Strange experience on the phone that's been bothering me for many years... (college, issues)

[ragnarkar]

When I was in college it was a few years before cell phones were common among students. So one day I got a call (intended for my roommate but I didn't know who it was at the time.)

I picked it up.

"Hello? Hello?" I say..

No answer..

"Hello? Hello?"

I said "Hello?" maybe 10-15 times before I heard a girl laughing at the other end saying she's looking for my roommate. And then she apologized saying something like "oh, I thought you had one of those answering machines that keep saying Hello.. Hello.. and didn't realize it was a real person picking it up.

Can anyone explain this better to the psychologically illiterate (me)? The idea that there are answering machines with greetings going "Hello? Hello?" to humorously trip up potential callers is ridiculous in the first place but to suspect that there was such an answering machine picking up the call instead of myself is beyond absurd.

[purehuman]

You said it yourself...she was being absurd..you know, it's also a little absurd that you would let such a silly little call bother you for soooo many years. Can't you just forget about it?

[MOKAN]

Dude, if that's been bothering you for many years - you have problems.

[StilltheSame]

It was what was commonly known as a crank call. Now the Internet provides idiots other ways to entertain themselves.

[ragnarkar]

Originally Posted by MOKAN

Dude, if that's been bothering you for many years - you have problems.

Ok, so what are you gonna do about it?

[MOKAN]

You have to deal with your own issues, dude. Nobody can do that for you.

[picklejuice]

Hmmm...I'm worried about you, man. Most folks wouldn't have given it a second thought!

[Radio Flyer]

I'll say hello once. I'll wait 3-4 seconds and if I don't get a response. Buh-bye.

Mr. Flyer (who is a nicer and more patient soul than I'll ever be) will say hello 5-6 times. When I ask him why he does this, he shrugs. Seriously, who's gonna be on the other end of line at this point?

I'll tell you who....a telemarketer or a lunatic.

[JanND]

Originally Posted by purehuman

You said it yourself...she was being absurd..you know, it's also a little absurd that you would let such a silly little call bother you for soooo many years. Can't you just forget about it?

Sorry. I have to agree. Was there something else about this call? It seems a bit ...for lack of a better word...irrational for this to have bothered you then, much less for many years. Seriously, and not w/ anything other than caring...I suggest that you talk to a professional just to check in and make sure you are ok...this is not a normal behavior...and maybe there is some life stress that is bothering you right now...something that you need to address...and this has caused you to dwell on this. I hope venting about it will help...But, again...I suggest seeing someone to talk to and earn some coping skills from. Best to you.

[Trimac20]

You said hello 10-15 times? I'd probably say hello 2-3 times at most, wait a few seconds and if I didn't hear anything or heard giggling I'd just hang up.