# When you answer the phone, you don't say "Hello" -- what? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 3, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181 "2010-03-03T21:32:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181/21 "2010-03-04T00:59:33Z")
Office: answer with my name, the company and a greeting. I don’t like how it sounds when people just say their name, it just seems abrupt. Its not like I am front desk, but I just prefer a more cheery greeting. Cell phone: if I recognize the number, I give the greeting appropriate to the person. If I don’t, I’ll say “this is otternell”. (Which doesn’t make any sense, since I don’t like that greeting in the office. Can’t really explain it.) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Accident](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Mr.Accident](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Accident)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181/22 "2010-03-04T01:12:53Z")
> [@spoike](#): > > I intentionally answer with “yellow” most of the time. No one ever notices. The funny thing is, it doesn’t bother me when someone else sounds like they’re saying yellow, whether they are or not. It only bothers me when I sound that way. It probably dates back to when I had speech therapy in elementary school. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181/23 "2010-03-04T01:55:37Z")
I just breath heavily into the phone upon picking it up. Figure if it’s someone trying to place a dirty call to me it’ll just confuse them. Just kidding, actually I am another of those people that just picks up the phone and listens- but mostly it’s because the only people who call are robots, politicians, telemarketers, or my parents. And my parents usually call around 1am so I know when it’s the other ones. Though once I got lucky and it was the CDC asking me to do a survey! ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181/24 "2010-03-04T01:59:10Z")
You have a phone? What’s wrong with email? ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181/25 "2010-03-04T02:00:41Z")
Sometimes I’ll say “MOSHI MOSHI!” just to freak people out. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181/26 "2010-03-04T02:11:08Z")
Too much work has given me the following unpleasant habit: When the phone rings, if I don’t immediately recognize the caller’s number I answer with “This is GameHat.” Always a bit awkward when it’s Grandma calling (We don’t speak enough for me to recognize the number) ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181/27 "2010-03-04T02:24:46Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > I have caller ID. if I don’t recognize the number it goes to voicemail. If I do recognize it, I answer with something incredibly witty that is tailored to the specific caller. Because I can, and I care. Just one of the perks of being On My Good Side. Bah… Back in my day, you just picked up the phone and took your chances. It could be granny in the hospital. It could be your friend planning a big night on the town. It could be a debt collector. It could be the boss telling you get back to the plant ASAP. You pansies with your caller ID, answering machines and thinga mabobs. Phone calls were expensive and never to be ignored. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181/28 "2010-03-04T02:25:53Z")
Following my dad’s habit, I say my first and last name when the caller ID is someone calling on work or party business. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181/29 "2010-03-04T03:31:16Z")
Office: “Behavioral Sciences, this is Kolga (only not Kolga, but my real first name)” Cell phone (which is also home, no landline), personal number: “Hey” “Sup?” “Yo” “Hola” “Whaddaya want NOW?” if I recognize the number and depending on that number. Cell phone, number of doctor’s/dentist’s/hairdresser’s/vet’s office: “Hello?” ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181/30 "2010-03-04T03:31:48Z")
At work, it’s “Thank you for calling Company’s Department. My name’s Robert, how may I help you?”. It’s always simply hello otherwise, even if it’s my best friend. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181/31 "2010-03-04T03:34:40Z")
If I’m in an upbeat mood, it’s often a cheerful “Speak to me!” These days, caller ID tailors how I answer the phone. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181/32 "2010-03-04T03:45:39Z")
Firstname Lastname unless I recognize the number on caller ID. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181/33 "2010-03-04T03:45:47Z")
“Howdy.” Somewhere between a period and an exclamation point at the end. They are ended with “Adios” Yes, I’m Texan, why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181/34 "2010-03-04T04:32:53Z")
“Speak!” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181/35 "2010-03-04T05:48:01Z")
‘Salaam Alaikum! A thousand blessings upon your household! May your tribe increase!’ ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181/36 "2010-03-04T12:58:16Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ll answer with something like “Doc’s Poolhall, 8 Ball speaking,” or with “Bob’s Taxidermy, you snuff 'em we stuff em.” You’re a riot. A regular riot. ---
**Author:** ![Khendrask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@Khendrask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khendrask)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181/37 "2010-03-04T13:54:44Z")
House phone - I won’t pick up, as the ringer is turned off. The only reason I have it, it to have a valid number to fill out for those times I need one. Cell phone - If it’s someone I know, I’ll usually just answer with a ‘Hello’, but I get so few phone calls I normally am too shocked to answer it before it dumps to voicemail. At work - Again, we have caller ID, even for internal calls, which are 98% of what I receive… There it’s just “Why are you bothering me now?” in a more or less joking tone. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181/38 "2010-03-04T13:57:06Z")
I’ve encountered the opposite problem: there’s one person I listen to who never says goodbye. I can hear the confusion when the caller is wondering if the call is really over. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181/39 "2010-03-04T14:05:38Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > I open and close with “Peace”. Ooh, me too! I’m sort of cheating, though, since the words for “hello,” “goodbye” and “peace” are all the same in Hebrew… (“_shalom_”) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181/40 "2010-03-04T14:08:41Z")
I usually say “Good [morning], this is Mel.” - I’m a consultant so I try to avoid saying the company name - I’ve been known to say the wrong one at the wrong company . . . If it’s my personal cell - and I don’t recognize the number - it’s usually - “Good [morning]” - I always wait until I know if it’s a voice recorder or a telemarketer before identifying myself. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-answer-the-phone-you-dont-say-hello-what/531181.md?page=3)