One of my brothers thinks I am ignoring him if I don't answer the phone.

https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/06/03/08/40/give-me-a-break-1432987_960_720.png
Dallas, Texas
August 18, 2018 2:05pm CST
I do not walk around with a phone attached to my belt clip. It's a landline phone, not a wireless phone. I got 3 calls past 9 two nights ago and I was getting ready for bed and did not want to talk. My answering machine takes messages. I have got to the point I cringe when the telephone rings. Half of the calls are robocalls, solicitors and politico in nature calls. Then my younger brother calls me and we are not home at the time. So the answering machine picks up. He says "Hello, how are you today? " - (pause), "Well be that way. Ignore me. If that's what you want to do go right ahead. I called 3 times last night and you never answered." - so basically he is annoying at times. I can't answer the phone when I am not home. I will not answer the phone if I am not in the mood to carry on a conversation. It can be emotionally exhausting at times. The funny thing was, When my wife played it back earlier she knew he was ranting but didn't tell me. I was busy looking on line for alternators for the car and didn't know about the call. But I checked the answering machine and played the first part of the message - "Hello, how are you doing today?" - then deleted it. I had no idea he left me a 10 minute rant. Glad I DID DELETE IT after all. Have you ever dealt with a clingy brother like that? Someone who feels betrayed every time you don't pick up the phone? There are times I feel inclined to yank the phone line right out of the wall.
5 people like this
6 responses
@much2say (53954)
• Los Angeles, California
18 Aug 18
Not a brother, but I had a clingy friend like that. I didn't know her that well to be honest - she clung on to me as soon as I had my baby. She insisted on visiting me every week - and she'd often call but I couldn't always pick up the phone to chat. One day she left a sad message (sounded like she was in tears) about how I couldn't leave my friends hanging like this, and this and that . . . I was like . Yep - gimme a break, and get a life !
1 person likes this
@much2say (53954)
• Los Angeles, California
18 Aug 18
@lookatdesktop So funny how some people get so sensitive like that - it's actually annoying .
1 person likes this
• Dallas, Texas
18 Aug 18
Yea, I know exactly how you feel.
1 person likes this
• Dallas, Texas
18 Aug 18
@much2say Yep. I sometimes find myself listening to them jibber jabber for an hour and I can't get a word in edge wise.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
18 Aug 18
I have no brother, clingy or not. But I often neglect the phone if I'm not in the mood.
1 person likes this
• Dallas, Texas
18 Aug 18
They fail to understand there are moments when talking on a phone is more a pain than a pleasure.
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
18 Aug 18
@lookatdesktop With me talking on the phone is rarely a pleasure. I just don't like being called when I'm not in the mood.
1 person likes this
• Dallas, Texas
18 Aug 18
@MALUSE , Same here on most counts, but once in a while I actually do enjoy a brief conversation on the phone. I would rather talk than text.
• United States
19 Aug 18
pft..my brother never answers his.. i have friends that freak out if i don't pick up immedietly. it's like how many times i got to tell you people i don't live on that thing.sometimes i don't even have it on me. they can't seem to fathom that idea.
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
19 Aug 18
Maybe he cares too much about you, just in a different way.
@wolfgirl569 (95368)
• Marion, Ohio
18 Aug 18
I have one brother and one sister. Yes they get mad if I do not respond in the time they think I should. But it is ok if they take their time. Thankfully they are both not talking to me anymore lol. It is now so peaceful.
1 person likes this
• Dallas, Texas
18 Aug 18
You are glad they don't are not talking to you anymore? That isn't a good thing. Unless they are verbally abusing you. I hope not. Sometimes you have to do that. I don't like making my brother angry. it's not like I want him mad at me. I think he needs something to occupy his time better. If I am busy writing articles or doing online research I just don't have a minute to waste on chit chat. But I do talk to my brother. Just not 3 times in a single day or 5 days in a row. I need time to do my thing and that requires full concentration.
@aureliah (24321)
• Kenya
18 Aug 18
There are times when you feel this when you call someone several times, they see messages and missed calls but they never return the calls
1 person likes this
• Dallas, Texas
18 Aug 18
Yes, it goes both ways. But I understand that if a person doesn't return the first call, I will not call again until they do in fact return a call. I will not just constantly call over and over again, and be a pest. That is not a good way to be with friends. But family seem to think you are basically obligated under some hidden rule of thumb.
1 person likes this