Are you able to ignore the phone ringing?
By arkaf61
@arkaf61 (10881)
Canada
April 27, 2007 10:52pm CST
You just sat down to complete that project you've been meaning to finish but weren't able to so far.
And then the phone rings. Do you answer or just let it ring? Are you able to let the phone ring without even trying to see who is calling - if you have caller ID - ?
I often let it ring, or even turn of the ringer when I really want to concentrate on something that I'm doing.
I have friends that tell me they can't do this. They have to at least see who it is and often have to pick it up even if that means that they will be talking on the phone instead of doing what they had set up to do.
What kind are you? Will you let the phone ring and not allow it to disturb your work, or are too curious and can't have it ringing without picking it up?
17 people like this
59 responses
@mrsbrian (1949)
• United States
28 Apr 07
Yep I can let it ring I have caller id so I can look and see who it is also a answering machine so if im in another room and cant see the caller id I just let the answering machine pick up.It dosnt bother me who is on the other end I can always call them back later when I have more time to talk.
4 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
28 Apr 07
Yes, that is possible of course. Unfortunately the chances that it will be some telemarketer, a friend that has some free time waiting for the bus and decides to call to just chitchat, my mother in law coming up with some gossip and so on are much bigger, so I stand corrected... no picking up
2 people like this
@pebbles_cubbie (3789)
• United States
28 Apr 07
If it was someone I wanted to talk to then yes I'd answer it but if not then no I wouldn't answer it. I have to check the caller id to see if it's an important person. I am a good multi tasker so I can do many things at once. I don't have anything that I really need to concentrate on. I do my bills which doesn't take long and I clean and throw away stuff but I can talk and do that stuff at once. I usually don't answer my phone but for 3 people. My mom, my boyfriend and my grandma. Everyone else can just go away. I don't really have anyone to hang out with since I work and stuff.
3 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
28 Apr 07
MYself I avoid even checking who it is. My kids and hubby know that they can warn me that it's then by using the cell number if I don't answer on the land line and they usually let it ring once, hang up and ring again. That way I know it's them.
Everyone else I just don't want to know. I love to talk to my friends on the phone and all, but sometimes I have work to do and I can't chitchat.
2 people like this
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
28 Apr 07
I can't let the telephone ring without checking the Caller ID Box, as if its one of my daughters or husband I'll get it even during a meal. Its the best item to get when you want to screen calls. One of my daughters is in the military, so just letting it ring is not a good option, as never know when she might call.
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
28 Apr 07
Yes, there are situations where I would make sure I would answer the call too.
It's just that in today's life we keep being interrupted for the most incredible - if not silly things - and the telephone plays a huge rule in this.
MY kids know that when they try the home phone and I don't answer they them try my cell. That way I know it's them and I"ll pick up.
2 people like this
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
28 Apr 07
I can let the phone ring. I am a mother of 3 boys. My oldest is 26 my youngest 12 so very few of those calls are for me. I let it ring. I am not an answering service :))) the caller id makes things easier yes..... but still on the chance that it it for me? it is not! Its a young girl wanting to go roller skating on Friday. Let it ring I say.
3 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
28 Apr 07
LOLLLLLLLLLL yes that makes a lot of sense. I have a girl 17 and a boy 14, so I know exactly what you're talking about hehe
MY daughter is not here now, she will be back by June, but my son's friends are making up for the lack of phone calls from my daughter's friends:)
2 people like this
@easy888 (10405)
• Australia
28 Apr 07
Hello,arkaf61,I think i will not let it ring even i am concentrating on something, i will answer to it anyway even i get the caller ID.Maybe the call is much more urgent than anything,so it is better to know what is happening even I am concentrating,and it will not take long to finish a phone call ,or I will tell the caller I am busy at the moment and ask them to tell me anything important, if not,I can then hang up, and i can concentrate on my work again.
@patgalca (18174)
• Orangeville, Ontario
28 Apr 07
I do have call display so I always look to see who it is. If I don't want to talk to the person or see that it is most likely a sales person, I will let it ring. If the kids are in the house I will yell to them not to answer it. They each have phones with call display (they came in a set of 3) so they can see who it is as well. So if I say don't answer it, they can see for themselves why.
3 people like this
@steney (1418)
• Philippines
28 Apr 07
This happens to me all the time! Every time I need to do something that is urgent at the office, that's when the phone keeps on ringing. The phone is near me and we have a policy that phones must be answered before the third ring, so it really pisses me off. I just wish they would hire someone to take all calls so as not to bother the ones working on urgent reports and projects like I do. It totally ruins my concentration that I sometimes think of hanging up the phone so it won't be a nuisance.
2 people like this
@haedescanes (592)
• Philippines
28 Apr 07
I usually ignore the phone ringing especially if i know the person . I have a caller ID. Sometimes i answer it and say that i am busy and would call after im done.I always ask if it is important or emergency.If it was important or emergency would stop with my work and focus on someone else's problem. If not, i think i have to hang up and call them once im done. Goodluck!
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
28 Apr 07
Yes, I sometimes answer and say that I am busy and ask if they can call later, but in my experience that tends to get complicated. SOmething like "oh, I"m sorry I'm kind of busy right now, can I call you back" " But of course, I completely understand.. well just the other day I was telling my neighbout - that one with the red hair that married the son of the lady that has that big dog that we find..... " YOu get the idea right? LOL Better not answer at all
1 person likes this
@ellie26 (4139)
• Malaysia
28 Apr 07
I always pick up my phone when it rings. It doesnt matter whether I am doing something urgent or about to leave my house. I always have this in mind, it probably an emergency call or an urgent call. I can also choose not to pick the phone ( my phone has caller id) if I want to. There was one time where a caller that I wanted to avoid kept calling, he kept on calling maybe every 5 minute which annoyed me very much. But I really did not want to pick up his call so what I did was, I just muted the ring tone and it solve my problems!
2 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
28 Apr 07
AN emergency will get to us no matter what. Either because they will keep calling and we will notice that i's not just any call or someone else will be notified and we will find out. But an emergency is a one in a million thing so chances are that it will be the girl across the street asking my son how to complete level 983 on some game or other.
1 person likes this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
28 Apr 07
You mean a land line? If I am not expecting any calls, who cares. I am not looking for you - you are looking for me. :P
But if someone calls my mobile, I have caller ID so I will see if it someone I know. If it is a stranger, I rather ignore the call if I am not free. Or if I pick up, I would try to pick it down as soon as possible.
2 people like this
@shakeroo (3986)
• Malaysia
28 Apr 07
I would normally switch off the ring tone of my hand phone if I do want to be disturbed. I would just let it ring and I would only check it once I am taking a break or I am done with the work that I am concentrating on. If it is urgent, they would have left a message and i would call back. if not, they can always try again.
@robert19ph (4577)
• Philippines
28 Apr 07
I will never ignore the phone ringing no matter what I'm doing. Because you'll never know who is calling and the reason why she/he called up. It might be very important. It will take only a minute to answer anyway. Better to answer it at once than making me think all day who called up and why.
2 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
28 Apr 07
I understand you. The thing is there was a time that people used the phone when it was important, something that needed to be told right away. Unfortunately things changed and it's not like that anymore. The phone rings for unimportant things, crank calls, telemarketing... the list is huge.
I prefer talking to people in person. Of course it's great to be in touch with people that are far and we can't see often, and to relay messages that are important. But most of the times it's nothing that can't wait.
1 person likes this
