Telephone conversations fill me with dread
Which is a bit of a bugger because speaking to 'people' on the phone forms a small but integral part of my job.

It depends on the circumstances - friends and family are usually OK, but when it comes to talking to a complete stranger, the thought of having a conversation with a disembodied voice just fucks with my head sometimes. I have on occassion found myself getting quite flustered because I can't get a gauge on what they are thinking or how they are reacting. I much prefer talking to someone in the flesh, so I can read their facial expressions / body language.

Curiously I don't have a problem with conversing by email, probably because I'm in less danger of coming across as some tongue-tied, inarticulate fuckwit.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Mon 14 Apr 2008, 14:25, 8 replies)

That's weird...
I'm totally the opposite.

I prefer to have a conversation with a dismebodied voice.

Jeez! it's a wonder I ever made friends growing up.
( girlinthehole, Mon 14 Apr 2008, 14:28, closed)

I'm a bit of a mixture
I spend a fair bit of time of the phone at work, but other than calls to family/friends, hate using the phone at home. I have to totally psych myself up first.

I think it's cos at work, I'm usually calling customers back, so I'm in control to a certain extent. Also, they usually want something and have to be nice to me. Not that it helps. They don't get anything if I'm in a bad mood!
(TheWeeWitch hasn't been here much recently .., Mon 14 Apr 2008, 14:34, closed)

@D'sG
I've only recently realised that I've got a similar problem, really dislike talking on the phone.
I get a cold dread when my work phone rings, and prefer to let people leave messages then email them.
( Cawl, Mon 14 Apr 2008, 14:35, closed)

I actually like
disembodied voices. I still have nostalgic memories of listening to AM radio at night and hearing the echoing, distorted voices in the dark talking between songs... somehow I found myself really liking that a lot.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Mon 14 Apr 2008, 14:37, closed)

Yes
It happens to me too, but only when it's in English. I wonder why...
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 14 Apr 2008, 14:44, closed)

Prolonged agony
I only dislike calls that last more than about 30 seconds. I call mates and arrange to meet, or communicate any information that needs to be conveyed.

It's almost guaranteed that anything lasting beyond this brief window of time is just another cnut moaning about something I have no control over and that they should be solving themselves, or possibly making inane drivvelous small talk that is neither entertaining nor original or even interesting in any way. (like some of my posts!)
(Greencloud Wanted to go fishing on, Mon 14 Apr 2008, 14:44, closed)

Totally with you on this one
I often just have a panic when I realise that I could be talking to anyone, and lose my thread. Also, I have this weird condition called prosopagnosia which means that this also happens with real people, as I stop recognising people halfway through speaking to them, and it's like I'm talking to a stranger. Happened with my dad the other day.
( Madam Marlboro wonders if you've found her yet, Mon 14 Apr 2008, 15:14, closed)

Heh
I'm not surprised they fill you with dread seeing who your partner is.

"Mike? Where the fuck are you? Dinner was supposed to be at 7.30. It's 9 now. What do you mean you're just setting off now?"


Cheers
( Legless Mister Stabby - shanks for the memory, Tue 15 Apr 2008, 4:15, closed)