Voicemail

[DrFaroohk]

When you check your voicemail, and there's a message on there thats like "Hey this is Bob, call me back."

Well no effing shit. I knew you wanted me to call you back when I saw your name on the caller ID. What the hell do you want? I sure as hell am not taking a call where I might be walking into a buzzsaw.

[MaggieTheCat]

This really annoys my boyfriend, too -- that, and saying something like "Can I talk to you?" or "Can I ask a question?" Like it's just totally redundant, I guess. I'm afraid I'm guilty of all three. :o

[Boozy]

I wish I had family and friends who could be so brief. My sister and my mother-in-law will have the same conversation whether a human being or a machine picks up. If the machine picks up, they just tell it about their day.

Then they close off with "Call me back!" Why? So you can tell me everything again?

[DrFaroohk]

Yeah, longwinded ones are just as bad when they have nothing to do with the message. When I was a store manager I used to get these calls that were like

"Uh hi this is mandy at the store, well, see, the thing is, so yesterday I spilled some coffee on my shirt, and I've got this kinda burn now, and then I was driving to work and there was this slow guy in front of me, and then I got pulled over when I tried to pass the slow guy and he was a cop, and actually it was jimmy barrinsons brother, did you know that? so he wrote me a ticket for speeding, but he let me off on the no inspection sticker with a warning, cuz it turns out that jimmy talks about me all the time and says i'm cool, so this cop, he was heading to a barbecue, and then i saw a deer in the road, and it reminded me of the time i went hunting with my uncle ralph, so yeah, my till was 5 dollars short when I opened it this morning."

[Dreamstalker]

I'd get similar explanations from my last boss, typically they involved a 5+ minute recap of stuff I already knew (I don't need a damn screenplay on why you think X is a good/bad idea, just tell me a simple yes or no!)

My parents obviously don't need to leave their names, but generally I require name, date and time (you'd be amazed at how often this segment of my outgoing message is completely ignored), phone number and reason.

The ex is the champion of totally random messages...if it's not short and pointless, it's really long and pointless. He's seen fit to "quiz" me on the stupid-long messages...look dude, I don't particularly care that you found 4-inch supersnails in your yard (although they are kinda cute), and I really don't want to hear about how you plan to get rid of them (typically involving dangerous substances and/or ridiculously bad judgment).

[blas87]

That'd be why I still, to this day, haven't activated my voicemail.

It was nice to have if I didn't recognize a number and ignored the call, if they left a message I'd be able to see who they were......nowadays I have to google the number or hope they text me....or I can answer and pee myself when I hear it's another bill collector and hang up....

The worst ones were from my Dad....oh gosh...."Hello hun, it's 10:15, just wanted to let you know that there is a big pothole in the road by your apartment!"

[AFPheonix]

That doesn't bother me too much, what bothers me is when people call me repeatedly and don't leave me a message, especially if they're calling from a number I don't recognize.

I don't call back numbers I don't know, simply because I get far too many of those stupid "your car warranty is about to expire" calls on my cell. That, and it's a force of habit to screen my calls when I was getting married because I was getting deluged with calls from church members who wanted to talk me out of it.

[Giggle Goose]

I think I'm the only person who differs...

I used to have that common sense; meaning that if someone called, they would obviously appreciate a call back. But the reason I leave brief messages such as "Give me a call when you get this" is because some people I know WON'T call back unless I leave a message.

My mom is the worst offender. My brother, sister and I all get mad at her, saying "Did you see I called you?" and she'll say "Yes, but how was I supposed to know to call you back unless you leave a message? I figure I'll see you at home, anyway!" *sigh* So yes, I always try to leave a brief message, even if it's redundant. Thank goodness for texting!

[AdminAssistant]

One of the things that irritates me is, I'll call one of my actors and leave a message saying, "You need to call the costume shop to set up a fitting on Thursday, the number is xxx-xxx-xxx". And then they still call me back, "What am I supposed to do?"

[DrFaroohk]

A good middleground is what people need. Call and give me a FEW details, but just enough so I can decide on whether I want to ignore you or not. Obviously I'm not calling you back if you want me to come in to work a triple shift, but if you're calling me to offer me a promotion, well of course I'll be there.

[Greenday]

LOL, this reminds me of something from today. I was chatting with my boss and one of my coworkers walked in and said how she finally got a call back from someone concerning a question they had. The voicemail my co-worker got? "Hi, this is so-and-so, I have the answer to your question, call me back." Besides not, being there when she called back, why the hell didn't he just answer her question in the voicemail.

[AFPheonix]

Maybe it was a privacy thing. I know when I call patients on work related matters, we can't really leave details on why we called due to HIPPA.

[Greenday]

No, our work isn't anything like that. It's her phone at her cubicle with her own code. No one else would be able to get it.

[linguist]

i know i've left messages like that when i thought the person who's question i was answering might have followup questions, or i may need to go into greater detail than i could on voicemail.

[freeatlast]

My daughter used to call and not leave a message, so I would not call back. I always just figured that she was calling to chat and would call back later. On the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend (race day we call it in Indiana) I had just gotten out of the shower and went into the dining room just in time to see my Mom walk off my patio toward the front yard. I went to the front door to let her in and she started laughing. Turns out my daughter had called while I was in the shower and when I didn't answer she called and asked Mom to come and check on me. She told her that she had been calling for several days and I hadn't called back and she was worried about me. After Mom left, I called my daughter and she gave me hell for never calling back. I told her that if she wants me to call back, LEAVE A MESSAGE! To this day (and this happend about 4 years ago) she leaves a message any time she calls. Including telling me she was just calling to talk and that she will call back later.

[DesignFox]

God and on the flip-side, I really hate when I leave someone a voicemail, and rather than you know LISTEN TO IT! they just call me back and make me repeat myself.

My customers are especially guilty of this...
*headdesk headdesk headdesk*

But yea, if someone calls me, and I don't recognize the number, they aren't getting a call back without leaving a message. I don't pick up or call back unfamiliar numbers.

AND if I DO know you, and you missed me...if I don't know get a message, I'll assume it's unimportant. So, if you *expect* an answer, for the love of god, I've got voicemail for a reason!

[Peppergirl]

ARRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHH!!

My neighbor, who I really like otherwise, will call and leave these 2 and 3 minute long messages on my voicemail and half the time it's when I'm working!!!!

Drives me insane. Like Dr. said; there has to be some middle ground between extremely vague and WAYYY too much info/rambling on and on.

I think alot of it is that I work in a call center, so I'm all talked out at the end of my shift. If you wanna chat, text or email me or Facebook me. Otherwise, yeah - we can talk on the phone, but it's gonna be brief cuz I'm sick of talking!

Niow, before anyone pipes up - yeah, I know it's rude, but (especially after a bad shift at work) I simply can't talk on the phone for a day or two. :p

[DesignFox]

<snip>

Niow, before anyone pipes up - yeah, I know it's rude, but (especially after a bad shift at work) I simply can't talk on the phone for a day or two. :p

I don't see it as rude if your friends know what you do for a living and the reason why you wouldn't want to be on the phone!

I work with people all day everyday. Once in awhile, I just want to get away from everyone! Oftentimes, when I first get home from work, the last thing I want to do is talk to anyone. I just want to sit around for a few mins and drool and look out into space and have QUIET. I can completely sympathize!

[Peppergirl]

. I can completely sympathize!


Awww, thanks. Most are pretty understanding about it. A couple are a little thick headed, obviously. ;)

[Giggle Goose]

My daughter used to call and not leave a message, so I would not call back. I always just figured that she was calling to chat and would call back later. ...I told her that if she wants me to call back, LEAVE A MESSAGE!

:confused: Mom, is that you? (See my previous post and you'll understand why I ask)

Too funny. :D

[daleduke17]

On the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend (race day we call it in Indiana)


Isn't that a Holiday all of its own? I'm surprised there's anything open in Indiana that day. :p

[Slytovhand]

Can I ask a question?"

You just did.

"ok, can I ask you another one?"

You just did...

They stop after that (haven't been hit for it ... yet! :p)

Peppergirl, I am so there with you on that! I've just spent the last 8.5 or more hours on the phone to people, talking with morons (and good people too!!), and the last thing I want to do is get into some sort of chat thing... just let me chill for a bit!!! (got into a bit of a ... hmmm.... 'disagreement' with a partner of mine some time back about that... I need chill-out time after work, which does not include partner time!)


Voicemail... my friends know I screen my calls. So, you say something (usually, they say "Hi, it's me - if you're there, pick up the phone. I said, if you're there, pick up the phone.... pick up the phone.. fine, you're not there. Well, I just wanted to say.." hey, how are you... :D). Also, I find it very annoying (or used to) when they don't leave a message, esp when you've just missed the call by 2 seconds. Because they don't leave a message, you've got no idea who it was... so weeks can go by without any communication (and then you get the 'well, I tried to call, but you never answered'... grrrr!!!))))))

[Flyndaran]

To give an unusual behavior...
I have severe anxiety. Sometimes I'm almost afraid of the phone and can't answer it for it a day or two even when I'm right in front of it.
I only have one friend other than my love muffin, but "fortunately" she also has some anxiety and can understand my problems.