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I should perhaps start, by telling you that I’m not a person who enjoys talking on or even answering the phone. In fact, don’t even like to hear the phone ring.

I’m one of those people who will not spend much time on the phone at all, and then suddenly get a call from a friend who I haven’t spoken to in a while; ending up talking for an hour and a half, catching up.

(that, I don’t mind)

But overall?…I barely use the phone.

Therefore, anything that enables me to NOT have to pick up the receiver, is the BOMB.

Enter….Caller ID.

Caller ID is perhaps one of those miraculous inventions, that should be up there with BOTOX.

(I mean, not that I’ve ever had botulism voluntarily injected into my face)

Because with caller ID, if I see a phone number that I don’t recognize…Viola!…it goes right into voice mail.

The only time I answer the phone, is if it’s a call from say, work, my family, or if I’m expecting someone to call.

I think my favorite reason for loving caller ID, is because it enables me to dodge the bombardment of painful solicitor calls.

You see…I’m one of those rude people who immediately HANGS UP on solicitors, as soon as they start talking.

So rather than be totally rude, I can just be half-way rude…and simply pretend that they don’t even exist.

I understand that this is their job and all (to call people up and harass them, while eating breakfast, lunch and dinner), but I will not subject myself to it.

I remember when caller ID first came out and so many people were outraged that their telephone number could be recognized by the person they were calling, because they felt like it was an invasion of their privacy.

And I could see their point, because at first, I sort of felt that way too.

(especially since I love making prank telephone calls on the weekends)

However since then, telephone companies have added features that allow you to BLOCK your number from being seen.

I thinks it’s clever how these companies offer us a feature, then create another feature to counteract the whole purpose of the initial feature.

And I think that’s called…

…“Creatively having us by the golf BALLS






34 comments:

  1. All I have is my cel. And luckily, it shows who is calling. If I don't know the number, if it's a 1-800 number (which would mean telemarketers on the mainland so how the fuck did they get my cel?!)
    or any other number with more than 7 digits (which would mean some stranger on the mainland) I AIN'T TOUCHING IT.
    Especially if the screen says "Restricted", "Unavailable", "Unknown", "Private", then I SURE AS HELL ain't touching it.
    I don't know anyone that would press "*whatever it is" before my number.
    Yet, every frickin' Wednesday when I'm on DaBus home, I get an "unavailable" call.
    It freaks me out when I get that. A little bit wants to answer "who the fuck are you and why the fuck do you keep calling me with this 'unavailable' number shit?"
    And no, they've never left a message.
    My message has my name on it, so I
    think I will have my friend Art who does voices make me a new voicemail. He can do Kermit the Frog LOL.

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  2. ah ron, I have something to cheer you up immensely....come to my blog and look for the marie antoinette post...it's about you! :)

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  3. I think I'm the total opposite of you. Although I'm not one to spend much time on the phone, a ringing telephone drives me crazy. I refuse to have caller id for that reason.

    My skin crawls hearing the phone ringing while someone has to check who is calling or worse yet, try to figure out whose number it is - just pick up the damn phone and find out who it is!

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  4. Morning Ron,

    I have to agree with you about caller ID, I think that it's the greatest invention.

    I loved your comment "I think it’s clever how these companies offer us a feature, then create another feature to counteract the whole purpose of the initial feature". Then they go and create another feature to counteract the second feature (call-unblock)! How clever are they to do this and get us to pay for all of these new "options"!

    Thanks for the laugh this morning! Enjoy the rest of your day.

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  5. It's a mixed blessing. Having caller i.d. is great for those times you don't want to answer and find a salesman, collection agency, or other undesirable on the line. But it's also a bit of a pain because I feel like I have to answer with enthusiasm when I know who it is. You know... ring ring... oh noooo... it's so and so and they know I have the i.d. box so I better be cheerful. HELLOOOO!!! And then sometimes they identify themselves anyway. Hi Mary, it's Auntie Grizelda. So I have to be cheery again when really I'm just thinking how late I am about getting out the door to order my Soy Cocoa. ;)
    That whole never really being surprised about who is calling is a bummer sometimes too so I just 'pretend' I was running for the phone (okay, somedays I am rushing around trying to find it as no one EVAH puts it back on the base) and don't know who it is. So when they say, it's so and so I can go, 'OHH HI!!' And then theres the times you call others and if THEY aren't ENTHUSIASTIC when YOU call it's a real downer. Like, what, I'm not good enough for a cheerful HELLLOOOOO!!! You start getting all paranoid like you sensed something in their voice when they answered that you were bothering them or something. LOL

    Oh why not ramble on some more.....
    Recently, I was trying to get some info. from our credit union on biz checking since that other horrid bank feels it's okay to continually take money from my small account because I don't deposit enough. Of course there was no 'live' person to talk to, only a voicemail. So I left one. But when she called back I didn't know it as it kept coming up on my i.d. box as 'out of area' and an 800# so I didn't answer. This happened a couple times. So finally, figuring it was her, I answered the next one. WRONG. It was a charity asking me to do a neighborhood collection mailing next year. Next year??
    @%$@@#%@!#)(*$#@
    Whatever.
    What could I say. Oh okay, I'll do it. Yes, it's okay to send the stuff in January for the February drive.
    So the next day, another 'out of area' calls. I figure this time it's safe to answer. It's got to be the bank right??! Wrong. It's the charity again. Calling to thank me for volunteering to do the mailing. OY VEY

    OH Ron, did you see the snowflakes yesterday!!??? Yay! I had done a little holiday shopping and was coming home and saw them, it was so fabulous. Winter is really almost here!
    Oooh, phone is ringing... gotta go practice my happy voice. ;)

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  6. Aloha Debi!

    Do you know what totally amazes me??

    There was a time, when telemarketers did not have access to cell phones, remember?

    And then what the hell happened????

    I don't own a cell phone (thank god), so it's only my home phone that gets the solicitor calls.

    It use to really bother me too, when I would see "Unknown", "Unavailable" etc. on my phone, because part of wanted to know WHO it was, but now, I just let it go to voice mail, and if it's someone I know...I'll just call them back. But most of the time...I find that it's a telemarketer.

    MUCHO THANKS for stopping by today, Debi!

    Hope you're having a great day, my friend!

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  7. Good Morning Linda!

    oooooh.....I love surprises!!!!

    ok....I'll stop by as soon as I finish responding to comments.

    Hope you having a wonderful day, my friend!

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  8. Morn'in DP!

    OMG...I totally hear on that!

    I too can't stand to hear a phone ring. Which is why I have my home phone set to only TWO rings before voice mail picks it up.

    And in the evenings, I actually turn the ringer OFF, right before I go to bed.

    I don't own a cell, but when I did...I always had it set ot vibrate.

    And speaking of cell phone rings...

    ...don't you LOVE the people who have their phone ring set to the HIGHEST volume possible, so that the entire country can hear it???

    OY VEY!

    Thanks for sharing on this post, DP!

    And thanks for stopping by.

    HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

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  9. Howdy Miss P!

    Hey...GREAT seeing ya, today!

    And you're SO right....

    it's ALL about creating more and more things, so that we have to PAY for additional services$$$$$

    CLEVER...aren't they????

    HA!

    Thanks oodles for dropping by today!

    It's always nice TREAT!

    HAPPY WEDNESDAY, Miss P!

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  10. Good Morning Crystal Chick!

    OMG...you are SO FUNNY!

    Someone once told me, that when you answer the phone, SMILE first...so that when you say HELLO...your voice will always sound cheerful!!!

    I've actually tried it...and it WORKS!!

    However, I can't figure out what to do when I DON'T feel like smiling!?!?

    HAHAHAHHA!

    There ARE pros and cons to caller ID, but for me personally...I find that the pros outweigh the cons.

    It use to kind of bug me, when I didn't recongnize a number, and was curious to know WHO it was, however, now...if they leave a voice mail, I'll just call them back.

    Oh, and please...don't even get me started on how we can no longer talk to a LIVE person anymore, when calling customer service. I actually wrote a post on that...you may have read it.

    ooooh....ooooh...and YES!!!

    I DID see the snow flakes yesterday and was jumping up and down like a KID! I had just come out of Starbucks, on my way to the grocery store.

    The flakes were ENORMOUS!!!

    Only wished it lasted longer!

    Oh, well...I'm sure there's more coming!!!

    Thanks for stopping by, M!

    And thanks for sharing today.

    Always enjoyed!

    HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

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  11. Hi Ron,
    Your post comes a week after we changed to caller ID;and I tell you it is worth it !
    I'm not a phone person neither, and the numbers of the few I call are memorised by the phone.

    So, all the rest don't bother me no more :)

    I'll catch you when I get back.

    xxxx to you & Philly too.

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  12. WE have caller ID too but I forget to look at it! :#

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  13. Hiya Barbara!

    YAHOOOOO!

    You have CALLER ID!!!!

    Isn't it the BEST thing since sliced bread???

    I actually have a package deal where I get all these neat features INCLUDED....INCLUDING long distance!!!

    Listen, have a great time on you trip!

    Can't wait to hear all about it!

    Thanks for stopping by, Barb!

    Happy Wednesday to ya!
    X

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  14. HAHAHAHA Akelamalu!

    You sound just like my mom...

    ...she does the SAME thing!!!

    Thanks for stopping by, dear lady!

    I hope you're having a great day!

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  15. I love me some caller ID, too! I'd like a camera for the front door so I wouldn't have to answer that either.

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  16. If it weren't for caller ID I would never answer the phone. I hate talking on the phone and will sometimes even avoid a dear friend because I just don't want to hear the sound of a voice.

    Comes from being on the phone a lot for work I guess. I'm normally a social person but the phone annoys me.

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  17. Caller ID is a beautiful thing. I no longer need to pick up if it isn't a familiar someone I want to speak to!
    If there's a message, I follow up and call back.
    The best part is "seeing" who is calling and can't leave a message= hangups! Gotta love those!
    Have a great week Ron!

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  18. OMG...Lady Nitebyrd!!!!

    You and I are TRULY TWINS!!!

    I meant it!

    Because I TOO feel the same way about answering the door!!!

    I honestly use to tell my friends in Florida....CALL before you come over, cause if I don't know your coming, I won't answer the door!

    HAHAHAHAHA!

    Aren't WE something, Nitebyrd?

    Once I get in my home and am all cozy...I don't want to be disturbed, by a phone or a door bell.

    My mother always tells me I'm like Greta Garbo...

    ...I VANT to be alone.

    Thanks for sharing, Nitebyrd!

    Thanks sis!
    X

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  19. Hola Dianne!

    Hey...you hit the nail on the head for me too!

    My job reguires that I be VERY social all day long, and I actually enjoy it.

    But the minute I get home...it's like GIVE ME SILENCE.

    I think that's why I love blogging so much. I mean, we can all communicate with one another...but we don't actually have to physically SPEAK.

    And I'm like you too...sometimes I'm not in the mood even to talk to a friend. But my friends know this about me, so they understand.

    And isn't caller ID the BEST???

    Always a TREAT seeing ya, Dianne!

    Thanks for dropping in!

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  20. Bonjour Pretty in Paris!

    It's SO nice seeing you!

    What a nice treat!

    And YES!!! Gotta love those hang ups!!!

    I totally agree with ya!

    And like you, I WILL listen to voice mail and then call someone back.

    Listen, I just wanted you to know that I tried leaving you a comment on your blog WEEKS ago, but couldn't do it. It said something about only certain people can comment???

    Anyway, that's ok...but I just wanted you to know that I visited you.

    Hope all is well for you and that you're enjoying the Fall.

    Thanks for dropping by!

    Have a great week

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  21. I'm with you 100% on this one Ron. I love my caller ID. And we have a tele zapper too, anyone who calls with a blocked or unknown number gets a nasty message. LOL!!
    I'm not much for talking on the phone either. I talk to my dad every Sunday. My mother in law calls here everyday, but I screen don't answer her calls most of the time. After 2 or 3 days, I know I have to talk to her so I answer and listen to the same stuff that she talked about the last time she called. (insert eye roll here)
    Something that might find amusing that my husband and I do with the phone, you know he works from home right? His office is in our basement and I am always upstairs with the kids. So when I want to talk to him, I just intercom him on the phone system and talk to him like that instead of walking down the steps. Or I email him. We are lazy like that and technology has totally spoiled us.

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  22. Howdy Nicole!

    HOLY COW...I had NO IDEA that there was such a thing as tele zapper!

    That's AWESOME!!!!

    Damn...I need to get that!

    OMG...and you're so funny about your mother in law! But I'll tell ya...I'd be the same as you! GOD...I can't stand talking on the phone as it is, let allow listening to some say the same things!!!

    I bet she sounds like Charle Brown's mother!

    HA!

    Oh...and I think it's so cool that you and your husband intercom and email one another. I mean...why not? I think that's a great idea. It's better than yelling down to the basement.

    Thanks for stopping by, girl!

    ALWAYS so nice talking with ya!

    And I bet it FREEZING where you live, because it's COLD here.

    But of course...you know that I LOVE IT!

    Have a great evening!

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  23. Exceptionally useful during this past political season when 99.9% of the calls were for some jerk wad candidate that I didn't want to talk to anyway.

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  24. Ha...you hang up on solicitors and I like talking with them. I usually get into an arguement with them and then those bitches hang up on me.

    Police Department called me and wanted to sell me tickets to the policeman's BALLS...I told him to stop calling me or I'd call the cops.

    Oh...Policeman's 'BALL.'

    He wasn't amused.

    Really...ronnie, I just pick up the phone. I love to be surprised as to who it might be. I'm not used to caller ID because at work I have people who screen my calls before they pass them to my secret Bat Girl phone.

    Yeah some block their number...It's true. They can then do prank calls...like...

    Like what are you wearing?

    My god...is that you Joan...Joan Rivers?

    That's when I panic.

    Um...um...the diamond neclace is from Pen Nays and the gown is Bob Mackie.

    hehehe

    Ciao ronnie. :D

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  25. Hi again!
    Leesa told me that my blog was acting "funky" and I had no idea! No comments, oh boy.
    If you have time, can you jot back over and do a test for me to make sure!
    I have no idea how to do the links and schminks and all that that jazz-oy.

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  26. Howdy Jeff!

    You are absolutely RIGHT ON!

    The last few months has been unbelievable with political calls.

    And even though I didn't answer...they ended up leaving voice mails, anyway!!!

    Especially the final week before the election!!!!

    Thanks for dropping by today, buddy!

    Always great seeing ya!

    Hope you had a great day and are enjoying your evening!

    Later gator!

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  27. Hi Pretty in Paris!

    Hey, thanks for stopping by to let me know that!

    Sometimes blogger acts very strange!!?!?

    Absolutely!...I'll drop by your blog later, and post a comment!

    Hope you had a GREAT day!

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  28. Dearest Miss Jones/ Rivers...you ALWAYS crack me up!!

    Policeman's BALLS!!!

    That's BRILLIANT!

    Holy shit...I get a few of those every month and they actually leave a voice mail!!

    I too, use to get into arguments with those damn solicitors. Especially the ones asking if I want to take their credit card. I keep telling them NO...and they keep on ASKING!!

    GRRRRRR!

    ...click!

    And OMG...you actually have someone screen your calls at work, before they're sent to you???

    WOW...how FABULOUS!!

    Thanks for stopping by today, my friend!

    I hope you had a wonderful day and are enjoying your eveing with a nice glass of PINOT!

    I will be soon!

    Ciao bella!

    November

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  29. I hate using the phone. I hate answering the phone. I avoid it at all costs.

    Email me night or day, that makes me happiest.

    I don't know why I'm like that. I just am.

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  30. Howdy Rhea!

    GREAT seeing ya, gal!

    BRAVO!!!

    Hey...I'm with YOU...

    ...emails are the way to go!!!!

    And I can't even believe I'm saying that...considering, only three years ago I NEVER thought I'd get online!!!

    NEVER say NEVER!

    HA!

    Hope you're having wonderful evening!

    Thanks a bunch for stopping by!

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  31. You know how I feel about this topic. And now that I've been home sick for a while, I've checked the caller ID more times than I care to.

    I've actually taken to screwing with them by answering the phone in new and interesting ways...

    I've offered to sell one telemarketer a used car, and I asked another one for donations to the Little Orphan Annie Wigs For Former Child Stars Who Have Gone Bald Fund. They hung up on me! The nerve...

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  32. HOLY SHIT Anndi!

    THAT WAS BRILLIANT!!!

    How the hell did you ever think of that?....

    ...turning the tables!"

    GOOD FOR YOU!!!

    BRAVA!

    Thanks for dropping by, my friend!

    And keep up the GREAT telemarketing work!

    applause....applause....applause!

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  33. Hey Ron!!

    How funny ... I sooo remember when I got caller ID and didn't pay the full amount to see all the numbers so many of them came out as private calls... It got me soo ticked I called the phone company and told them to give me the more expensive service so that I could see everyone's numbers... Once I had it... It was like HEAVEN... esp. since I had some guys calling that didn't leave messages and not only did I KNOW there name but I got there PHONE NUMBER, too!!!
    Hehehehehe..... Love that caller ID...
    Oh yeah... And of course, even when you ARE at home ... you can totally choose NOT to answer the phone when you see who's calling.. Heheheheh!!!!
    Have a nice Sunday Ron!!!

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  34. Helloooo Leesa!

    See!!!...that's thing about having caller ID...

    ...I can keep track of the numbers that I CONTINUALLY get from the SAME solicitors all week long. I swear....some of them call a few times a day and 4-5 times a week!

    LOVE caller ID!!!!

    Thanks for stopping by today, Leesa!

    Hope you had a wonderful Sunday, my friend!

    I'm sure you're already asleep by now and already into Monday!

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