*freakout*

[jaina]

I wish I were not so scared of calling people on the phone.

Why can't everyone use email, like sensible people?

WHY GOD WHY AAARGH.

ETA: You know, I really need to stop freaking out about these things. It went fine. It went better than fine. It's just that initial hurdle of dialing. (I always try to write an outline of how I want the conversation to go, when I'm calling a business, or a stranger, or whatever. Is that weird?)

Comments

[vampiretheatre.livejournal.com]

I'm the same way. I hate phones. I hafta run the conversation in my head multiple times anticipating every way it could possibly go (and thinnk of what to say if I get voicemail) before I even dial.

[jainamsolo.livejournal.com]

Yay, another one! I always have my "opening" memorized, and I get really thrown if they try to interrupt me before it's over! There's something about not being able to *see* the person I'm talking to that really makes me uncomfortable.

[vampiretheatre.livejournal.com]

What's worse about not being able to see someone, is that when I'm talking to someone I dont know, I tend to not say much. And I hafta constantly remind myself that the other person can't see me nodding my head as they're telling me stuff

[archerrat.livejournal.com]

(I always try to write an outline of how I want the conversation to go, when I'm calling a business, or a stranger, or whatever. Is that weird?)

No, it's not. I do that all the time.

And as you know, I am the benchmark of what is normal.

No, seriously, it's just a good habit to be in to make sure that you don't forget any of the essential points that need to be accomplished in the call, and for recovering wallflowers like myself, it also helps keep the conversation from stalling.

I'm find with people in person and via e-mail, but this "telephone" thing is for the birds. It'll never last.

[jainamsolo.livejournal.com]

You are the epitome of normal! Except perhaps that knife thing. That's a bit weird. *g*

Yay for another member of the I-hate-talking-on-phones club!

[donnafantastico.livejournal.com]

I thought I was the only one!!!!!!!

No really, I did. This may be slightly normal, you say??? I'm thrilled!

[jainamsolo.livejournal.com]

Apparently we are many!

[wookiee99.livejournal.com]

It's so nice to know I'm not alone! I cringe anymore when I hear a phone ring.

[jainamsolo.livejournal.com]

I just spent the last three weeks as a receptionist. I would stare at the phone praying for it not to ring, and if it had to ring, I hoped like heck they would give their name clearly and intelligibly so I could pass them off to whoever they wanted to talk to. I got seriously flustered at least once a day. It was not so much with the fun.

[knitress.livejournal.com]

I always outline. Because yeah, I don't like doing it.

[jainamsolo.livejournal.com]

Even my mom says she outlines when she calls people! I never knew this! I feel much less weird now. :)

[jawajames.livejournal.com]

heh.. i have a phone phobia at work - i don't cold-calling people.

i think with email, it allows us to have the following:
-- composed. everything is written in advance and can be edited to be just right.
-- one-way. until they respond, you're in control of the discussion.
-- it's all about content (words)
-- you got a written record

the drawbacks to email:
-- it's words only. no chance to properly use all those things that give so much meaning to communication and presentation. no tone, gestures, emotion, :) - it's a lot harder to gauge these things without hearing the voice or seeing the person.
-- it's not always best for dialogue - a decision that could be made in a 30 sec phone call might take a string of emails to make.
-- you got a written record - sometimes words that are said might be forgotten easier than words burned into your brain.

i'm more an email person... but i find that i respond to my voice mail at work faster than i respond to emails. it's too easy to let an email slip through the cracks.

[jainamsolo.livejournal.com]

Yeah, for this particular purpose phone was definitely best; it turned out to be a quick-decision kind of thing. It's just so hard to pick up the phone and dial (and not hang up before someone answers!).

[jawajames.livejournal.com]

that should be
"I don't LIKE cold-calling people"
i should use the ability to properly compose my messages via the written word.

[hlynn.livejournal.com]

If you're weird, then so am I. :)

I hate calling people I don't know. When I had to work customer service and make pages over the intercom, it was a nightmare. Even now, I rehearse what I'm going to say before I make a call.

[raykel.livejournal.com]

Heh. Glad I'm not the only one who can't stand making phone calls. You'd think as mouthy extroverted as I am, it wouldn't bother me, but I'd rather have my teeth pulled.

[wendyhouse.livejournal.com]

my god am I so glad I'm not the only one.
apparently it's quite the club!

I rehearse - never thought about writing it down first.

I even have been known to go so far as to make calls at lunch, or after hours, or other times when I *know* people aren't in and I can leave a message instead of actually talking to people :)

[anirt.livejournal.com]

Definitely a member of the "I hate calling" club. Scripts for important stuff, can barely stay on the phone with my sister even for 10 minutes, sound like a lunatic on answering machines.