Silence on the other end of the line.
By Toni
@toniganzon (72279)
Philippines
August 17, 2011 8:31pm CST
In all kinds of relationship we must learn how to communicate effectively and be able to have great conversations. No relationship could develop if there's no communication between people.
Now how would you react if you are having a phone conversation with a foreign person, you asked him a basic question (not too personal ones) and there was silence on the other end?
It happened to me this morning over the phone and for a minute, which was very long on a phone conversation there was only silence on the other end. I repeated my question again thinking that he didn't hear me, still there was silence but i know that he was still there as i could hear him breathing. So i asked if he understood my question and he said no.
If you haven't understood the question, shouldn't you say something like "pardon?" "i'm sorry i didn't get it," or "sorry could you say that again?"
Mere silence to me would mean that he has no interest whatsoever.
7 responses
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
18 Aug 11
I fully agree with you that in a good relationship proper communication is pre-requisite and if there is no affective communication from both the parties, things cannot move further. I am startled to hear the incident, which you have mentioned. If the other party did not respond to your question, it was discourteous on his/her part and it could leave an adverse impression about him/her on your mind. Had I been there, I would have made clear that I cannot answer your question or I could not understand your question, so you could get my side of story.
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
18 Aug 11
That is true Dee and i would have done the same if i didn't catch the question. Besides it wasn't that personal as i wouldn't ask something that would offend him. He would have just said i'm sorry i didn't understand instead of keeping his end silent.
@chicksdigscars (5483)
•
18 Aug 11
oh my GOD! that would wind me up! no, like actually.. i would hang up!
i think people ignoring you is the upmost height of ignorance! i hate it! when i text or leave a voicemail for a friend, or even my sister or mum and they don't respond, it actually winds me up to the point that when they do finally contact me, i want to ignore them out of badness!!
or when you are having a conversation with someone, ESPECIALLY your partner, and the tv is on, and you are talking away and away.. and then you stop talking, and your friend or partner is completely silent.. and then you shove them and say, are you listening to me? and they are like yeah yeah of course, but yet can't tell you what the last thing you said was?
oooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! lol!!
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
19 Aug 11
Last night i cried. I had a fight with someone because i told him he's a conversation killer. And it's not the same person in this discussion. This person is very close to my heart. Every time i say something he would only reply with lol! And then he would say nothing after that. So how can we keep the ball rolling when he ends it every time i start a new one! And it's not that he didn't want to talk to me.
Later on he admitted his fault and apologized. He said he will try better next time. But i already cried and i was already hurt! 
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
18 Aug 11
Hello toni, maybe it's their way to r,efuse to answer the question, if you don't know them personally maybe that's why they do that. besides, it depends on the foreigner that is doing this usually it's not from the west but i could be wrong you didn't mention what race they belong to. have a nice day
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
18 Aug 11
Asian and actually he's someone that i have known for two months. And actually he told me he didn't understand the question. But why would he kept silent instead of saying, i'm sorry i didn't get it?
@menace730 (506)
• Philippines
19 Aug 11
Yes toniganzon I think you are right. He should give you the courtesy of some sort of response. Even if he says, I would rather not answer the question at least he is being honest. I am American now living in the Philippines and I have to tell people all the time that I did not understand their question or comment. But that is how I learn. Like you said communication is needed to progress with the relationship.
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
19 Aug 11
So true. How else could we get through our message especially over the phone where we couldn't see the face of that person on the other line?
Thank you!
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
19 Aug 11
Of course. Not paying attention to someone you are talking to is very rude!
@ThrillerAssassin (295)
• Philippines
18 Aug 11
You are right for having a healthy communication to have a good relationship. In that case of yours, I think he is not just really that interested to answer on that particular question that's why he opted to be silent. Maybe he don't want to talk about that question you opened. Or he also got bored with your conversation that's why he was not paying too much attention. I'm not being rude to you. I don't know if you two really had a good conversation there or not. I'm just telling some possible reasons. :)
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
18 Aug 11
Like i said it was a basic question nothing personal and something that couldn't be boring since it's a conversation starter.
Of course how can you tell what we're talking about coz i didn't mention a thing. But what i wanted to know is how would you react when there's silence on the other end while you're having a conversation over the phone?
@zoey7879 (3092)
• Quincy, Illinois
18 Aug 11
I could only PRAY to get silence in these situatuions.
I typically get a generic response to EVERYTHING, followed by the word, "Maam." I do attribute most of these types of miscommunications to companies outsourcing to foreign countries, where language barriers or accents could pose a potential hang up in communications.
Its also a good business technique to hire those within the same country. Its been proven time and time again that consumers generally prefer to shop and do business in places/with companies where they are comfortable, around employees and representatives who look and sound similar to themselves.
Being lost in translation just stinks.
