# "I never call myself, HA HA HA!!" Shut up Shut up SHUT UP! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 28, 2006, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524 "2006-08-28T15:01:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524/21 "2006-08-28T17:01:01Z")
Really, I know my cel phone number but have no idea what my home number is. I only have that phone so my security system can call out. I never answer it, because it would never be anybody I want to talk to. Even the security system has my cel. So, if I needed to tell you what it was, I’d have to look it up on my _real_ phone, and I’d probably say, weak chuckle, “Well, I never call myself…” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524/22 "2006-08-28T17:06:30Z")
It always takes me a few seconds to recall both my home and cell number. And I hardly know any of my friend’s numbers either. When would I ever dial the actual numbers since they’re all on speed-dial? ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524/23 "2006-08-28T17:17:26Z")
Weird. I’ll sometimes completlety blank on my cel number…or any other number I “should know by heart”…such as home, family, etc. Funny thing is, I’m not traumatized by the experience one bit. In fact, I usually laugh it off. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524/24 "2006-08-28T17:25:42Z")
[QUOTE=lisacurl] Seriously, **Otto** , have you considered finding another line of work? [/QUOTE] Like, um, megadittoes. Customer service doesn’t sound like your thing. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524/25 "2006-08-28T17:44:00Z")
I have no idea what my cell number is, but that’s because I rarely use it. I do not however use that very old and very tired ‘I don’t call myself!’ line. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524/26 "2006-08-28T17:44:24Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Of course you don’t call yourself, dumbass. But other people do, and how do they get your number if you don’t give it to them? [/QUOTE] Most of the people who call me have the number recorded in THEIR cell phones, or the auto-dial function of their regular desk phones. They got it from the published phone book, from a business card, or they stole it off forms I filled out somewhere. I’d estimate that I hardly ever have to actually remember my own cell phone number. I do, though. And I give it to people in businesses and over the phone sometimes…when I do, a stunning number of them insist on calling my wife’s phone, or my home phone, even after I’ve been expressly clear to call the cell. So I generally feel it’s futile to give professional phone callers the correct number, because they can’t follow explicit instructions worth a damn. Back at ya! Sailboat ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524/27 "2006-08-28T17:58:33Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] My cell phone is for me to call people, not for people to call me. Half a dozen people have my number. I don’t remember it that easily, since I don’t give it out that often. [/QUOTE] exactly. and for the first 2 years, only 3 people had it. so, yea, I’m supposed to remember a number I looked up 3 times in two years? the “I never call myself” is so the fuckwad on the other end knows that I’m still on the line (as I look up the number). and I fourth the suggestion for another line of work. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524/28 "2006-08-28T18:17:50Z")
I am somewhat anti-cell-phone anyway, so there’s some reluctance to use the damn thing and therefore learn my number. Besides, I already have enough numbers in my head. A zillion phone numbers. My bank accounts - both of them Soc Sec License Birthdays Work tax ID number the combination to the safe at work And that’s what I thought of in five seconds of thinking. Sue me if I can’t cram one more into my head. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524/29 "2006-08-28T18:26:45Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] I am somewhat anti-cell-phone anyway, so there’s some reluctance to use the damn thing and therefore learn my number. Besides, I already have enough numbers in my head. A zillion phone numbers. My bank accounts - both of them Soc Sec License Birthdays Work tax ID number the combination to the safe at work And that’s what I thought of in five seconds of thinking. Sue me if I can’t cram one more into my head. [/QUOTE] ditto - along w/two phone numbers at home (home and home office), my two office numbers, plus two office fax numbers, the two phone numbers of my two associates (yes, the all have different numbers), my accountant’s phone number 4 other phone numbers I call daily for work purposes, as well as my son’s phone number. that, of course, doesn’t include the various passwords I have to remember (two diferent ones for two different computers, 4 specifically different ones for 4 different web based data bases that I have to access on a daily basis for work, not to mention some various ones for my personal life, bank account, credit cards, ebay, various message boards… ) ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524/30 "2006-08-28T18:42:22Z")
I’m in sales/customer service and I hear the same jokes over and over. And you know what? I like it. It tells me that the person is trying to be friendly. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524/31 "2006-08-28T20:15:58Z")
[QUOTE=jsgoddess] I’m in sales/customer service and I hear the same jokes over and over. And you know what? I like it. It tells me that the person is trying to be friendly. [/QUOTE] I also work with the public and constantly hear the things mentioned, over and over again (plus the “Are you working hard or hardly working?” one), with many variations on really obvious things. Like asking where the bathrooms are while they’re standing right under, and next to, the BATHROOM sign. It doesn’t bother me at all and I like to think they’re trying to make me feel more comfortable about the awkward situation and therefore I hope to do the same. 🙂 As to what prompted this rant, chalk me up as another who can’t always remember whatever information is asked of her. The reasons for that being multiple moves (over a dozen in the past 6 years) with all that entails and the relapsing from time to time of agoraphobia. In your own living room, you really don’t have to know by rote your significant other’s work, direct, cell, pager, fax number in addition to your own \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. ---
**Author:** ![Merhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Merhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merhouse)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524/32 "2006-08-28T20:53:50Z")
[QUOTE=Cerri] Well, I _had_ been under the impression I wasn’t a fucking moron. Thank god **Otto** has shown me the light and proven I am in fact, a fucking moron. I use my cell phone _maybe_ 4-5 times a month, and receive calls on it less than that often. Most of the time I don’t even turn the damn thing on. I only use it for emergencies cause I hate talking on the phone. My cell phone number has not only a different area code than my home phone, but a different exchange code (that’s what the first three numbers after the area code are, right? Those are the ones I mean). As a result, I fairly often, when prompted to give my cell phone number, have to think about it. I often say in such situations, “haha, sorry, I never call myself!” ☹ I was perfectly aware it’s not all that original, but it does fill an uncomfortable gap when I’m standing there trying to remember it. Sorry if it pisses you off. Oh wait. I’m not sorry at all. Believe it or not, not everyone in this world treats their cell phone as some sort of life line they need perpetually attached to their ear in order to survive. Some of us would rather not have the damn things at all, but do so for cases of emergency since pay phones are both inconvenient and uncommon to find all over the place anymore. As a result, some of us may in fact, NOT be able to rattle off the number as rapidly as we could our name, blood type, or what we had for lunch today. As others have said, perhaps working in customer service is a line of work that isn’t for you? [/QUOTE] Hey, except for the fact that the area code on my cell phone and home phones are the same, you could be me. Or me, you. Or something. If someone put a gun to my head and demanded my phone number or my life would be theirs, well, shoot me. I don’t have a clue. Well, other than the area code. And I’m **NOT** a fucking moron 🙂 **Otto** , my friend, take a pill 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524/33 "2006-08-28T21:45:17Z")
Sheez. I’ve had at least twenty phone numbers and at least thirty different addresses in my life. I have at least ten different passwords I have to remember at home and at work. I’ll be goddamned if I’m going to worry about remembering my cell phone number because you think I should. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524/34 "2006-08-28T21:55:50Z")
Oh, give the guy a break. We all have things we have to deal with over and over at work. Yes, it’s hard when it’s second nature to you but not to the people you’re dealing with, but that doesn’t make it any less annoying. And it can drive you mad eventually. In my case, I make all my boss’s travel arrangements. I always without fail clear their itinerary with them before I purchase airline tickets. Every single time when my boss asks me when he’s leaving before a trip and I tell him, he panics and says, (for example) “I’m leaving at 1:40 and connecting through Bumfuck???”. Like I screwed it up. Like his life is screwed up now. LOOK, I know you have a lot on your mind, and there’s a million different reasons why you don’t remember the details like I do, but will you PLEASE stop panicking every single frickin time??? I don’t make the arrangements without your express approval, after having consulted with you about what you need. So, yeah, I can see where \*\*Otto \*\* is coming from. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524/35 "2006-08-28T22:05:16Z")
A rant here about an irritant at work does not disqualify someone for customer service. You should hear us in the nurse’s break room, for heaven’s sake. Difference is, that’s a closed door type of bitchfest. Here, it’s public. **Otto** take a deep breath and think to yourself, most calls only last X minutes. You can put up with lame attempts at humor for X minutes. If that doesn’t work, there’s always the Driver’s License Testing Facility. I think they intentionally hire crabby people… ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524/36 "2006-08-28T22:10:48Z")
[QUOTE=Monstre] “But by that logic, you apparently mail yourself letters all the time?” [/QUOTE] Heh…a couple of years ago I lived in a quad apartment and had all my mail sent to my office, so I really couldn’t remember my exact address half of the time. The only time I really needed it was when ordering a pizza, and I usually walked out and looked at my apartment number to make sure. This occassionally led to some real problems: Police Officer: “Sir, do you know why I pulled you over?” Me: “Um…speeding?” Police Officer: “No, swerving.” Me: “Oh, yeah. Sorry. I was trying to put some hot sauce on this burrito.” Police Officer: “Have you been drinking tonight?” Me: “Oh, no. Not at all.” Police Officer: “Sir, what’s your home address?” Me: [long pause] Police Officer: “Sir?” Me: “I…um…don’t know.” :eek: ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524/37 "2006-08-28T22:50:36Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] And I’d love to get out of customer service, but every time I turn in my application for “Lord God King of the Universe” I never get called for an interview. [/QUOTE] There’s the problem. That’s not a job you apply for. Benevolent dictator positions don’t have HR departments. Ruthless, bloodthirsty, blind ambition is the route you need to take. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524/38 "2006-08-28T22:54:26Z")
[QUOTE=Finagle] My cell phone is my emergency-only, never turned on, signalling device. I have its number written down in my wallet in case I ever have to give it to anyone because I have no clue what it is. And yes, I use the "I never call myself " line because, well, I never call myself. Yeah, I’d say get another job. [/QUOTE] Ditto. The only times I talk on my cellphone is when I’m calling my mom to let her know I’ve arrived somewhere other than home safely, or when I have an emergency. The only two people I’ve ever given my cellphone number to, personally, are my mother and **supervenusfreak**. I never use the thing. It gets carried around turned off when I travel purely so I have something to call for help with if I have an accident or something. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times that I, personally, have actually gotten a call on the damn thing in the four years I’ve owned the (pay-as-you-go) account. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524/39 "2006-08-28T22:57:01Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] If you can’t remember your cell phone number, then you’re a fucking moron. [/quote] I’m one of these morons who don’t know their own phone numbers. > [@](#): > > And the dumbest fucking thing you could say about why you’re too stupid to remember your cell phone number is “I never call myself.” I answer that too… > [@](#): > > Of course you don’t call yourself, dumbass. But other people do, and how do they get your number if you don’t give it to them? I look it up. They’re written in my adress book. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524/40 "2006-08-28T23:26:36Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] And I’d love to get out of customer service, but every time I turn in my application for “Lord God King of the Universe” I never get called for an interview. [/QUOTE] I see your problem here. You probably didn’t realize it, but the ability to be compassionate towards fallible human beings, like those who cannot recite their brand new cell phone number from memory, is a prerequisite job qualification. Sorry! Try again when you’ve improved your skills! 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-never-call-myself-ha-ha-ha-shut-up-shut-up-shut-up/370524.md?page=3)