Phone Etiquette

[Anonymous]

If you are in the middle of a conversation, and the other person gets a call , shouldn’t they put you on hold and call the other person back instead of telling yo, that they will call you back.

This is when you know 100% the other call IS non urgent and a friendly call.

[Anonymous]

Put down the wine Becky.

[Anonymous]

No they shouldn't put you on hold. Unless it's someone they're responsible for, they should let the second call go to voicemail and then call them back afterwards or whatever makes sense based on the voicemail.

[Anonymous]

I let the second call go to voicemail unless it's an immediate family member, or something like the school nurse. If it's just a different friend, I ignore the call for the moment, unless I urgently need to speak with that friend or maybe if we've been playing phone tag for a few days

[Anonymous]

Op here,
exactly my thoughts.
Yet twice recently they told me instead, that will call me back.

I usually let second call always go to voice mail.

[Anonymous]

It's already rude to pick up a call waiting call if you are already talking on the phone. It is unclear from your writing if the situation was as described above, or an in person conversation.

[Anonymous]

Who makes phone calls?

[Anonymous]

No, not necessarily. Maybe it’s a work call, a family member they’ve been trying to get in touch with to coordinate something, or a million other reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who makes phone calls?

Older people and those of us checking in on them. I read this as an older person, upset that someone keeps ending their conversations. I talk to my parents daily. Then I talk to my siblings to recap and coordinate their medical care when needed.

[Anonymous]

Yes it is rude most of the time. I do it mainly to my husband when I get a work call I have to take (ie I know is time sensitive).

If my kids were calling I would let it roll most of the time. They will text if it is urgent to let me know to ring back.

[Anonymous]

Life was much simpler when we all had secretaries to answer our lines and screen our calls.

For instance if I were on a call. I had multiple lines and Becky sat outside my door and could pick my line greet the incoming caller with a friendly hello, if she had an English accent even better, also she would probably already know the caller if not she’d ask who may I say if calling, she’s already know if it was an important call or person because she was my Girl Friday.

She’d place the call on hold and make a note on a pink slip. Gently knock on my door, slip ever so quietly in, place the note under my nose. I’d nod, yes, no. If a yes, I’d wrap up the call. Bob, good speaking with you, I have to run, are we good for drinks on Tuesday.

Becky would see my light on line 1 go out and she’d call me, announce the call, and patch then call through.

Oh how I miss Becky, and oh how I miss the 90s early 2000s. Things were so civilized.

[Anonymous]

Holy overthinking Batman!

Just let them call you back. You have no idea of the importance of the call their waiting on…and you shouldn’t as it’s none of your business.

[Anonymous]

It could be someone calling them who has more limited time or someone whose calls are much shorter.

So if a call with you is a long 1/2 hour chat, and the person expects that the other call would be a quick exchange of info, then it makes sense to quickly take that call.

It could also be that they put you on hold to tell the other person that they’ll call back. They know the other person calling them better. Some people keep ringing until it’s picked up, so if it’s someone like that who is calling, then the person is doing the best thing, putting you on hold to tell the other person that they’ll call them back, rather than have the person keep calling them.

[Anonymous]

OP: the solar system doesn’t revolve around you.

[Anonymous]

I sometimes pretend I have another call to use an excuse to get off the phone.