This is how it should work. If i call you, you are unable to take the call, and i choose not to leave a message, you should not call me back.
If i need something from you, i will tell you what i need and how to give it to me. If i called just to chat, i will let you know that in a voicemail as well. Isn't that what normal people are supposed to do? This silly caller ID thing is screwing everything up. It should only be used for screening calls, not returning them.
If i don't leave a message that can mean one of two things. First, it's likely i dialed the wrong number. This happened last week at work. I thought i had the right number, but was greeted by a voicemail message that i did not recognize. I just hung up. About an hour or so later, i get a call. Some guy says "yeah, some one called me from there." I said "It was i. I dialed the wrong number. I bet you feel like a dumb ass now, uh loser?" OK, maybe i didn't say the last part, but i thought it. I've also carelessly dialed a number thinking it was going to be one friend's number, but it turns out to be someone else's. If they answer i'll make up come reason for calling, but if they don't answer i should be off the hook. It's no fun telling someone that you didn't want to talk to them. The only other reason i wouldn't leave a message is because i need information immediately and any other times out side this window would be useless. For example, let's say i was on the syndicated version of Who Want's To Be A Millionaire hosted by Merideth Vieria and i'm asked the $125,000 question and i don't know it. If i choose to phone a friend, and they're not home, what's the point in leaving a voicemail message. It's best if you don't call me back because i'm not going to be very happy with you (even though i ended up using my 50/50 and guessing the answer correctly).
As you can probably tell, i'm not a huge fan of the phone in general. I think there are certain standards of telephone etiquette that should be maintained or it just gets worse. If i'm crazy, tell me so.
Posted by Matthew at February 1, 2005 10:34 PMI also think it's rude/wierd when someone calls you back just because your phone number is on their caller ID. Obviously, if I didn't leave a message, it wasn't important (or I diled the wrong number), so forget it! lol.
Posted by: Kathy at February 2, 2005 12:33 PMOn the other hand, caller id can be considered a mini-voicemail message. I can let you know I called without all that awkward talking to an invisible person nonsense.
Posted by: Jack at February 2, 2005 08:13 PMI agree with Jack and disagree with Kathy. I don't how it's rude to call someone back if you see their number on your phone. The mere suggestion of the number showing up shows that you called...and for a reason, even if by mistake. that's my take on it.
im out.