I’m in a long-distance relationship. Fortunately, its not super-long, but I still only get to see my girlfriend every 2 or 3 weeks (I am planning on seeing her every week, though I’m not sure how long my car can handle the drive there and back)
One thing I noticed is that if she had bad news, it was much easier to take in person. I guess now that I think about it this is pretty obvious, since I can see her body language, and she can see mine. This isn’t present over the phone. Neither is her reaction if I say something that hurts her feelings.
Am I the only one that feels a lot of friction over telephone conversations? I don’t mind talking on the phone, but it definitely sucks that 90% of my interactions with her are via that medium and not talking to her in person.
I really don’t like talking on the phone. I can tolerate it with loved ones, if that’s my only alternative. I despise talking to strangers on the phone, even in business.
I know it’s weird of me, but that’s ok. I can accept that I’m a little weird.
No, I don’t like phone talk, either. Hate it as a matter of faxt, and my aunts just can’t seem to wrap their head around it. “You never call”. “Well, yes, I call once every two weeks, but I e-mail you every other day.”
I’m with you. I’m a lousy phone conversationalist. I’d much rather email (what the heck did I used to do without it)
When I was younger (and there was no email) I could talk for hours. Now it just eats into my valuable “other stuff” time.
The only exception to this is my cousin. We can talk for hours about nothing because we can both do other things at the same time.
The rest of “my world” I’d rather converse with in person. likethe OP said - body language is key. If i’m feeling yucky, seeing my best friend’s smile is a wonderful cure-all.
I Hate Hate Hate the phone. Anything that neds any kind of in depth discussion, and I can do that face-to-face. In a past job, I used to have to sit on 2 hour long conference calls. I’d close the door, put the phone on speaker and play solitaire or IM with friends.
Pet peeve: People who call “just to say hi”. Ok, that phone call takes about 8 seconds. Thanks for calling. Wanna sit and have a drink? Ok, but don’t bore me on the phone.
Haha I play solitaire when I’m on the phone, period. It doesn’t matter if it’s my parents, the SO or friends. The only exception is if it’s a phone interview or a phone call that requires me to really think (e.g. negotiating contracts with printing companies), but that’s in a blue moon. Usually if you’re on the phone with me, I’m watching tv or you’ll hear the incessant click-click-click of my mouse from playing solitaire.
I detest telephones for anything of importance. They’re fine for “What was that address?” or “I would like to place an order for item# 3992”, but mostly I do not care for the telephone.
If you really like games, then here’s a site to some really cute (but fun!) games. I like the tetris-like game (the box with the colorful boxes), the pig game and the koala game. They’re very cute and addicting like hell!
I much prefer the phone for anything important, because if it’s important, chances are talking about it will make me nervous. And when I get nervous, I get all shakey. My left are will shake slightly, my lower lip will quiver, and my voice will tremble and crack. I can hold it together though with a lot of effort, so over the phone, the other person doesn’t know how nervous I am.
I’m the kind of person that when I on the phone, I turn everything off, and I’m either laying on the bed, sitting in a chair, or pacing around the room. And sometimes, punching the wall. That last one only with certain people.
Another vote here for not liking the phone! My husband is an OTR truck driver, and we don’t phone each other at all. We exchange emails a couple of times a day, when he’s not driving and taking a break. Seeing in person would be much nicer, though.
Phone conversations always seem stressful. The slightest pause becomes enlarged. It might be the other person is distracted by something that’s obvious if you are in the room, like they are hesitating as they find a clear spot to set down their soft drink. But to the unseeing listener it is a pause in speech only, one unexplained and therefore interpreted as doubt or scepticism or some other erroneous inference.