# "Call me" assholes **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 3, 2014, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784 "2014-03-03T23:09:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784/21 "2014-03-04T05:26:38Z")
> [@armedmonkey](#): > > Question: Why would anybody use a phone to text someone “call me” when they could use the phone to, and I know this sounds crazy, call the person they wanted to talk to? I don’t get it, either. A friend of mine wanted someone to invent texting service on the phone that read the text in the caller’s own voice! Ya know, there already is a way to do that. How about the reverse -I leave detailed voice messages, and when they call back, they’re all “what’s up?” Well, I left you a detailed message. “Sorry, I didn’t listen to it. I just called back.” Arrgh! ---
**Author:** ![buddy431](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@buddy431](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddy431)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784/22 "2014-03-04T05:37:17Z")
On a related topic, I’m just amazed by how often people are getting in contact with each other. My Mom and I have a very set schedule for talking on the phone: I call her every Sunday evening, and we can talk about everything that’s come up in the week. Otherwise there’s e-mail, but usually we only use that if there’s something that can’t wait until Sunday, or if there’s something best conveyed in writing. We do occasionally have to call each other during the week, but if we do we’ll leave an e-mail like “call me tonight so we can talk about xxx that’s due on Friday” or whatever. My girlfriend’s constantly getting messages from her Mom: how are you, call me, what do you think about xxx, etc. It’s just constant, and with the minimum amount of information conveyed with each exchange, which pretty much guarantees that there will be more exchanges… I don’t really know why she puts up with it; I certainly wouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784/23 "2014-03-04T06:58:50Z")
> [@armedmonkey](#): > > Question: Why would anybody use a phone to text someone “call me” when they could use the phone to, and I know this sounds crazy, call the person they wanted to talk to? An email or text will leave a “paper trail” that can be discovered and used in litigation, or otherwise fall into unfriendly hands. A voice call is less risky that way, but still may be recorded. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784/24 "2014-03-04T10:51:32Z")
Well, I don’t do texting because my phone is a stupidphone and doesn’t do texting. If you send me a text it falls into a black hole and is never seen again. This, apparently, chaps the ass of some people but hey, unless you want to pay to upgrade my phone that’s just the way it is. If you want to talk to me during work hours you’ll have to _call me_. On a phone. And talk to me. Because I don’t have e-mail at work or in my car, and no, my stupid phone doesn’t do e-mail, either. Sorry. Leave a voice mail if you need to and YES I REALLY WILL LISTEN TO IT. Just because your cousin Sally won’t or Mr. Thomas down the street doesn’t believe in v-mail doesn’t mean I’m the same. That said, I make some attempt to communicate with people in the manner which they would prefer - except, as I said, I don’t have access to the textingsphere. You like e-mail? OK, but you’ll have to wait until I can get to my computer. You like phone calls? No problem, I can do phone calls. ---
**Author:** ![Zyanthia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Zyanthia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyanthia)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784/25 "2014-03-04T11:11:25Z")
Sounds like we’ve discovered the modern day equivalent of “Get off my Lawn!”. “Don’t text like that!” ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784/26 "2014-03-04T11:57:58Z")
I agree that some context is important. However, I don’t track my sons’ daily schedule and they could be asleep, in a meeting, etc. and my question isn’t important enough to interrupt anything but is too detailed to put in a text. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784/27 "2014-03-04T12:17:15Z")
I just met you And this is crazy But here’s my number Call me, asshole. Oh c’mon … you know you were thinking it. too. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784/28 "2014-03-04T14:14:56Z")
> [@armedmonkey](#): > > Question: Why would anybody use a phone to text someone “call me” when they could use the phone to, and I know this sounds crazy, call the person they wanted to talk to? Because we’re old! Now stay off my lawn! I send “call me” to my kids quite often. Usually it’s “call me whenever” to let them know that I just want to tell them something and need their input. People who text a lot can crank out 80 wpm on a little phone keyboard. I’m lucky if I can get 6. My son owns a store and could be working with a customer, my daughters could be sleeping, shopping, driving etc. I want to talk to them and my simple message lets them know that they should give me a call at their next convenience. If my head was on fire or it was some big family emergency they know that I would just go ahead and phone them. If it was urgent but not critical I would text - “Call me, urgent” ---
**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:** [March 4, 2014, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784/29 "2014-03-04T14:24:06Z")
> [@Anonymous User](#): > > Because texting takes longer and there can be a lot of miscommunication whereas on the other hand, a simple call can explain things within seconds. It’s a lot faster and easier, you know? Unless you have iffy cell service and repeatedly drop calls. That’s my go-to excuse. No landline, and we live in the boonies. I _could_ stand by the bay window on one foot, but it’s simpler to text. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784/30 "2014-03-04T14:28:19Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > I agree that some context is important. However, I don’t track my sons’ daily schedule and they could be asleep, in a meeting, etc. and my question isn’t important enough to interrupt anything but is too detailed to put in a text. Then you write “Have a question, nothing urgent, call me at your convenience.” ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784/31 "2014-03-04T15:00:13Z")
Or just “call when convenient” ---
**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:** [March 4, 2014, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784/32 "2014-03-04T15:17:16Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Or just “call when convenient” And if it never really is? ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784/33 "2014-03-04T15:23:31Z")
> [@naita](#): > > Then you write “Have a question, nothing urgent, call me at your convenience.” They wouldn’t read that, just like some people miss the “context is important” part of my response. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784/34 "2014-03-04T15:27:07Z")
Call me, Assholes. The discarded first line of Moby Dick. ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784/35 "2014-03-04T15:43:15Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > my question isn’t important enough to interrupt anything but is too detailed to put in a text. Then email it! Facebook it! IM it! My email loads on my smartphone just like a text message and at least then I’ll get two or three lines of context. My dad is good about calling and leaving a voicemail that expresses levels of urgency. “Call me when you can, no one died,” or “Call me ASAP about lunch.” > [@Just Asking Questions](#): > > How about the reverse -I leave detailed voice messages, and when they call back, they’re all “what’s up?” Well, I left you a detailed message. “Sorry, I didn’t listen to it. I just called back.” Arrgh! I do this all the time. ☹ My bad. > [@yanceylebeef](#): > > Call me, Assholes. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784/36 "2014-03-04T16:32:43Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > They wouldn’t read that, just like some people miss the “context is important” part of my response. So the problem is actually that they don’t read your messages? Just like you didn’t read what you wrote? > [@tim-n-va](#): > > I agree that some context is important. However […] ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784/37 "2014-03-04T18:25:40Z")
“Call me” assholes. Seems like an odd thing to do, but here goes, robert\_columbia , you are a bunch of assholes. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784/38 "2014-03-04T18:30:46Z")
[Background music pairing for this thread.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgIxuOhuKxU&feature=kp) ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784/39 "2014-03-04T19:15:50Z")
> [@Anonymous User](#): > > Because texting takes longer and there can be a lot of miscommunication whereas on the other hand, a simple call can explain things within seconds. It’s a lot faster and easier, you know? Then how 'bout _you_ call _me_? ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784/40 "2014-03-04T19:17:37Z")
NM, didn’t read the whole thread.:o [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-me-assholes/682784.md?page=3)