Who is this? Who is that?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I feel mildly irritated when a telephone caller asks me, “Who is this?” when he is asking me my name.

I’m tempted to reply, “Sorry, I haven’t a clue. Who are you?”

Anyone else got views on this?

2

I wouldn’t be surprised if this post gets moved to another part of the SDMB, but before it does, I will add my $.02:

I agree - if someone calls me and asks who I am before identifying themselves, I typically respond with “Who is calling please?” with a slightly curt tone - you have re-establish the upper hand, y’know?

3

I think the OP was distinguishing between “Who is this” and “Who is that.” The former is how an American will usually ask the question; the latter is chiefly British. Or so my reading of British novels and viewing of British films leads me to believe . . .

4

Just hang up! If they do it again, repeat…

5

exactly my philosphy. it drives me insane when the person on the other end of the extension says who’s this right after i say hello. i used to be polite about it. no more. now my answer is a snippy, “who’s this, you called me remember.” it may be bitchy, but these people have to learn some manners

6

Off to MPSIMS.

7

Well, if I know the voice on the other end, then I find it alright (as in they are assuming that I know them, e.g. Grandma). I just tell them who it is (My sisters and I have pretty much the same voice, so it is definately possible for me to know who you are, and you to not know who I am.)

If it isn’t someone I know I usually say, “Who wants to know?” This doesn’t happen much though.

8

I usually get a lot of calls on my cell phone from numbers I don’t recognize. And since I also hate for people to rudely call me and ask who I am, I usually call and say, “Hello, this is Jenny, someone called my cell phone from this number, and I’m calling to find out who that person was.” That usually works. It really sucks though when it’s just a wrong number call, and the other people get all rude with me. :slight_smile:
Jenny*

9

I am constantly amazed that people
a) don’t identify themselves when they call. It’s good phone etiquette to identify yourself.
b) demand to know who they are speaking to.

I say, “Actually, that’s my line. Who am I speaking to?”

Someone called up and asked for me. I said, “Who is calling?” She said, “He wouldn’t recognize my name.” I said, “Then why would he want to speak to you?” Shook her up a bit.