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Are Phone Calls Extinct?
Photo by Innermost Limits from Pexels
We’ve become afraid of the phone. Or rather, we’re afraid of using the phone for its original purpose—to make phone calls.
During my postpartum time, many people told me that they’d wanted to reach out but they’d been afraid to call in case me or the baby were sleeping. Now my mother is sick and I’m hearing the same thing from some of her friends. “I never know when’s a good time,” they say, or “I don’t want to wake her if she’s napping.”
Phone calls have become another thing that needs to be scheduled. Gone are the days of spontaneous calls, dialing a friend on a whim when you find yourself with an empty house on a Sunday afternoon or when they cross your mind during your commute (back in the days of commutes…).
Calling someone spontaneously has become complicated because the caller takes responsibility for what’s going on on the other end of the phone. What if my friend is watching a TV show or making dinner? What if they’re bathing their child or taking a nap? We can’t know what the person we’re calling is up to. It’s impossible. But guess what – it’s their responsibility to decide how to manage incoming calls—not yours.
In a world where we think we’re in control with on demand everything, phone calls are an anomaly. There are so many unknowns! Plus, synchronous conversation happening in real time demands our full attention—unlike texting and email, which can be done while multi-tasking.
I’m always perplexed when people tell me they wanted to call but were worried that I was napping or resting. If I don’t want to be disturbed, I turn the ringer off my phone or leave my phone in another room. Also, I never bring my phone into the bedroom so there’s no possibility of a precious nap being disturbed by a phone call!
In the end, good intentions often inhibit people from picking up the phone and letting someone know that they’re thinking of them. It might not be a good time, but that’s okay! If it’s not a good time, then the person you’re calling simply won’t pick up, or they’ll pick up and ask you to call back at another time.
Tip of the Week
Speaking of phone calls, it’s about the only way to connect with voters in the last TWENTY-ONE DAYS before the election. I’ve been putting off phone-banking until yesterday, when I finally got it together and began reaching out to voters with the help of the Florida Dems. It was much easier and a lot more pleasant than I expected! Check out The Last Weekends to find out how to engage in high impact actions in your area.
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