Cell phone for a second grader

In article , toypup says...

On 12 Sep 2007 12:21:36 -0700, Banty wrote:

In article , toypup says...

On 12 Sep 2007 06:38:55 -0700, Banty wrote:

If I give out
my cell to someone like a teacher of my son's, they'll call my cell rather than
my home or work landline, thinking they'll get me wherever I am. 'Cause that's
what *they* do. But it's off. And I don't even see left messages until I turn
it on. Actually, I've considred somehow just not having a mailbox on my cell at
all, because of that. So that if they can't leave a message on my cell, they'll
move up the list to my office or home phone. I've tried noting clearly which
phones I'm more available on, but still, folks transfer numbers to a Blackberry
or similar under Home: Office: Cell:, then call my cell! I'm still pretty
landline based - I really don't like that plane of existance people seem to live
on where there is no escape from people talk.

Banty

I agree with not wanting to be reached via cell phone. I have a cell
phone, but I don't give the number out to anyone but a few family members
and the school office. I only have the phone on if I'm away from home and
the kids are in school, in case of emergency, but I otherwise have it off.
Everyone knows that. It's never been a problem, because as far as most
people are concerned, I don't have a cell phone.

Right. But my problem has been with the school office and teachers (and one
friend who is one of those hooked-up folks with the cell on her beltloop..).
They call my *cell*. Getting my message box, they leave a message, and think
they're done. I'm sitting at work, I'm sitting right next to my landline at
home; no call.

Then they complain that 'they couldnt' raise me by phone', assuming that, since
I didnt' answer my cell, and dontcha know *everyone* has their cell with them
all the time, they weren't going to try my landlines either.

Banty

I'd leave a message with the teacher that you don't turn your cell phone
on, especially on the emergency calling card (where I wouldn't even bother
to list my cell phone). Then they shouldn't complain. If they do, just
remind them you don't turn it on and don't let it bother you. They should
get it eventually. If not, it's their problem, not yours.

Well, it took about four years to get the elementary school office to 'get' that
Mommy gets called at her *work* number - the one I put on top and circled on the
emergency calling card. (But noooo, they think Mommy must be at the *home*
number - go past that circled number, find the home number, and call that!) I
finally figured out the code - put two big red bold arrows pointing to my work
number ;-)

But life comes at ya fast (like the ad). Things have changed! Now Mommy
presumably has her cell attched to her Mommy-jean gathered waistline while she
hauls little bro and little sis around all tarnation dontcha know. And the
emergency card numbers get programmed into some database, which loses my big red
bold arrows, and the new default is - the cell! Argggh.

It *is* my problem if I want to be contacted by the school regarding my son.
And I do, no?


Reminds me once when the university tried to get in touch with me to tell
me they had room in campus housing. The lady at the office was so upset we
didn't have an answering machine.

Then she could have crossed you off, and moved right on...

THAT reminds me of (back in the day when I was considering medical school
seriously) that a lot of applicants get accepted during the Labor Day weekend
after some accepted applicants turn them down for other schools. If yer not
around the phone Labor Day weekend (back in the land line day), you lose. A lot
of pre-meds hung around home on Labor Day...

Banty

In article , toypup says...

On 12 Sep 2007 05:01:29 -0700, Banty wrote:

But that's what this thing called an "answering machine" is for. I'll pick up
if the caller identifies himself and his purpose, or at least by the end of his
message we understand what's going on.

Banty

I would not leave a message unless I have to, so some friends wonder why I
haven't called. I have. I just don't leave messsages because I don't like
talking to machines. Now, they consider it rude, but Miss Manners is on my
side.

She is??

Now, you're not *required* to leave a message (just like they're not required to
answer), so if they're telling you you're rude because you choose not to leave a
message per se, you're correct - they're wrong.

But if you're complaining to them that they're hard to get a hold of because
they don't pick up when you call, and they have an answering machine, that's a
different story. If thats what you're saying, show me where Miss Manners says
people have to answer their phone each time, or that answering machines are bad.

If they are saying you should be calling, and they're not picking up, I dunno.
I can sympathize, as I've refused to stay attached to my cell just because she's
turned into a Bluetooth-wearing borg.

Hell, with Bluetooth, in NYC, it's gotten hard to figure out who the crazy
people are... :-)

Banty

On 12 Sep 2007 13:24:31 -0700, Banty wrote:

It *is* my problem if I want to be contacted by the school regarding my son.
And I do, no?

Sure, but they can leave messages like everyone else. For emergencies, can
you just have them take your cell phone number out of the school's
database? Then, they'd have no choice but to call a land line.

In article , toypup says...

On 12 Sep 2007 13:24:31 -0700, Banty wrote:

It *is* my problem if I want to be contacted by the school regarding my son.
And I do, no?

Sure, but they can leave messages like everyone else.

Argh.

They leave messages on my cell!
Which I might not see for days.

For emergencies, can
you just have them take your cell phone number out of the school's
database? Then, they'd have no choice but to call a land line.

Then how do they have my cell for things like field trips?

Cell phones - good.
How people use them - often bad.

Banty

In article , Banty says...

In article , toypup says...

On 12 Sep 2007 05:01:29 -0700, Banty wrote:

But that's what this thing called an "answering machine" is for. I'll pick up
if the caller identifies himself and his purpose, or at least by the end of his
message we understand what's going on.

Banty

I would not leave a message unless I have to, so some friends wonder why I
haven't called. I have. I just don't leave messsages because I don't like
talking to machines. Now, they consider it rude, but Miss Manners is on my
side.

She is??

Now, you're not *required* to leave a message (just like they're not required to
answer), so if they're telling you you're rude because you choose not to leave a
message per se, you're correct - they're wrong.

But if you're complaining to them that they're hard to get a hold of because
they don't pick up when you call, and they have an answering machine, that's a
different story. If thats what you're saying, show me where Miss Manners says
people have to answer their phone each time, or that answering machines are bad.

Just in case it's the latter:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...041001625.html

Answering machines are no sin. From the context of this, I would conclude that
not rushing to answer the phone one one is home, leaving it to the machine to
pick up, is not a sin, either.

Banty (Shall I get into how some very puzzling people get all antsy if I don't
answer my own phone....?)

"Banty" wrote in message
...
Nan - by "ignore" do you mean screening calls, and not necessarily picking
up
for you? Because I know some folks just hate getting that answering
machine,
even if people do pick up.

There are a *lot* of people out there who just don't seem to want to leave
voice mail, even for people at work, which simply astounds me. I cannot
begin to tell you about the times when i cover our front desk and transfer a
call to someone's phone, only to have it go to v/m because they are on a
line or with a client, and the person immediately phones back and wants to
talk to someone right away because they didn't get their worker. I ask if
they've left their worker a message [remember, I'm the supervisor they think
they are going to talk to after bypassing their worker] and they tell me
they did not. I explain to them that their worker will return their call,
usually within the day, but they cannot do that unless they leave a message
and *then* ask if they are going to be available by phone later. It is rare
that they are both in a crisis of some sort and cannot wait for a return
call or have no way for someone to call them back later. They always agree,
at that point, to go back to the worker's line [and not always to v/m if by
then the worker ended their other call].

This just underscores your later point [snipped below] that many just don't
seem to be able to wait a little while to contact someone. The crisis is a
reason to phone 911 or find someone to let them know there is a life or
death issue. It is not a crisis that you cannot immediately tell someone
that pink nail polish is on sale. I think it all started with instant
mashed potatoes. ;-) Patience has taken a real nose dive in first world
cultures, or at least in the US.

And, being personally consistent, I do not give out my cell phone number to
anyone. My boss, husband, son and parents have it. That's it. I think
I've received five incoming calls [other than misdials] in the three years
I've had it. I plan to keep it for my use in an emergency [picture sliding
off the road in a snow storm] or the occassional call to let family know I'm
running late coming home from somewhere. That's it. It is for my
convenience and I refuse to play attendance on it.

-Aula

On 12 Sep 2007 14:04:19 -0700, Banty wrote:

In article , toypup says...

On 12 Sep 2007 13:24:31 -0700, Banty wrote:

It *is* my problem if I want to be contacted by the school regarding my son.
And I do, no?

Sure, but they can leave messages like everyone else.

Argh.

They leave messages on my cell!
Which I might not see for days.

For emergencies, can
you just have them take your cell phone number out of the school's
database? Then, they'd have no choice but to call a land line.

Then how do they have my cell for things like field trips?

Cell phones - good.
How people use them - often bad.

Banty

I used to have a forwarding service on my landline to forward to my cell
phone when I thought I could get an important call.

Nowadays, I just leave the phone on when the kids are in school and I'm
away from a landline.

Basically, I share the same sentiment regarding cell phones as you do. I
just don't seem to run into the same problem.

On Wed, 12 Sep 2007 18:08:34 -0400, Aula wrote:


This just underscores your later point [snipped below] that many just don't
seem to be able to wait a little while to contact someone.

No. It just reinforces the fact that people like me don't like talking to
machines.

On 12 Sep 2007 13:36:41 -0700, Banty wrote:

In article , toypup says...

On 12 Sep 2007 05:01:29 -0700, Banty wrote:

But that's what this thing called an "answering machine" is for. I'll pick up
if the caller identifies himself and his purpose, or at least by the end of his
message we understand what's going on.

Banty

I would not leave a message unless I have to, so some friends wonder why I
haven't called. I have. I just don't leave messsages because I don't like
talking to machines. Now, they consider it rude, but Miss Manners is on my
side.

She is??

Now, you're not *required* to leave a message (just like they're not required to
answer), so if they're telling you you're rude because you choose not to leave a
message per se, you're correct - they're wrong.

Yes, they complain about rude people hanging up on machines.

But if you're complaining to them that they're hard to get a hold of because
they don't pick up when you call, and they have an answering machine, that's a
different story.

I have never complained to them about that. I leave messages if I really
need to talk to them and that's the only way of leaving my message.

If thats what you're saying, show me where Miss Manners says
people have to answer their phone each time, or that answering machines are bad.

Miss Manners says we don't have to talk to machines.

On Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:27:16 -0400, Rosalie B.
wrote:

"mark" wrote:



Were you allowed inside the home? I wouldn't let you in my home
unless you were clearly injured, but I'd be happy to make the call for
you.

Nan

Nan says its okay to bleed on my front porch, just don't bleed on the
rug......... LOL LOL LOL


I made a deep cut in my thumb with a linoleum knife in HS and the
nurse didn't want to let me into the infirmary because she didn't want
me bleeding on her nice clean floor. Her name was Mrs. Payne.

Too funny.
Locally we have a dentist named Dr. Brilliandt and one named Dr.
Toothaker.

Nan