MetaChat - Oh how I LOATHE calling people on the phone!

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16 January 2007

Oh how I LOATHE calling people on the phone! I have to call a surgeon to schedule a preliminary appointment. →[More:]I hate hate hate making phonecalls! Especially to administrative-type people. But even to friends! It's almost a phobia. I've put off making this phonecall for about 2 weeks now, and I'm posting this here to psych myself up to it. (Also, I just fucking hate healthcare in this country. Why should I be the one researching surgeons? I don't know shit about what makes a good one.)

post by: gaspode at: 14:23 | 24 comments

I was just complaining about my own phone phobia.

I've yet to figure out if it seems that so many people have them because it's more common than I think, or simply because I spend so much time on the internet and the internet seems specifically designed to attract people who'd prefer to communicate in writing.

And double boo to healthcare. Let us know if we can help with anything?

posted by occhiblu 16 January | 14:26

I know your pain -- I used to be exactly like this. Write down the information you need to have at hand, and then just grab that phone and punch the number in. Making the call is the hardest bit. You can do it!

posted by chrismear 16 January | 14:27

I have put off making the call to the body shop to have my car fixed for a week now. There is absolutely no reason why other than just not wanting to; the repair is completely paid for by the other driver's insurance company.

I'm really honored that you called me that one time now.

posted by mike9322 16 January | 14:28

I am so with you. The good thing about calling a doctor or mechanic, though, is that it has a natural ending. My hatred of social calls comes from the inherent awkwardness of winding down the conversation.

posted by jrossi4r 16 January | 14:32

Me too! I hate talking on the phone. A few times people I only know online have called me and the calls have been unbelievably awkward. So embarrassing. I'm sitting here turning red just thinking about how idiotic I must have sounded.

posted by iconomy 16 January | 14:33

You can do it! Remember the receptionist is just a human on the phone.

I would find out if your surgeon is: 1. Board Certified 2. How many times she has performed the operation you require. There are probably other things to inquire about, but these are things I can think of at the moment.

posted by LoriFLA 16 January | 14:37

Yeah, I hate phones too and put off making calls waaaay too long. How odd, I always thought it was just me!

posted by mygothlaundry 16 January | 14:41

I hear you, gaspode... I despise talking on the phone. (Unfortunately, I have a mom who loves it.)

I also hate dealing with doctors, in ANY way, so I'll be pulling for you to get it over with soon!

posted by BoringPostcards 16 January | 14:43

I love talking to people on the phone. I hate (as in -I endlessly postpone) dialing the number. I do not know why. Later and later. Then it does not get done, then I get anxious, then I do not call, then people get mad and then I kill myself. Everyone is mad at me right now.

posted by carmina 16 January | 14:44

If you know the pertinent points, i'm sure you'll be fine. Just get the appointment and you'll do most of the talking, writing, etc. there.
Remember to bring a book or something for the waiting room, but appointments could take a while depending on how booked up they are, so the sooner, the better.

posted by ethylene 16 January | 14:54

I once managed to go 3 months without making a call on my landline at home. There was a weird moment of bittersweet pride when the "cost of calls" entry read £0.00 on the quarterly bill.

I generally really like talking on the phone, but I almost never get calls at home and am frankly crap at making them. Almost every call I've had has been for the couple that moved out last April. Either that or damn marketeers, even though I'm signed up to the Telephone Preference Service.

posted by TheDonF 16 January | 15:04

Hate phones. Hate hate hate.

Of course, my phone just rang.

posted by eriko 16 January | 15:13

I hate the phone too. I don't mind speaking to people on the phone but I find making the call and getting through to the person you want to speak to a little stressful.

My way of working with this is that I have an index card for listing people I need to call. I also try to put down the phone number if I need it and any other pertinent details such as customer numbers or whatever.

I have a deal with myself that after I've checked my calendar and sorted out what I'm doing for the rest of the day, the very first thing I attack is my call list. I find getting them out of the way as early as possible makes me feel really positive and productive for the rest of the day.

posted by dodgygeezer 16 January | 15:18

I'm in the "I hate phones!" camp. I don't have a cell phone, and the only reason I have a landline is for DSL.

My shrink: "I told you to call me when this happens. Why didn't you?"

Me: "I hate phones."

My shrink: "Well, get over it!"

heheh

posted by mischief 16 January | 15:19

I actually picked my last therapist because she responded to my email so quickly, and with suggestions for setting up an appointment via email. Every other therapist I emailed just responded with a phone number.

She ended up being an awesome therapist.

I just made my own phone call that I had been putting off a bit, so this is a voice of support and encouragement to everyone else procrastinating. You can do it, bunnies!

posted by occhiblu 16 January | 15:23

Another phone hater here, but in my defense it has more to do with my shyness than anything else. I'm always relieved if I have to leave a message 'cause that means s/he has to call me back. For whatever reason that's not nearly so painful.

I psych myself into making needed phone calls by telling myself I can do something I want to do (surf, read, watch movie, play a game) after I make the dreaded phone call.

posted by deborah 16 January | 15:41

I love my MD for the sole reason that she seems to like email as much as I do.

posted by small_ruminant 16 January | 16:07

I don't mind talking on the phone, but I like email better, and I LOVE to have a written record of everything because I have a terrible memory.

posted by small_ruminant 16 January | 16:08

I hate phones too, I think it's because I'm already anxious enough about the social interaction, but the phone takes away any ability to gauge reaction.

posted by drezdn 16 January | 16:15

I hate the phone. I find it really intrusive and avoid using it wherever possible. At home all calls are screened and sometimes even when I'm home and it's somebody I like I won't pick up the call.

posted by essexjan 16 January | 17:13

So many fellow phone haters... it's comforting. And I used to be a receptionist and airline phone reservationist! Talk about stressful. We never answer the phone at home until we hear who it is, and even then, we generally call back. I like talking to my mom, but any kind of business call gives me heart palpitations.

The surgeon who took out my gall bladder this summer was terrific, 'pode. I don't know what kind of surgeon you're looking for, but he's a general surgeon and assistant professor of surgery at Columbia Presbyterian. Feel free to send me an email if you'd like his name and number.

posted by Pips 16 January | 17:43

I actually like answering the phone -- I temped for a while as a receptionist and liked it -- it's just calling that freaks me out. I also hate asking for help in general; I suspect the issues are related.

posted by occhiblu 16 January | 17:47

I loathe telephones too; if the house phone in my building were separate I'd turn all the ringers off the land line phones--as it is I've done so for the one in the master bedroom. I despise cells, but I had to get one before I moved into the condo, so I could be reached there by the people doing work--that ringer is turned off. BUT....Hollaback is seriously making me consider getting a cameraphone.

posted by brujita 17 January | 00:36

Couldn't your doctor have made the call for you, gaspode?

posted by brujita 17 January | 00:37

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