# A race to the incomprehensive-Voice mails

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-race-to-the-incomprehensive-voice-mails/802671>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [November 25, 2017, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-race-to-the-incomprehensive-voice-mails/802671 "2017-11-25T12:57:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2017, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-race-to-the-incomprehensive-voice-mails/802671/21 "2017-11-26T16:24:52Z")

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> [@LSLGuy](#):
>
> **ThelmaLou** ’s assertion to tell the caller _why_ to leave details.
> 
> …

Why it is to the caller’s own personal advantage to leave details.

Maybe, “The more you tell me about why you’re calling, the faster I will return your call.”

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**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2017, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-race-to-the-incomprehensive-voice-mails/802671/22 "2017-11-26T16:36:11Z")

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My greeting is “Hi. This is Doug. Please leave a message.”

When I leave a message, I speak slowly and purposely and repeat my contact information twice.

I HATE having to replay voicemails 2 or 3 times to write everything down.

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**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-race-to-the-incomprehensive-voice-mails/802671/23 "2017-11-27T00:14:30Z")

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> [@Leaffan](#):
>
> I HATE having to replay voicemails 2 or 3 times to write everything down.

Apple plug; their voice to text is excellent. I haven’t listened to a voicemail in a year or so.

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**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-race-to-the-incomprehensive-voice-mails/802671/24 "2017-11-27T00:21:17Z")

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> [@kayaker](#):
>
> Apple plug; their voice to text is excellent. I haven’t listened to a voicemail in a year or so.

Android phone.

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**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-race-to-the-incomprehensive-voice-mails/802671/25 "2017-11-27T15:05:13Z")

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> [@Senegoid](#):
>
> Without exception, they interrupt me by the fourth letter saying “Don’t give me this Sierra Echo radio alphabet shit. Just spell it!”

Snipped

Yep, this. I spend a lot of my time on the phone, working with specific technical products. I also know the phonetic alphabet. Your experience above seems to be common, I’m shocked at the number of people who are almost offended when I use it because they think I’m being purposely obtuse.

My solution is to start with “OK, I’m going to use the phonetic alphabet, are you OK with that?”

Weirdly, 95% people like phonetic spelling, but only if you’re using a more colloquial alphabet. If you say ‘“B” as in Boy,’ everyone gets you.

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