leaving voicemails = awkward

[miss fortune]

I HATE leaving voicemail messages to people... always have and by this point in my life I really don't see that changing. I'm never exactly sure what to say and either end up not leaving enough information for someone to know who I am or how to get back in touch with me, or I ramble like a crazy person and get way off topic. Not to mention that I realized that I sound almost exactly like one of my aunts over the phone and I keep thinking about that every time I leave a message, which is odd because I like my aunts

Even if I actually plan out what I'm going to say ahead of time if I get voicemail, the plans immediately evacuate my brain as soon as I realize I'm going to have to leave a message!

Most people have the decency to operate by text, which is nice because you can edit or send corrections to what you said... those who make you leave voice messages are possibly purely evil

is there anyone who is actually comfortable leaving voice messages?

are you a wizard?

 

[Proctor]

Yeah, but then I hate using the phone in general. Dislike getting or making calls, receiving or sending texts. I don't know why, but it's always been a thing with me. Have no problem interacting with people in real life or online, but for some reason I suck at using the phone.

Maybe it has something to do with what's mentioned above. Before making a call or sending a text, I need to plan exactly what I'm going to say. And then these plans just disappear and it all comes out wrong. Texts just sound so stilted and weird, and I seem to forget everything I wanted to say when making calls.

As for your last question, I'm actually a level 14 warlock.

 

[magpie]

I used to hate leaving voicemails and calling people too. I still do the exact same things that used to make me hate it (I also ramble - sometimes I talk until the machine cuts me off, and my voice squeaks and goes up in places that is generally not expected when speaking the English language) but the difference is that I just don't care anymore.

Rather than planning, which can make a person nervous, I find it's best to just improvise. Obviously it doesn't alway work out seamlessly but I don't know? Just practice being intentionally silly on the phone and then maybe it won't be so bad when you're unintentionally silly.

 

[prplchknz]

yes times 5,000,000,000,000,000 yes

but i voted kinna cuz i did hah!


YOU CAN:T WIN YOU WILL NEVER WIN AHAHAHAHA

I'm helping you be an 8, you are welcome

 

[Kingu Kurimuzon]

I try to avoid phones altogether.

 

[ceecee]

I don't love the phone but I've used it for a long time in a professional capacity so, I've gotten good at leaving to the point voicemails. I prefer people calling me do the same but that's pretty rare. I also dislike when people call me from one number and leave a different return number in their message.

 

[INTP]

Voice messages havent been a thing in like 15 years where i live. But when people still had answering mashines(or the same thing on mobile), i didnt use one many times. But since i was trolling before people knew what a troll is, i had my voice mail answer message thing on my mobile phone me saying "hello" how i would normally answer my phone, had quite a many laughs from people reactions when they didnt realize that they were talking to an answering machine

 

[á´…eparted]

I do not like talking on the phone 80% of the time, because it almost always feels like an interruption.

That said, it doesn't make me anxious or feel awkward. I don't like leaving voicemails, but I will do so when it is simply more efficient to do so.

 

[Forever]

Yeah my voicemails are very much like "hey blah blah are we still gonna do this? um call me back"

to where my dad being efficient: Call me back when you can, bye.

I need to be like my dad. Those voicemails only get less awkward because I kind of gotten used to the awkwardness.

 

[Hank]

I don't mind voicemails so much as I HATE talking on the phone. If you want to talk to me, do it face-to-face (which is most preferred) or via text/email. The formalities of talking on the phone are annoying and unnatural, and too many people, including myself, aren't the same person they are on the phone that they are in real life. Voicemails at least offer the opportunity to get out whatever I have to say without figuring out things like how/when to politely bring the conversation to a close.

 

[Bush]

Hi! Here's what I was going to call you about. Let's talk about it later. Okay, bye!

It's not too hard

 

[Bush]

By and large I'm less of a fan of the phone in work matters because I like having paper trails that email provides, because my memory is terrible. There are times and places where calls are more suitable,.. but still.

And Google Drive transcribed the voicemails I get. So I rarely even have to listen to them.

 

[miss fortune]

Hi! Here's what I was going to call you about. Let's talk about it later. Okay, bye!

It's not too hard

it is if you forget halfway through what you're calling about and somehow end up starting to give them the phone number you had 8 years ago

(I've also nearly given my social security number a few times, since the start is the same as my google voice number that I occasionally use)

 

[chickpea]

talking on the phone is terrible and awkward in general. please just text me, lol.

 

[SearchingforPeace]

I prefer text to voicemail. If someone didn't get me when they called, if they text, I can see what they want without listening to a message. I found voicemail transcription to be bad.....

I enjoy talking on the phone as it provides more connection than text or email, but I much prefer in person....

But documentation is key many times and email is great for that....

 

[Yama]

I don't leave voicemails. If someone sees that I called them then they should just call me back when they have time, or text me.

Alternatively, I get irrationally angry when people leave me voicemails. Especially ones that just say "Hey call me." Like...

 

[Forever]

I don't leave voicemails. If someone sees that I called them then they should just call me back when they have time, or text me.

Alternatively, I get irrationally angry when people leave me voicemails. Especially ones that just say "Hey call me." Like...

*ring ring Banana Phone*
*ring ring Banana Phone*
*ring ring Banana Phone*
*ring ring Banana Phone*
*ring ring Banana Phone*
...
You have a reached 123-555-6969 is not available, to leave a voicemail wait after the tone.
*tone*
Yo call me.
*click*
*voicemail sound meaning voicemail notification on phone*
oooh I wonder who can it be?
*rolls through them*
hey it's your ex..-next-and his name is JOHN CENA-next-"Yo call me."

Warning: Explicit Language

What. the. fuck. Holy fucking shit. Did he just... did he just fucking do that? I'm going to beat the tiny little pussy ass bitch out of him that'll he'll never know.

told you.

*calls back*
Hey- (bolded for aggressional emphasis)
Sup?
So yeah I got your phone call...

Man @21lux. How did you survive?

 

[Yama]

[MENTION=19719]Forever[/MENTION] #relatable #literallyme #fuckyouvoicemails #haha #funny #lol #omg #summer2016

...

Seriously though, the first thing I do when I get a voicemail is delete it without listening to it, call the person back, and when they answer, I say "Don't leave me a fucking voicemail."

 

[EcK]

[MENTION=1180]whatever[/MENTION]
Leaving voice mails
Only for administrative reasons (so i can say "i left you a voice mail" and push to get what I want done faster) even if I suspect they don't listen to their voice mails either (probably). That's not the goal. It's just to say I did and gently hint at them getting something done faster when I call them on another line / get to them through other mean / they pick up the phone afterwards.

But I don't see it as a serious way to convey information. It's just a crappy tool to leverage sometimes to make things happen faster in conjunction with other actions

Listening to voicemails: no

I don't ever listen to voice mails. Usually I don't even know if mine is switched on.

If my phone requires to activate it in any way, i never do. And am glad for it.
I don't bother switching it off either as I know it's either a) impossible b) annoying to do and assume that my never answering voice mails and my voice mail not having a personalized message will make it clear that it's pointless to leave one to any person with a grain of sense.

Depending on the country I was in phone operators would often leave it activated (as a way to accumulate call cash seems the most probable reason)

Text is better - you get the information in a short, straight to the point format.

 

[Coriolis]

I HATE leaving voicemail messages to people... always have and by this point in my life I really don't see that changing. I'm never exactly sure what to say and either end up not leaving enough information for someone to know who I am or how to get back in touch with me, or I ramble like a crazy person and get way off topic. Not to mention that I realized that I sound almost exactly like one of my aunts over the phone and I keep thinking about that every time I leave a message, which is odd because I like my aunts

Even if I actually plan out what I'm going to say ahead of time if I get voicemail, the plans immediately evacuate my brain as soon as I realize I'm going to have to leave a message!

Most people have the decency to operate by text, which is nice because you can edit or send corrections to what you said... those who make you leave voice messages are possibly purely evil

is there anyone who is actually comfortable leaving voice messages?

are you a wizard?

I hate leaving voicemail messages, and using the phone in general, as several other members have mentioned. I have been known to write out what I plan to say in a voicemail and read it, for the reasons you describe. I will also write out lists of what to cover in a phone conversation, to use when I do reach the person and we can talk. I much prefer email as it is more premeditated, and I am not forced to respond instantaneously. That being said, when I find myself sending short, quick emails back and forth to someone, I will pick up the phone as it is much more efficient in settling the matter. Also, I have a very important business contact who prefers to communicate by phone, so I am now well used to replying with a very simple message: "Hi, Jerry, it's Coriolis returning your call. I'll be here until X time today, but out all day tomorrow. Talk to you soon."