The "My phone died" excuse (spouse, person, member)

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

I don't buy it. Does anybody? At least more than once?

I have a friend who will just cut off a conversation when she either is bored or arrives where she's going or whatever. Just, no connection mid-sentence.

Then, the next day I get the excuse that so sorry, her phone died.

If it happened once, or maybe twice in a 12 month period, I "might" believe it. But, every other week?

Even if it's true, it's unacceptable. Charge your dang phone.

Funny thing, though, is that whenever she needs my help, she doesn't have these issues - or at most, they are instantly resolved.

When I need her help? Huh, phone died mid-conversation.

I guess the moral of the story for me, anyway, is to stop being available to this kind of person.

But, have you dealt with the same situation where supposedly someone's phone magically died when you were in the middle of talking, and they didn't get back to you for a day? Hello, can't everyone else just plug their phone in? I know I can.

[BirdieBelle]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

I guess the moral of the story for me, anyway, is to stop being available to this kind of person.

Yes.

If she's not smart enough to plug her phone in well before it gets to 20%, you don't need her in your life.

[fluffythewondercat]

I tried to respond to this earlier, but my phone...

I was intrigued by your statement that she ends the conversation when she gets bored. How do you know she's bored?

Maybe make your conversations a whole lot shorter. You can be the one who says, "Oops, look at the time. Gotta go!"

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Originally Posted by fluffythewondercat

I tried to respond to this earlier, but my phone...

I was intrigued by your statement that she ends the conversation when she gets bored. How do you know she's bored?

Maybe make your conversations a whole lot shorter. You can be the one who says, "Oops, look at the time. Gotta go!"

I get your point, but what about communication skills? How about she says "Opps look at the time, gotta go?"

I happened to be talking about stuff related to my mother dying that day. So, I would think this time, she might put up with a little extra ranting. I can't believe she just cut me off.

Well, actually, I can. She's very self-centered and pretty much only wants me in her life when she wants me to do something for her.

But, no, I don't think it's on the recipient to sense when the other party is considering faking a phone dying. I think it's on an adult being able to communicate that they want to go to bed now, etc. I mean, that just precipitates the idea that their discomfort is always someone else's fault and that they should never have to deal with discomfort with regards to anyone else's needs.

[zentropa]

I don't know anyone who lies about their phone dying to end a boring conversation. I must have inadvertently weeded that type out of my life.

Why are you friends with this person again?

[fluffythewondercat]

OP, you're smart enough and experienced enough to know you can't change anyone else, only yourself. I think most of the rest of us know that, too.

So what do you want us to tell you?

[1insider]

Turn it around on her and start clicking off before she does. Make up a more fantastic excuse than hers like, "my phone caught on fire". She should get the point. In all honesty, I've used the "dropped call" excuse before to end a conversation.

[bande1102]

I haven't dealt with this particular issue and it would drive me crazy. It's so rude.

I have a problem with people who say interrupt me to say, "sorry, but I really have to go" and then proceed to talk for 5 minutes about themselves. There's one family member who does this and it drives us all nuts.

[Clemencia53]

I know several people that do this or either just forget their phones.

People with spouses on hospice, people with kids and grandkids that they say they would do anything for them - except answer the phone - lol

I used to be on call 24/7 back in the day - so i guess old habits die hard and my source of communication is ready to go! I even have a solar charger in case we lose power. Crazy right?

I just figure they have other things more important in their lives besides their kids and sick spouses

[ClaraC]

If you want to cut someone off in a conversation and have them believe it was inadvertent, launch into a story of your own and then hang up while you're the one talking.