how to speak on the phone!!

@scubapro (1051)
Gifu, Japan
April 1, 2013 2:30pm CST
i have just had a call from someone whom i dont know and he said; who are you? what? you ask me who i am? actually after a little shock i siad,well who are you? i get some phone calls like this sometimes and i am just surrised and dont know what to do. i mean the person who calls you should say his-her name first and should tell what she-he wants. dont you think so? i mean when you wanna call somebody ,and you dont understand who he is ,is that normal to say just who are you? isnt that so unkind? i mean at least they can say; whom they wanna talk or who they are or why they called us.. i am just surprised when i got a phone call like this,and dont know what to say,because i also dont know who he-she is have it ever happened to you? what was your reaction? give me your opinions please...
6 people like this
23 responses
• Philippines
5 Apr 13
Rude, rude, rude indeed. They should introduce themselves first. After all they are the ones who called first. This happened to me a lot of times before but what I do is I hang up and then send an SMS to the person. Ask him who he is. If I know him then i just say sorry for not being able to recognize them but I also tell the other person to at least introduce themselves first next time. If I don't have an idea who that person is or perhaps why is he calling me or if I know he doesn't have any reason of calling me then I don't answer the next time that certain number calls.
• Philippines
5 Apr 13
Yes! If they're too persistent, then just block them. LOL
@scubapro (1051)
• Gifu, Japan
5 Apr 13
remembering the same number and never answer again is also my style;) thanks for the response no more rude people on my phone ;)
@cmania (207)
• Portugal
1 Apr 13
i don´t htink they´re rude ..I once did that and i asked hwo are you because i wasn´t ercognizing the voice and so I kinda freak out a bit that I didn´t phoned ot hte right person.:) we must see how the others feel they might panick a little and say Who are you ?!?! even if it looks rude. and sometimes peopel are just rude -.-
1 person likes this
@scubapro (1051)
• Gifu, Japan
1 Apr 13
yeah maybe if we are in a hurry its normal,but normally we should say why we called or who we are,dont you think so;) they can be so surprised if we suddenly call them and ask (who are you;) peace..
@MoonGypsy (4606)
• United States
1 Apr 13
to me there is no excuse. if you call someone you should say who you are or else get hung up on.
1 person likes this
@Zer0Stats (1147)
• India
2 Apr 13
Yes some people are a real big dork.Make a phone call and don't know to whom they are calling? How is this possible? They are the one who made the call so they must tell first with whom they want to talk before asking a question.
1 person likes this
@scubapro (1051)
• Gifu, Japan
2 Apr 13
you are totally right,if they call they have to say who they are,its unbelievable sometimes..
@bjc66bjc (6730)
• United States
2 Apr 13
Oh for sure I have had someone to do that to me..But I was so annoyed so quick when someone called me and asked "who is this"..and I instantly get ticked off... I say to them you called me I did not call you...who the hell did you call??? and what the hell do you want...
1 person likes this
@scubapro (1051)
• Gifu, Japan
3 Apr 13
hey dont be angry so easy;) there are many peoplelike that.and anytime they can call us... i think its really strange somebody call us and they dont know who we are:)
@TLilly12 (1229)
• United States
4 Apr 13
When I call people and say my name, then they get smart with me, and say I know who this is, so what I have done was take everyone off, my smart phone list, I don't need to be bother with smart mouth people.
1 person likes this
@scubapro (1051)
• Gifu, Japan
5 Apr 13
yeah my friend,me too peace
• Canada
1 Apr 13
Oh I know what you mean I remember getting a call about my computer needed to be fixed. At first this gentlemen's accent was so thick I thought he said my comforter, (I thought to myself) did I order something from Sears? So I said in a puzzled voice my comforter? then I clued in and I said oh my computer I said no it is fine. This kept happening at least 2 times a month so the last time he called I said "computer" I do not have a computer he has never called since.
1 person likes this
@scubapro (1051)
• Gifu, Japan
1 Apr 13
computer and comforter ;)hahha,i am laughing noisy here, but they are really similar..;) peace
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
2 Apr 13
Some people can actually forget what they are supposed to say when they speak on a phone, they get anxious, or they have their mind on something else, and suddenly they become tongue tied, or forget what to say! I can understand this can come across as rude. I hate the using the phone myself, and would rather talk to someone face to face or email them. I get a lot of nuisance phone calls, mainly sales calls, I try and get them blocked but they still come through. The phone can be very intrusive especially when you get people you don't want trying to call you or being rude.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
1 Apr 13
I have had this happen to me and it is just rude. The person calling should say, "hello, is ....there?" That will signal the other person to know whether a wrong number was dialed or to take a message. Its not just rude...its just dumb to call someone and then ask who they are. Actually we just got such a call a couple of weeks ago. When the guy asked "who are you?", my daughter said , "You called me..who are you?" The guy got irate and called her a btch.
1 person likes this
@scubapro (1051)
• Gifu, Japan
1 Apr 13
yes,once i was same,i said to him; you called me so who you are.. i think its normal reaction. but his word is so unkind happy mylotting
• Valdosta, Georgia
1 Apr 13
I agree with you, they should tell who they are first since their the ones that called OUR phone! Lol. Some people are just rude and inconsiderate.
1 person likes this
@scubapro (1051)
• Gifu, Japan
1 Apr 13
i was thinking its rude too,normally they should say their names and why they call us.because i do it,and i am sure this is the normal style. thanks for the response
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
1 Apr 13
Yes, phone etiquette should be observe all the time. I also encounter callers like that on my personal cellphone and if I am just not going to hold my temper, I would be able to get enemy in no time.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45671)
• Philippines
5 Apr 13
i have noticed that pattern with people from my parent's province and i've learned to accept that i cannot make them change. when you pick up the phone, they say, "oh, who is this?" if i can detect from their accent that it's someone from their hometown, i just answer "who do you want to speak to?" because i know it's either my mother or father. they have another "bad" habit related to this. if whoever they're looking for is not around or not available, they will not just say okay and hang up without leaving a message or even who they are. well, i'm not going to ask! so when my parents would ask if anyone called, i'd say yes, but they didn't leave their name or any message. it's the caller's responsibility. sometimes when they call back later and one of my parents answered, i would hear them say, "nobody told me you called earlier." well, duh! they didn't leave any message or even their name the first time they called so it's their fault, isn't it?
1 person likes this
@srisahara (4508)
• Indonesia
2 Apr 13
Hi friend, I also often receive phone like this. When he or she ask me "who are you?" I answer her or him " Hi who are you!!?? why you call me?" I take a high tone to show that I do not like his way to call. Usually, if he or she has bad goal, she or he never continue his speak and close phone. I hate with these people who want to call me with bad way. If you receive the phone try to take high tone to show that you are angry. I think she or he never call you again.
1 person likes this
• Singapore
2 Apr 13
I guess he is looking for your sibling and wondering if you are the one:) This happens frequently with me when my relatives call, they are unable to differentiate between me and my brother so just to check who it is before they start asking how we are, I take it in stride:)
1 person likes this
@mawee79 (403)
• Italy
1 Apr 13
Oh sure. It happens to me from time to time. And I always feel like that - O_o If you call me, well you may tell me who you are... The thing I do is closing the communication! xD
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
2 Apr 13
It was a wrong number. Instead of being offended, why not say, "I'm sorry, I think you got a wrong number." That is what to do. He could not read your mind, he did not need to tell you his name first because it was probably a personal call, and he expected the one he wanted to or a relative to answer the phone and he would have recognized the voices. But he did not recognized your voice and it was not a business call. If it was a business call, he would have said, this is Mr. So and So, could I please speak to Miss - or Mr.? Clear?
@cudamani (996)
• India
2 Apr 13
I always have problems when speaking on the phone. I am well-off when speaking to a person sitting in front of my rather than a person on the phone! I have not improved a bit in the past. That's why I don't use the phone much.
@stanley777 (9402)
• Philippines
2 Apr 13
Some people really have no manners with regards to speaking on the phone. I have experienced the same thing, the one who calls asked me who I am, which is not supposed to be. Since they are the one who initiates the call, he/she must be the one to introduce himself/herself first. And say the name who they want to speak with.
@jadoixa (1166)
• Philippines
2 Apr 13
i can also receive calls like that sometimes and that is very annoying why the person would talk and ask that kind of question to the person they are calling. that is not the right way to say it but some people are really mean to talk like that. sometimes i don't know what to say too. sometimes too, it is best to also give them back what they give us, like putting down the phone and not answering the phone whenever it rings back again. this is how i feel and do when things and calls like that comes..
@Angelpink (4035)
• Philippines
2 Apr 13
Hi ! Proper way of answering phone must be observed . You have to thank the person who calls you then introduce yourself to them. Speak slowly but clearly and with respect and courtesy. We are judge by others from the way we speak , it can tell how cultured we are and it can tell our breeding.
• United States
2 Apr 13
When I answer and someone has dialed the wrong number, they usually say "is this so and so?" not "who are you?" I guess if I got that question, I'd say "who are you calling?" rather than volunteering my name. Like you, I was always taught to identify myself and then ask for the person I wanted or proceed with the call. What you're talking about is really rude!