Texts vs Voicemail - General Discussion Discussion

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I prefer texts. I don't like getting voicemails.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 4 years ago

Why don't you like VM?

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I guess a part of me is worried that the voicemail could be something bad. If you get a text, you know right away what it is, but with a voicemail, it could be anything so there is always that concern in the back of my mind that it could be bad news or a problem arising that I have to deal with.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 4 years ago

Huh. That's never occurred to me. I assume someone leaving a VM just has more to say than would be reasonable to write out in a text.

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[–] GlenEllyn (21138) 4 years ago

Either one is fine, although I'm leaning toward texts now. I missed a call from a friend today. When I called her back she was unavailable, so my call went to her voicemail. Her mailbox was full so I couldn't leave a message. I texted her instead, and I let her know the status of her mailbox.

But yep, if you don't have a phone with a keyboard, texting is a pain.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 4 years ago

Oh yeah, that's one instance where you've got to prefer texts over VM. You never get a message saying sorry, this person's texts are filled 😄

My phone has the standard teeny virtual keyboard. I mean a REAL keyboard, the kind where you use both hands :)

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[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

voicemail. i don't know how to text and don't own a smartphone.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 4 years ago

Texting's easy. But not if you don't have a cell phone :D

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[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I have a cellphone but not a smartphone.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 4 years ago

You can't text on your phone? I thought you could text on all of them, the dif being you can go online with a smartphone.

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[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I thought you needed internet access to text. I could be wrong.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 4 years ago

I don't think so. But then I could be wrong too. Someone here will know.

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[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

As far as I'm aware, if you can call you can text. The difference with smartphones is the huge amount of options for texting, not to mention the ease of use including voice activation, actually composing your texts - no typing necessary ;-) Now the very old phones can be almost impossible to send texts on. But I'm not sure anything that old can still be used.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 4 years ago

I would like texting much, much more if I could use voice activation. I can, but it won't put in punctuation or make a new paragraph. So unless I want to send a bunch of texts, I don't bother with it.

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[–] AndyKing1967 (34326) 4 years ago

All you need, in order to be able to text is to have a phone signal, although you will be charged according to your phone plan (most have unlimited texts nowadays), however, if you’re texting to or from a foreign country additional costs will be incurred. This is when WiFi comes in handy because you can piggyback on that and send emails or Whatsapp for free (helpful Andy).

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[–] GlenEllyn (21138) 4 years ago

Is it a flip phone? I had one before I got my smart phone about a year ago. The flip phone died so I finally decided to get a smart phone. I found a relatively inexpensive one and it's been okay. It's more than I need since I use it mostly for calls and texts. Any web surfing is done on my laptop.

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[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

it's a samsung flip. i just use it as a phone. it has voicemail.

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[–] GlenEllyn (21138) 4 years ago

I like flip phones, but texting is a pain on them. Flips fit easily in your pocket or wherever, and I doubt seriously anyone is going to steal it.

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[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I am trying to get through life without texting. So far so good. I maybe the only person on here with a flip phone.

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[–] GlenEllyn (21138) 4 years ago

I resisted a smart phone for quite a while, and didn't text much, but gave in eventually. In my world, I text most often when I'm heading out to visit someone to let them know I'm on the way. I don't expect a response. It's just a courtesy thing. I also let my kids know when I've arrived home safely after the visit so they know I didn't slide into a ditch somewhere along the way. I don't want them to worry. Same as before, I don't expect a response.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 4 years ago

It has its place, I just think it's overused.

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[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

It sounds like the old type that needs buttons pushed multiple times in order to reach the letters you want. Man, I hated mine!

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[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I think so. I don't want to text.

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[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Okay, calm down now. Everything is alright, no one is gonna Make you do anything, I promise. Deep breaths. Feel better? Awesome!

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[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

i am always calm 😊

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[–] ShogunofYonkers (72381) 4 years ago

I only text
I currently have 39 voicemails on my phone and I will not listen to a single one

The people I care to converse with know I only text...I am no good on the phone, a pretty girl named Adele taught me this 27 years ago:(

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 4 years ago

OMG, 39 voicemail? Do you dislike listening to them? You could always listen, then text your replies. I do that sometimes, but only if it's a very short reply.

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[–] GlenEllyn (21138) 4 years ago

I still have my landline because that's how I get my internet via DSL. I never answer the landline since it's almost always a junk call about a credit card I don't have, student loans I don't have, or something similar. I get the occasional appointment reminder from my dentist or doctor, but everything else gets deleted immediately.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 4 years ago

I miss my landline. I loved the cordless phone, never had a problem with reception, or VM sometimes coming in as much as two weeks later! Great for talking, bad for receiving calls because yep, the telemarketers ruined landlines 😠

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[–] GlenEllyn (21138) 4 years ago

You are SO right! Telemarketers ruined landlines. Those annoying auto-dialers are ruining cell phones, too. I've started getting weird texts too. I'm just glad I'm not paying per text like I did a couple of years ago.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 4 years ago

Auto-dialers 😠. I don't get nearly as many of those as I did telemarketers on the landline. Maybe 2 a week, always from some hotel I've never stayed at telling me I've won something as a reward for being a good customer. Lately I've gotten a few in Chinese?? And yes, a few of those weird texts too.

Ugh, it's bad enough as it is but if we had to pay per text for it?

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[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I will never get rid of the landline. When we had the ice storm in 2013, the landline was the only thing that worked.

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[–] GlenEllyn (21138) 4 years ago

That's another reason to keep it. I have one phone that is not cordless so that if the power goes out I can make and receive calls.

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[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I have had the same home telephone number since 1987

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[–] GlenEllyn (21138) 4 years ago

I had the same phone number for over 30 years. Hated to give it up, but I moved to a different area code and had to change. My old number was unlisted and had been for all that time so I got very few annoying calls. Every once in a while I get one, a call for someone who might have had this number years ago. The past couple of weeks I've had some messages for Mary, but I have no idea who she is. It sounds like she's missing out on jobs because the calls are from a temp agency. ???

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 4 years ago

I used to get a lot of calls for whoever used to have this cell number. Like from her kids' school 😳. Every once in a while I still get one. Selena doesn't sound like she had her act together any better than Mary.

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[–] GlenEllyn (21138) 4 years ago

Sounds likely. I wonder if Mary transposed numbers on her application, or is the temp agency person mis-dialing?? That could be serious if Selena is missing calls from her kids' school.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 4 years ago

On second thought, Mary probably has her act together better than Selena. Since it's only calls from one place, she probably just made a typo or her writing's bad.

But Selena neglected to tell the school her kids go to that her number had changed. For months 😮. What if there was an emergency? She didn't tell a few of her friend either, but that's no biggie.

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[–] GlenEllyn (21138) 4 years ago

That's what I was thinking - an emergency. Mrs Neighbor is a school nurse and some of her stories about the parents she deals with are appalling.

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[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Yeah Mom has had the same number for 31 years. Amazing, right?
God I feel old lol!

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[–] robocat893 (13649) 4 years ago

My ex-wife still has a landline because she believes that if there is a nuclear war she will still be able to make phone calls. She doesn't realize that if there is a nuclear war she would be vaporized.

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[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

it does work during power outages when cell phone service is dead.

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[–] ShogunofYonkers (72381) 4 years ago

If it's bad news I never hear it...not a very mature response but it works👍

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 4 years ago

😄 Hey, if it ain't broke ...

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[–] GlenEllyn (21138) 4 years ago

But, but, but...the IRS has issued a warrant for your arrest!! Aren't you worried that you won't know??

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[–] ShogunofYonkers (72381) 4 years ago

I'd rather not know anything...every day is Way more exciting this way

Plus, I've been married for ages, I don't hear a thing anymore😉

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[–] GlenEllyn (21138) 4 years ago

Oh, she'll tell you whatever she thinks you should hear, for sure.

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[–] ShogunofYonkers (72381) 4 years ago

Oh, she never shuts up!

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[–] GlenEllyn (21138) 4 years ago

Yep, what do you need voicemail for? You married voicemail.

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[–] ShogunofYonkers (72381) 4 years ago

She certainly has all the deets, none of which I want to hear...no ignoring her LOL!

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[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

It's surprising the number of people who have fallen for that ruse. It amazes me how many sociopaths are out there who don't hesitate to use any lie to ruthlessly exploit the victims who simply don't know better.
I'm sure there's a special place in Hell for these "people".

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[–] Mrmojo4700 (20536) 4 years ago

Same here. I treat a voicemail as a missed call and I call the person back. I have a loaded up voicemail and I’ve never listened to any of them.

If I need to give or receive explicit instructions that might need to be documented later text is the way to go over voicemail anyway.

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[–] tcrum (29907) 4 years ago

text... the less contact the better...

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[–] tcrum (29907) 4 years ago

what so you all want to see me stuggle to answer a phone call.. Man I miss land line.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 4 years ago

?

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[–] tcrum (29907) 4 years ago

I have trouble swiping to answer calls.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 4 years ago

Oh. Texts for you it is then.

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[–] tcrum (29907) 4 years ago

yah, it helps when you're not 30 , no offense.

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[–] actionkamen (23176) 4 years ago

Text. I'm no boomer.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 4 years ago

Should I be offering congratulations or condolences?

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[–] AndyKing1967 (34326) 4 years ago

People in the UK just don’t use VM anymore - it’s all texts nowadays. I noticed that it’s becoming less used in the US too. The show Modern Families even jokes about how only old people still use it.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 4 years ago

Hilarious, a resurgence of the GenGap! Tech-induced this time.

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[–] GlenEllyn (21138) 4 years ago

Is this true for businesses too?

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[–] AndyKing1967 (34326) 4 years ago

Even more so for business.

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