# Thoughts on mildly off-putting phone call? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 16, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mildly-off-putting-phone-call/582042 "2011-05-16T00:10:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mildly-off-putting-phone-call/582042/41 "2011-05-20T11:19:46Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > _leave a message at the tone_ > > _leave a message at the tone_ > > Reading comprehension isn’t difficult. I can’t think of any possible situation where someone needs to speak to me but doesn’t have a callback number. Reading comprehension can’t be that easy for you if you’ve missed that they’re talking about emergencies. In case you’re still not clear, an emergency is something that needs your attention right then, not when you can be bothered to deal with it. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mildly-off-putting-phone-call/582042/42 "2011-05-20T12:04:08Z")
I always answer the phone in the middle of night if I don’t know the number because it could be family/a friend in need calling from an unfamiliar number. During the day, I rarely answer it if I don’t know the number. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mildly-off-putting-phone-call/582042/43 "2011-05-20T12:20:32Z")
So, go to a pay phone with a 20 something female friend, and have her call and say “hello sweetie”. When the wife answers hang up. Call back in 20 seconds and then hang up without saying anything. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mildly-off-putting-phone-call/582042/44 "2011-05-20T14:33:36Z")
Couldn’t it have been someone with a touch of dementia? Or right number, but wrong area code? A crossed phone line? There are a thousand possibilities, none of them with an element of danger involved or cause for alarm. ---
**Author:** ![DivineComedienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c67d28/32.png) [@DivineComedienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DivineComedienne)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mildly-off-putting-phone-call/582042/45 "2011-05-20T19:01:31Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > So I got a phone call at around 6 am this morning. The woman on the other end started to talk, then asked me what my name was. I answered with my first name (remember, 6 am, not thinking right), **then asked for someone I didn’t know. She said he was her husband** , and that he had a piece of paper with my name and phone number on it. I told her I was sorry I couldn’t help her, and she hung up, apparently still befuddled. She was LOOKING FOR HER HUSBAND AT 6 AM. Obviously a cheater. Don’t worry about it, she could have mis-dialed and got your number. ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mildly-off-putting-phone-call/582042/46 "2011-05-22T17:32:29Z")
I’d call the number back. ---
**Author:** ![SecondJudith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@SecondJudith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecondJudith)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mildly-off-putting-phone-call/582042/47 "2011-05-24T10:06:00Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > _leave a message at the tone_ > > _leave a message at the tone_ > > Reading comprehension isn’t difficult. I can’t think of any possible situation where someone needs to speak to me but doesn’t have a callback number. If you’re happy having a parent or loved one die alone without saying goodbye because you couldn’t be bothered to get out of bed, that’s up to you, but it’s inaccurate to classify it as rudeness on their part. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-mildly-off-putting-phone-call/582042.md?page=2)