The Telephone

Honestly I hate talking on the telephone. I don't know why but I dread having conversations on the phone and this can be with anybody. I am usually as un-willing to call up a department store to see what time it is as I am to call a buddy to see if he wants to go grab lunch however there are certain people that talking on the phone comes natural with.

I always get awkward pauses or silences and I hate when I have talked for a good twenty seconds and the response is "I didn't hear a word of that can you repeat it." There is something unnatural about it. You never sound the same on the phone as you do in person and on the phone I can't read body language to get a read of the conversation or on how things are going. Its a lot easier to lie on the telephone.

It is funny in relationships because I have always noticed that women enjoy the phone more than guys do and for women, the phone is a form of control. "Call me when you get there," seems to always come up and in good relationships girls call just to call with no real purpose. Maybe thats my biggest beef with the phone. I want conversations to be fast and with a purpose. Just give me the basic facts and we can talk when we see each other. That is the best part about text messaging. That and you can plan out and think about your conversations before you blurt out something stupid.

I agree with the point that when phone conversations are comfortable and great the relationship is great. The relationship I am in now, we have easy phone conversations and there is no real pressure. You know it though when you get the "Okay so...," moments on the phone and usually it pans out in the relationship. I guess for now we are going to remain slaves to the cell phones, Blackberry's, Iphones, whatever. Next time you have a free moment, look around campus and see how many people walk to class with the phone in their hand.

Another thing -- when will the world run out of phone numbers. Math is not my strongest subject so possible never, but it seems we are heading that way...