Ever had that moment when you hear a noise or vibration coming from somewhere nearby? It takes a moment to sink in, then you realise the unimaginable. Someone is actually calling you on your phone.
You panic and hesitate as you watch the screen light up with the person’s name or an unknown number, waiting until it stops ringing so you can get on with what you were doing.
The ringing feels like it’s never-ending, though. You’re thinking a combination of “hang up already” and “I didn’t authorise this phone call.”
Who’s calling? Is it suspected spam? Or worse, is it someone you know well enough who could’ve just messaged you instead?
Sound familiar?
Remember back in the day when phoning people was normal?
I actually remember my high school years when, here in the UK, we had something called Vodafone Free Weekends. Basically, you topped your phone up a fiver during the week to qualify for free texts and calls all weekend.
And the calls were actually more popular!
You’d be on the phone with friends for an hour, which was the maximum time for one call, then hang up and call them again. It was actually so much fun, and such simpler times.
That was before WhatsApp and modern social media, though. In the absence of read receipts and online statuses, phone calls were your only way to get real-time information.
So why is it these days that a call seems so inconvenient? Why is it now so much easier to text?
Has improved technology totally changed the way we communicate? Or is it more about choosing when we want to communicate?
When someone calls and you tap answer, that’s it. Conversation commenced.
Getting out of calls is even easier.
If a number calls that you don’t recognise, you best believe it’s being run through Google as soon as the call stops. Even better, if they leave a voicemail, you can listen to a preview of the call you purposely missed.
Don’t you think calls from people you know should come with a warning? A little message beforehand saying, “I’ll call you at this time on this date.”
It’s actually funny when you think about it. Most of us would rather send multiple messages back and forth when a two-minute call would probably provide all the answers we need.
I’m including myself in this, by the way. I much prefer messaging over calling, but I know a lot of us are exactly the same.
I actually think it’s because technology has improved that we’re not such big talkers on the phone anymore.
A slightly bizarre example, but think about TV nowadays and how you can watch what you want, on demand. Now take that across to your social life.
Messaging allows you to send messages when you want to, and reply when you want to. It makes everything much more convenient. If you want to reply instantly, you can. If you want to leave it until later, you can do that too!
I do get a bit nostalgic sometimes, though. When I think about speaking to friends on the phone growing up, it unlocks memories of life before social media really took off.
It’s a nice thought, actually.
Maybe I should start answering my phone more often. Although, if you could text me first, that would be great.
A little about Mostly Overspill
I’m Chris, and this is Mostly Overspill. A place for everyday observations, funny experiences, the occasional rant and whatever else happens to be on my mind.
If that sounds like your kind of thing, I’d love you to subscribe. It’s free, and there’ll be plenty more to come.