like what I say to them. I asked them to stop, but no. As Buggs Bunny told us, "this means war". I'm helping them expand their vocabulary.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I worked for Ma bell 38 years, heard all the stories about 8 party lines, Hell, I worked on them If some one left their receiver off the hook [ROH] the other folks can't use it. Started some problems in rural commuiniitiys
and we were blamed. Much later on we went to one party lines. Now all land lines are giving away to cell phones and I am obsolete. Nuff said.

 

[NYlakesider]

Growing up in a undertakers house the phone was always answered promptly.(we only had one phone line) If we were gone my father subscribed to a outfit "The Exchange" that answered our calls. If the phone rang more than 6 times they would pick it up at their office. This was the pre beeper era and Dad would call the exchange quite regularly. As for me when I was allowed to answer the phone I was extremely well trained on how to handle the call.

FWIW I have said for years that that call messaging and Email are just excuses not to answer or return a call.

 

[Sistema1927]

As a kid, everyone always answered the phone. I remember once being at my grandparents, who had a party line. The phone rang with a different ring from theirs, and my grandmother picked it up immediately and told the caller that the person they were calling was out of town, but that she would take a message for them.

These days, unless it is someone in my contacts, the calls go to voice mail.

 

[Erich]

I rarely have phone conversations with medicos. I have three MyChart accounts. I log in, type a message or request and receive a reply via text or email shortly thereafter.

Like being able to call anywhere in the world for free, this is assuredly a benefit of living in these modern times. MyChart communication works like a charm for my wife and me, as well. Yeah, there's a lot of nonsense to modern times, but in many ways we sure are blessed.

 

[Erich]

These days, unless it is someone in my contacts, the calls go to voice mail.

Same. And it's almost always spam and no message is left.

These days - with family and friends - I generally text first to see if it's okay to call at that moment. Businesses? Well, it's a roll of the dice, isn't it?

Now I'm remembering our ring on the party line.

 

[mtgianni]

I told friends that I was done answering the phone blindly when I retired. If it was important they could leave a message. IME, ratio of good news to bad news on a phone is 1/6, nonsense calls out number meaningful ones by 20-1.

 

[Telecaster]

Businesses can't afford to pay someone to answer the phone and say something useful. I'm a sole proprietor, and if I answered every phone call I would get zero work done.

With cell phones, everyone thinks I'm on call 24/7, too. If you call between 12 and 1, I don't answer. Anyone remember lunch breaks?

 

[BigBoy99]

I don't own a cell phone and only have a land line. Phone ONLY gets answered when caller IDs shows a known person. Otherwise all calls go to answering machine.