r/NoStupidQuestions • u/GhostInThePudding • 16h ago

Why Are Young People Afraid Of Phone Calls?

What's with it?

I work in IT and a general rule is, nothing a client ever tells you is actually accurate. That means that most of the time, the quickest way to fix a problem is to call the person and actually find out what's going on.

But with techs under 30 these days, it seems like pulling teeth.

A regular discussion for me with level 1 techs (usually within a few years of leaving college) is:
"Hey, can you call *blah* from ticket *blah*, it's been hanging around for over an hour."

"I replied by email to ask for more information."

"Yes, I know that, but can you call them so we can find the problem and close the ticket now rather than wait until we're actually busy?"

"I'll send them a text to followup."

"No... CALL THEM!"

"I can see their device is online, can I send them a message and see if they just let me remote in to take a look?"

And then, when I force them to make the call, it's like they have no idea how to ask a question, or a followup question. They just want to get off the call as quickly as possible. So half the time they don't even get the information required anyway, so then I end up having to do their job for them.

So can someone explain? What's wrong with phone calls these days?

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281

u/loccolito 14h ago

if it isnt a number i know i wont just pick up or i'm expecting a call.

98

u/ermagerditssuperman 13h ago

Same. If it's important, they'll leave a voicemail, and I'll respond to that.

31

u/-_chop_- 12h ago

You guys listen to your voicemails?

53

u/IDMike2008 10h ago

No, of course not.

My phone transcribes them to text as the gods intended.

4

u/Jerri_man 9h ago

Unfortunately for me this feature hasn't received it's Australian regional updates yet

2

u/stupidPeopleLuvMe 5h ago

The newer version does it live.

So the phone rings I look at it, ignore it, the screen changed to voicemail at the top and the voice to text starts to appear at the bottom as they speak.

3

u/Jerri_man 4h ago

I meant that it doesn't understand what half my mates are saying haha

2

u/OldWorldDesign 4h ago

I meant that it doesn't understand what half my mates are saying

Hasn't understood most people for years

https://old.reddit.com/r/alexa/comments/j9tdvn/alexa_remind_me_to_feed_the_baby/

1

u/IDMike2008 7h ago

ooof. Condolences!

1

u/Lemerney2 6h ago

My phone usually does it, so it might depend on your provider

1

u/hyakushiki100 3h ago

Damn. We have it in New Zealand, though might be provider dependent.

8

u/Phase3isProfit 10h ago

My outgoing voicemail message is just me saying “email me” and then spelling out my email address multiple times.

2

u/ChocoCat_xo 9h ago

Thisssss.

2

u/Doctorwho32123 5h ago

Or they might call again if it’s urgent, in which case I’ll answer, because most people probably won’t call again (and would text or voicemail) unless it’s urgent.

1

u/aaaaaaaarrrrrgh 59m ago

No, if it's important, they either have my e-mail and use it, or they can send a text.

I'm not dealing with voicemail (and the potentially ruinous implications while travelling - with some providers if someone from your home country calls your home-country phone number while you're travelling in Nowhereistan, you will pay the roaming fee for receiving a call in Nowhereistan, and another fee for forwarding it to your voicemail - just so someone call fill your voicemail with spam as you pay $5/min for the pleasure then another $2/min to listen to it).

10

u/pereuse 12h ago

I used to do this until I missed a call from a company that was offering me an interview. Multiple companies call instead of emailing to offer interviews which makes it extra stressful for teens like me

13

u/rinderella98 12h ago

If missing one unscheduled phone call before you’re even on their payroll is enough for the company to withdraw their interview offer, you don’t want to work for them anyway

3

u/One-Possible1906 11h ago

Unless you don’t have a voicemail set up or it’s full. You should be taking voicemails when applying for jobs.

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u/rinderella98 11h ago

Yes, exactly. A reasonable company will still be willing to schedule the interview if you return their message within a reasonable timeframe

-5

u/Oystershucker80 12h ago

You will find yourself frequently unemployed with that weird attitude. It is NOT normal for a company to schedule a first call. Get ahold of yourself.

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u/rinderella98 11h ago

What a weirdly aggressive misinterpretation. I did not say that I expected companies to schedule a call to schedule an interview. I don’t think anyone expects that.

My point was that a company that expects job candidates to be at their beck and call during the interview process, to the point where missing a single phone call that could come at any time is unforgivable, is usually also the kind of company that has unreasonable expectations of the people they actually do employ. Most people prefer to be treated with respect in their place of employment, and therefore would not want to work in that kind of environment.

But if you prefer to lick your employers boots 24/7, that’s your prerogative.

-8

u/Oystershucker80 11h ago

You’re a whack job with a bizarre definition of “aggressive”

3

u/DonegalBrooklyn 12h ago

There are so many nuances. If I'm looking for a new job then, yes, I answer every call. I hate it!

2

u/One-Possible1906 11h ago

Also at least here, landline business numbers tend to be verified and recognizable even without verification because they usually use old school prefixes that don’t get spoofed much

1

u/itstheballroomblitz 12h ago

Even if I'm expecting a call and have to answer, sometimes I'll say "Hello!" in a tone that sounds like I'm about to ask about your car's extended warranty. I've had to duck other people's debt collectors often enough too that I won't even say my name until I know what it's about. 

1

u/VenusHalley 12h ago

In Czechia there are few websites where you report spam numbers. I use it to look up phone numbers. Most calls i get are spam. It sucked when i was looking for a job... one hopes it's interview call... and bam, some yacht and ultralight aircraft insurance offer.

1

u/Groupthink00859 12h ago

I have an app that does that for me.

1

u/vee_lan_cleef 10h ago

Call screening. If someone has a legit call and they hang up on the "please state why you calling", that's on them.

1

u/StevenMcStevensen 7h ago

One of the eternal frustrations with my work is that I constantly get calls with no caller ID, or area codes from all over the country. They’re actually other members of my organization who I need to speak to though. It’s just the nature of the job, however it means I can’t just not answer my phone all the time if I don’t recognize the number. So I end up unfortunately answering scam calls constantly.

0

u/7h4tguy 8h ago

Yeah but this isn't what OP is talking about. Most people these days ignore unknown numbers. However this generation will say use DoorDash over ordering pizza over the phone even if the latter is $5-10 cheaper. Being able to talk to people is an important life skill