Don't call me with a blocked ID or a number I don't know, asshat.

[Hostile_Dialect]

@fisha

So, as I mentioned before, they’re fuckweasels.

Not everyone who’s in over their head in debt is a “fuckweasel”.

@MelCthefirst

You guys who don’t answer the phone unless they recognise the id come across to me as a little paranoid. In my work I call students all the time and they are unlikely to know who it is, although I don’t have block on caller id. I’m calling to help them, not to sell them anything.

I used to answer blocked numbers and numbers I didn’t know. In fact, one of my first girlfriends had an automatically blocked number, so I had an almost Pavlovian reaction to my phone’s blocked-ID-call-incoming ringer. And even besides that, I always thought it was interesting in its own stupid little way to take a gamble on who you’re going to end up talking to.

That all changed with this girl. I used to hear about girls who would turn into raving stalker psycho maniacs the instant you started having sex with them. I heard about girls who would make you want to put your pants on and run right after you’re finished. But I didn’t believe it until this girl. The next time you can’t reach me because I don’t already have your number, you can thank her.

And what’s so hard about leaving a message, anyway?

@Princhester

So you left it as if you were trying to say something and then got cut off, then you are surprised when she tries to call you?

We aren’t playing head games, are we?

Yes (left it as if I got cut off), no (not surprised that she tried to call me), and no (not playing head games).

Point 1: That was the only way to get out of the conversation in under an hour, and I didn’t have time to fuck around that day. Not for her, anyway.
Point 2: No, but I was irritated that she called me several times from blocked numbers to try to trick me into answering, and then when that didn’t work she called me from an unblocked number I had never seen before. That was how I ended up talking to her that day in the first place. If someone never answers your damn calls, take a fucking hint. Maybe there’s a reason for that. Especially if that person has already told you what that reason was.
Point 3: Head games? I told her exactly what I wanted (for her never to contact me again) and I haven’t changed that a bit.

And I just got a letter from County Weights & Measures saying they couldn’t contact me by phone with the results of an overcharging tip I gave them. Well, I didn’t get any damn messages. I figure if you’re at work, and you’re getting paid to get in contact with me, you ought to at least leave a message.

[Dorian_Gray]

@iamthewalrus(:3=

Yeah, but mostly people are trying to block telemarketers. What are the odds that a telemarketer is going to pick a phone number that is in my list of known numbers?

I also don’t answer my phone if the number is not in my cell phone. My phone number is the same as a medical clinic, except that mine starts with the area code the clinic is geographically a part of (805), and theirs is toll-free (888). 90+% of the time I get a call from 805-xxx-xxxx that I don’t know, it’s someone misdialing. If they really want to talk to me, they’ll leave a message.

I was responding to the OP and judging by what they said

“What part of “don’t ever call me or text me for any reason” did you not understand?”

I’m assuming (and could be wrong) that they are not talking about telemarketers, i’ve never known a telemarketer to text or need help in any sort of “case.”

You say you don’t pick up blocked #'s or #'s that are not in your phone book, which i’d say is pretty common. What would you do if your own # called you though? And even more importantly, if it was a cell phone what would happen if your own number called and you didnt pick up (think about it), maybe thats what the other person wants.

[fisha]

@fetus

Not everyone who’s in over their head in debt is a “fuckweasel”.

You’re right, being in debt over your head is not a true definition of fuck weasel. Unwilling to talk to debtors, and using stupid phone services to block any uncomfortable feelings of failure, is.

Before we had technology to screen calls, people used to teach their kids to answer the phone and lie for them. I guess we are making progress.

As to your original OP, I don’t blame you for not answering the phone. There is no answer you have that can fix them. File a restraining order. Choose better partners in the future. It’s happened to me, and it’s not a lot of fun.

[Princhester]

@fetus

Point 1: That was the only way to get out of the conversation in under an hour, and I didn’t have time to fuck around that day. Not for her, anyway.

So it would have been physically impossible for you to say: “I don’t want to talk to you ever again, don’t call me, I’m hanging up” and then hang up? Why’s that? You’re mute? You can’t hit the off button on your phone?

Head games.

[Hostile_Dialect]

@Dorian Gray

What would you do if your own # called you though? And even more importantly, if it was a cell phone what would happen if your own number called and you didnt pick up (think about it), maybe thats what the other person wants.

Um, what?

@fisha

Unwilling to talk to debtors, and using stupid phone services to block any uncomfortable feelings of failure, is.

I’m sure you mean creditors, and as noted upthread, some creditors pester you endlessly about debts that are past the statute of limitations. Anyway, I know it’s popular to see people in debt as terrible people with no sense of responsibility, and I know it makes you feel good about yourself by comparison, but sometimes when someone avoids talking to creditors, it’s not because they’re a “fuckweasel”. Why would I want to talk to someone EVERY DAY who has no desire to work with me unless I can write a check that minute? If I could’ve done that, I wouldn’t have been in debt.

@Princhester

So it would have been physically impossible for you to say: “I don’t want to talk to you ever again, don’t call me, I’m hanging up” and then hang up? Why’s that? You’re mute? You can’t hit the off button on your phone?

Head games.

You gotta be shitting me. OK, whatever. Have it your way. I’m playing head games. I’m a head gamer.

I’m going to go talk to the wall; I’m sure it has a more enlightened understanding of the world than you do.

[Hockey_Monkey]

@MelCthefirst

You guys who don’t answer the phone unless they recognise the id come across to me as a little paranoid. In my work I call students all the time and they are unlikely to know who it is, although I don’t have block on caller id. I’m calling to help them, not to sell them anything.
What the hell did you do before this technology?? Then again, maybe you have a greater number of unsolicited calls than we do here.

In an instance such as this, I will let the call go to voicemail (as I do with all unknown callers), listen to the voicemail if one is left, call the person back if I need to do so…then add their number to my address book! Then if you call me again…presto! I know who you are.

[Triskadecamus]

See, the implication of the “I am calling you for your own benefit” argument assumes I want you to be my benefactor over the phone.

I don’t do business over the phone.

I don’t break up relationships over the phone.

I don’t settle my debts over the phone.

When I do have to do these things, I do them face to face, or if that is impossible, I do it in a letter. Usually hard copy mail, but more and more, it has ended up being email. I adapt. I prefer hard mail, but recognize that the delay is not worth the difference in most cases.

I speak on the phone with my friends, because I like them enough to overcome the fact that the actual process of speaking over the phone is mildly unpleasant. So, if you are my friend already, please call, whenever you want. Making friends with me over the phone is possible, but very unlikely. If you got my number from a friend, you are in a special category, and get an extra long time to convince me that you are my friend too, the length of which is highly influenced by how I feel about the mutual friend. It could be a whole minute. Maybe.

In a few cases, I will call on the phone to ascertain if a product or service I have already decided I want is available at a particular place of business. (I won’t call that person at home, of course, but at the place of business, and during the times that business is in operation.) But, I don’t leave messages, or expect return calls from them.

If you are actually informing me of an ongoing emergency that involves me is some significant way, such as my very rare blood type being in critically short supply, and six people are bleeding that blood type in your emergency room, go ahead and call, that’s why I gave you my number. If the solution to the issue over which you called doesn’t have to happen this very minute, email me, or send me a letter.

But, your advice, if it is worth so much to me, is worth a letter, or a referral, and if it isn’t worth a trip to speak to you in person to me, well, we can save each other some time, by you just accepting that if I wanted your input, I would come to you and get it. Don’t call. If you do call, don’t be upset when I say, “Please put this number on your do not call list.” and then hang up.

Wasting your own time on “contact lists” or “customer prospects” or the like is a decision based on your desire for convenience, or other benefits accruing to you. I go out and find the products and services I want. I don’t even open bulk rate mail. (Judging by the size of the trash can the property manager put next to the mail box, neither do most people.) Commercial phone calls are just highly intrusive bulk mail. The length of time it takes me to recognize that your call isn’t a personal message I want to hear is how long I will waste on what you want me to be doing.

Tris