meh

[textualdeviance]

You know the biggest reason I prefer online communication to anything else?

Because there are some people who just don't get that when they call you, and you say you're in the middle of something, that means YOU ARE NOT FREE TO CHITCHAT FOR AN HOUR.

This is especailly bad for people like myself with ADD, because once I've been distracted from something I was doing, it's impossible to get back into it.

What ever happened to people arranging specific times to get together to be social which fit into both of their schedules? Why do some people think that I'm just sitting here waiting for them to call me? And then of course the guilting comes. "Well, if I'm bothering you, then I'll just go away and eat worms..." or "I guess you just don't like me anymore." FUCKING HELL. Just becuase I'm busy doesn't mean I don't want to interact with you, but if you continue to pester me like that, that's a damned easy way to get me to avoid you.

For fuck's sake. Send me email asking if I want to get together. Leave voicemail asking about that if you call and I don't answer. If it takes me a few days, even a week to get back to you, assume I'm busy, not that I don't like you. It's not that I don't like being approached-- on the contrary, I usually tend to hang back and wait for other people to make social overtures, precisely because I don't want to bother them-- just that I don't like being interrupted if I'm in the middle of something. When you call someone, you're making a demand that you want to speak to them rightthatsecond, and let's be honest: there are very few things that can't wait for someone to answer an email. If you're having a crisis, by all means, call, and if at all possible, I will drop what I'm doing to help. But if you just want to babble at me, it. can. fucking. wait.

*unplugs phone and throws it through the window*

Comments

[thefirstalicat.livejournal.com]

Heh. I ran into that early on when I moved here and began working at home - for some people, the idea of "working at home" seems to mean "available at any time," which is very definitely not the case. But I'm pretty good at defining what I need in such situations, and when folks called or dropped by while I was working, I just told them it wasn't a good time and I'd get back to them. Yes, some people took it wrong (and my mother-in-law still says "I won't keep you long" as practically the first words out of her mouth on the very rare occasions when she calls me), but generally I've found that most people are understanding as long as I am pleasant and make a point of saying "I'll call you back as soon as I can."

BTW, I used to unplug the phone and keep the answering machine on, so that I didn't hear the phone ring but people could leave messages if they felt like it. Worked okay, and didn't destroy a phone that I'd have to pay to replace. ;>)

[sheistheweather]

Amen, sister.

Amen.

[cherryheavy.livejournal.com]

I think the days of prearanged meetings have gone with the Victorians (or at least the women of the 50's). I totally know what you mean, though. Some people who I absolutly adore and love to death, but would rather gargle razorblades than sit on the phone with, call me constantly and just want to chat.

Can't you hear that I'm sewing? Can't you hear that I'm washing my dishes? CAN'T YOU HEAR ME FLUSHING THE TOILET?!?

But I digress...