I’ll be honest, I spend A LOT of time online or in front of a BlackBerry between work and blogging. Somehow the pre-Twitter and smartphone days seem like a million years ago.
I think my old cell phone that barely allowed texting has faded into my memory bank, along with floppy disks and typewriters. Actually, I still keep that old phone…as a paperweight.
Anyhow because I’m so “wired” with technology, I’ve found that some of my social skills, like having a one-on-one in-person conversation or even talking on the phone seem like…so much work.
Why do we need to talk? We can DM or text in 140 characters.
But while I’m still good at talking to people in person (and often prefer that over email, especially on heavy email days), I am awful at talking on the phone.
Awful.
When you talk to me you’ll hear lots of “ums” and awkward pauses and probably hear me actually lose my train of thought. I even find myself needing to get up and move around when I’m on the phone because I get so distracted if I sit and just…talk.
What distracts me? Twitter, online shopping, email, IMs, TV, you name it and I get distracted and then the “ums” get started again. It’s like I have phone-induced ADD.
I’m not the only one who is bad at the phone. A friend can only handle talking on the phone for two minutes before he just stops. I kid you not, I check my call counter every time and usually around 1:45 he gets anxious and stuttery and then at 1:58 he says, “hey yeah want to meet up, I have to go.” And then he just hangs up. Boys.
He prefers to meet in person or converse by IM because he’s wittier that way. Me too.
Do you like talking on the phone or do you also get super distracted? I really need to be better at focusing on the phone with people but I just prefer to get together in person :) Let’s the conversation flow so much more naturally.
Since I have to use that to keep up with my boy, I’ve gotten better with the telephone. I prefer face-to-face communication, though. It’s so much easier.
Sometimes I worry what we’ll all be like after like a decade of texting and twittering and such. Will we be able to hold any sort of a conversation? I’m not sure I mind. I hate talking on the phone and making small talk.
I’ll totally meet you for coffee, but talking on the phone to you?
Bleh.
That’s the way I feel about 99% of people.
Sad? Maybe, but dooood. It’s so much more fun and less awkward to talk in person!
Unless I’m at work – where I have to pay attention on the phone or my article will suffer – I’m the exact same way. I find myself wandering around the house when talking to my grandmother so I’m not distracted by the TV, a magazine, the computer, my dog, etc.
I remember being in ninth or tenth grade and never letting go of my phone, on it 24/7 with this boy or that friend or whoever. Now, when a friend gets my number for the first time or someone says they’ll call me to meet up, I literally say, “Text me. Don’t call. I hate the phone.” Ha.
I tend to suck at the phone. I’m just not a fan of it. I’ll gladly answer it to make plans, but unless I’m really in the mood…nah. I wish it were different for me though!
i still love the phone. i guess i’d rather talk than type! and i find on the phone i don’t go into lulls and just type haha or something like that.
but the funny thing is i text a ton! email is still the way i communicate the most with friends – i blame it on living abroad for two years, and so i forget it is super easy to call someone!
i use to be such a phone talker, now? not so much. i definitely prefer email over anything.
While I love my phone, I hate talking on it. I’d much rather text or use Twitter and FB. There are only 2 people who I will always answer their calls. The rest can go to voicemail and I’ll email them later. ;)
I don’t get distracted (unless I am bored talking to the person) but I do not prefer phone conversations. I prefer to talk in person, so I usually cut it short too. Unless it’s someone I never get to see.
It depends on the mood! If I’m on my way home from work and am a captive audience, then I don’t mind chatting. But other than that I get distracted. As a matter of fact the only time I really like to talk on the phone is on my commute home. Other than that I prefer to text/email/gchat and etc. I get distracted too easily by things I need and want to do at home or when I’m out and about.
I never thought about blaming technology but more than I just like to tune out. Maybe I tune into other things too much!?
I’m HORRIBLE one the phone. And I’ve gotten worse too.
Social media has killed my social skills.
Ugh. Phone. Actually, I’m bad at communication in general, but I definitely prefer the written form.
I hate the phone. I especially hate the phone at work, because I am awkward on it, and I say “ummm” a lot and everyone who calls probably thinks I am a complete moron. I have flawless email etiquette but on the phone my mind goes blank.
I actually wrote about this very thing not to long ago: http://rachelnotrebecca.com/2009/08/26/bring-me-the-head-of-alexander-graham-bell/
I am very glad to know I am not the only one.
While I do participate in a number of social networking sites and modern conveniences such as texting and IM, I still savor both talking on the phone and in person. NOTHING can replace that. And I find it really annoying when friends (or my brother – he’s the worst) get distracted. I think it’s an unfortunate downside to all these conveniences. Maybe it’s because of this that I’ve chosen friends who are generally behind the times with IM, blogging, Facebooking and so on. Maybe I’m from another era, but I cherish the person, quirks, stutters and all.
i absolutely hate talking on the phone. i get really distracted, and i feel like there are uncomfortable silences. get me in person and i wont shut up :)
I love talking on the phone with people I know and am close to. Everyone else, it sucks! I have to actually prepare myself for phone calls to people I don’t know. But with my friends and family I enjoy hearing their voices and feel like I connect with them more through a call rather than just limited words.
this is so very me. i totally ignored a call yesterday and then texted them a little bit later. really? i feel guilty.
I loveeee talking on the phone. I’m not sure why but I can talk on the phone literally all day and not get sick of it. Of course, I do love online communication but sometimes my fingers just get tired of typing and texting
I know what you mean! I get that way too and have trouble talking on the phone. It’s weird, I don’t think friends and acquaintances every really make plans or talk on the phone anymore. They just text, email, facebook or twitter each other about when to get together.
Of course everyone says it’s a bad thing but with the work day and other distractions around, it’s good that we have this way to silently and quickly communicate with each other.
i use to be a huge phone talker in highschool. but ever since there became text messaging i would sooooooooooooooo much prefer that over talking!! if its not an emergency why can’t we text instead of talk?? its gotten to the point where i loath talking on the phone now… unless its with my grandparents and my daddy! then i can talk for hours and hours…hahahahaha lol
I hate the phone, but I don’t blame twitter or my iPhone, I’ve always hated it. I often turn it off, I never rush to pick it up, and I don’t have voice mail.
I’ve had a cell phone for years, but the battery was usually dead and it was often rolling around under the seat of my car. It wasn’t until my iPhone that I actually use a mobile. Of course, I don’t use the phone function very often.
Ditto to absolutely every you said. I hate, hate talking on the phone unless it is really necessary. Would MUCH rather talk in person, though, much more than IM/Twitter/FB.. although those social media options are better than phone. Phone is the very, very bottom of every list.
I am SO awkward on the phone, unless I’m prepared and have rehearsed what I’m going to say!
I love the written word, and hence I love emails; I think one of the hardest things for me (depending on the conversation) is wrapping up the call gracefully.
I am not of fan of talking on the phone but I do love it when catching up with friends from NJ.
And I, too, get distracted talking on the phone, like I’ll just stop mid-sentence because my train of thought will get lost. AWKWARD, let me tell you.
I’m awful on the phone, too! SO awkward. I feel like I need a list of questions to ask in case of a lull.
I have never been a big phone talker but as more and more of my friends migrate to other places in the country (or as blog friends become better and better friends) the phone is more and more convenient for long conversations. I actually prefer cell calls to long emails. Some things are just better described over the phone.
We should talk on the phone and work on our phone awkwardness. I challenge you!
Wow, you said it. I have totally become this way over the last year since I really started relying on digital mediums for communication. Meeting up in person is still absolutely great, but the phone seems like so much work for not actually getting to see the person. I will drop everything to hang out with a friend, and when texting/tweeting I can get other things done because I can turn my attention to something else for a second and then come back. But when there’s a phone in my hand, and I am trying to be courteous and listen, I cannot concentrate on anything else. This is fine for a few minutes, but extended phone calls bug me because of this. Talk about hitting the nail on the head. Great post!
yeah, talking on the phone has kind of fallen by the wayside for me too, at least for long conversations. i can only handle it with a few people back home.
i think i’m wittier in person though, when talking to the right person. put me in a bar flirting with a cute stranger, and my cleverness and hilarity is off the charts :)
I am def not a big phone talker and wasn’t even before we knew what texting was. I still only answer my phone if I feel like it unlike my parents who think if the phone rings they MUST answer. So funny.
Although I do enjoy talking to a handful of close friends on the phone…