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Do you think with cell phones and texting that people have the expectation you'll always be available?
I have a cell phone, often when I'm at home I'll have it turned to silent. If there is a true emergency people that know me well can use my landline.
So someone called me on my cell phone to ask a favor that had a time sensitive nature to it. I actually didn't see the call until a couple hours had passed I wouldn't have done the favor anyway, but they were mad that I didn't call them back sooner. I personally find that expectation a little silly, but it seems like it is becoming more common, since cell phones provide greater access.
I think some people do have that expectation, and some people live up to that expectation, sleeping with the phone next to the bed, having it out on their desk or the dinner table, etc. I have a few friends who will send a text, and if you don't answer in the next 10 minutes will call twice and send three more texts. I think of it as the phone is for my convenience, not anyone else's. Sometimes I'll leave it downstairs while I'm upstairs, or it's off while I'm at a movie or dinner, and the world doesn't end.
Good topic! Thanks for starting the thread...Well I'm grateful that cell phones were invented. They make life easier in many respects...But they can definitely be a "curse" and a big annoyance at times too...Right now I have to keep my phone "on" most of the time because my son is in an acute care facility. He's had brain tumors...But normally I like to "disappear" at times.. YUK! I don't want to feel like I'm on somebody else's "leash." Or "on-call" 24/7 like a doctor or plumber or ??...When my husband was alive we never called or texted each other when we "ran errands" or went out by ourselves for a little while. (Except for emergencies.)...We wanted to give each other a little space and freedom. It's no fun to be "bothered" all the time with "petty stuff!"...One of my acquaintances seemed shocked and upset when I didn't answer my cell phone one day and she had to leave a message. She left a rather arrogant message like: "Where in the world can you be?"....I don't bring my cell phone in with me when I take a bath because I don't want it to get wet or full of hot-steam etc. And I don't really care for arrogant people who think I'm at their "beck and call" and on their "leash!"
Not sure if this fits but I always answer my phone, texts not so much. If my little sister calls me from an unknown number and she needs me then I will answer the phone. It could be anyone and any kind of situation. If I was unaware of the call then that's a different story. And if a text isn't an emergency, you won't get a reply very fast.
I don't get it either. I keep my cell in my purse during the week and I keep that in the bedroom, so if I'm in the living room, etc. I'm not going to hear it. If I take it out of my purse, I'm going to end up forgetting to put it back, then I won't have it with me when I might need it. I do have a land line people can reach me on. I have caller ID and I use it to screen calls.
I find when it come to cell phones there are three distinct groups....
The ones that think it's cool to never use it and brag about this fact.
(why have one?)
The ones that think it's cool to have it ringing or buzzing at you every 5 seconds.
(no real life?)
And the ones that use it as I believe was originally intended. If you need to make a call make it. I like the texting because it gives me a chance to send someone a message and they can answer it when it's convienent to them.
My husband is a diabetic, my son in in the Army. I want to be acessible at all times.
That doesn't mean I'm on it all the time. We've got more minutes in our rollover account than we'll ever use.
Do you think with cell phones and texting that people have the expectation you'll always be available?
I have a cell phone, often when I'm at home I'll have it turned to silent. If there is a true emergency people that know me well can use my landline.
So someone called me on my cell phone to ask a favor that had a time sensitive nature to it. I actually didn't see the call until a couple hours had passed I wouldn't have done the favor anyway, but they were mad that I didn't call them back sooner. I personally find that expectation a little silly, but it seems like it is becoming more common, since cell phones provide greater access.
When it comes to cell phones, there is a pure culture of instant gratification for some who are definitely impatient.
If someone behaves towards me that way calling me on my cell and I cannot answer it, apparently thinking I did not call them back "in time," they need to get over it. And yes, it has happened to me. Life is too short to worry what other people think, though same as you, I do worry about that sometimes.
I turn off my cell a lot, especially at night or mute it at work, when I cannot take calls.
Do you think with cell phones and texting that people have the expectation you'll always be available?
I have a cell phone, often when I'm at home I'll have it turned to silent. If there is a true emergency people that know me well can use my landline.
So someone called me on my cell phone to ask a favor that had a time sensitive nature to it. I actually didn't see the call until a couple hours had passed I wouldn't have done the favor anyway, but they were mad that I didn't call them back sooner. I personally find that expectation a little silly, but it seems like it is becoming more common, since cell phones provide greater access.
Yes. I think cell phones create unrealistic expectations and demands among family, friends, and people at work. That is why I would only have one for emergency purposes (car breaking down on the highway, etc.) and would not give anyone else the number. When I am out, I am out. When people get irked by that, I just say, "Somehow, we managed to make it to the mid-90s without instant access all the time. There was even a time when people called and if no one was home, the phone just rang and rang and you couldn't leave a message. You had to call back later. Oh, the hardship!"
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