I prefer to text or email

I much prefer text or e mails, I spent so much time on the phone when I worked I now hate it. I really only use phone calls for DH when he works away and DC and weekly call to mother.

Poor little thing, scary granny!

Elrel, made me laugh about your gc screaming!

Text, email, Whatsapp, or even snail mail, for me every time. I don't mind short phone calls but long ones drive me mad.
There is a certain person in my life who loves to talk for an hour or more which makes my head spin and my ears feel weird. So I rarely phone her now, and dread it when she phones me. How can I tell her without offending her?

Gradually getting used to FaceTime especially as it's usually for smallest GC. I used to feel I wanted a chance to get tidy and relaxed first but it's gradually wearing off! Shocking to see myself if I'm not feeling well though!
On one occasion an unhappy one year old, put on to see me in the hope of cheering her up, took one look and screamed ... Mostly she is very happy to see me, I sometimes have puppets or furry animals ready to entertain her.
The marvels of modern technology, whatever next?!

I love a long chat with a distant friend, have even been called a phone hog in the past. Hate phoning shops etc as it just takes sooo loong with all the hoops to jump through. Prefer now to text for most things, less intrusive for busy people and can be dealt with when they are ready.

I prefer texting or emailing because you can get to the point without wasting hours chatting about nothing, not to mention listening to repetitiveness. However, I am getting to like face timing but only want to do it with my daughter or my best friend who don't care what you look like first thing in the morning or after a day's exhaustion!

My DH says texting was only added to the facilities of mobile phones as an after thought. The inventors didn't really think people would use it. How wrong can a be? A bit like Decca turning down the Beatles!

I too don't like talking on the phone. I hate to interrupt people so email is wonderful.
My Dad used to groan when the phone rang, but always answered it even at mealtimes in case it was important. So I always imagine that groan when I gave to phone someone.
My Mum and sister chat for hours and don't take any hints when I try to wind up the call. I actually get quite panicky about not being able to have a drink or go to the loo.

I don't enjoy talking on the telephone but that's because there are so many uncomfortable silences where you don't know what to say next, also it's awkward because unless you plan a time to call, one or the other is busy and doesn't really have the time to talk.

The Telegram app/application is great for chatting/instant messaging your family, it's free on any internet access mobile phone and you can send pictures too like a text, only free

I prefer texting much more convenient and I get so fed up of the phone calls in the day either PPI or no one answering you. The only person I really speak to on the phone is my mom and we take it in terns each day to ring each other we always do it at a certain time when we know neither of us will be busy.

The only calls I get, are lots from advertising, my 83 year old cousin in Germany who is like a whirlwind and I can't get a word in edge wise and my sister who phones at dinner time. If I don't answer, she,ll keep ringing back which I think is a damn cheek!

emails are a Godsend to me, as all my children are in different countries with different time zones. So we can all send and pick up the emails when it is convenient. We plan Skype sessions like this as well. We tend to ignore "Withheld" or "Out of area" calls and leave them to the answerphone. No-one ever leaves a message, but it's still annoying as we have to go to the 'phone to see who it is. It sometimes stops before we get there, and I feel very annoyed at people (companies?) who think they can intrude like this.

Although I have said I do not like using the phone, I do have one friend who lives alone, and says that unless she uses the phone, she sometimes does not speak to anyone for days - she's not able to get and about as much as she would like, so is very much on her own at home. Texting or e-mailing her is something I do not do.

We were being plagued by cold calls and, by coincidence, needed new phones which included a 'safeguard' system where callers have to identify themselves. Absolutely brilliant-no more cold calls.
I do like to chat to my dear sister and, if she's in the mood, we can chat away for ages (up to an hour for free then ring back).
I text and email a lot which is brilliant, so quick and convenient. Can't think how we ever managed without mobiles. I insist DH and I keep our mobs charged and switched on and on our person all day-just in case!
FaceTime is wonderful for DD who lives away so we can see each other and our dear GD too, she's only 2 but is getting used to face timing so when we do meet up, as often as we can, she knows us instantly.

Email for me every time, unless I need instant reply to a query or urgent message. I far prefer to draft and redraft, and don't want to disturb others. My hearing is poor, and I find modern phones unclear, even the recommended ones. It's just too easy for me to mishear and get tone of response wrong. Also fed up with cold calls!

Wow, I genuinely thought that it was only me who thought like this! My OH thinks I'm mad, as I refuse to answer the phone when it rings. I think it's either going to be somebody trying to sell me something who I'm going to have to be rude to or a friend who will want to talk for ages completely disrupting what I have planned to do! I'd much rather text people and save up all the interesting gossip till you see them next.

I am truly amazed that so many of us are so uncomfortable with the talking on the phone. I'd really thought I was one of the only one's.

I'd put down my 'phobia' to the years of only having public phone boxes to use. To be waiting for ages in the cold, then getting to the box and found it stunk of urine ~ to be part way through my conversation and then having the next person banging on the door demanding I finish. I'm even having palpitations just recalling all this. (Also my hearing is definitely dodgy, which certainly doesn't help).

If I do need to make a phone call I have to take time to emotionally prepare myself, building up my courage and mentally scripting my opening phrase ~ even to my own children.

defo email -I hate disturbing people with the phone and invariably they're out and you end up playing answer phone table tennis for days. Texting is a bit too short and blunt.

My mum would ring me every morning with some question or other but Dad never used the phone. Nowadays I never ring anyone apart from my eldest son when we've texted back and forth for ages and its easier to just ring him. I don't really like texting either - I'd far rather e-mail but that's not really very easy with friends who don't use it. At work I mail everyone and rarely use the phone - mostly because I then have a record of what the response has been to refer back to and also trying to understand foreign people is not easy on the phone. Even conference calls I do by Skype whenever possible.

I'm with KatyK - and obviously in the minority! I enjoy a chat on the phone, but it takes two. I used to have half an hour most days with my late Mum and do miss that. The friends I have long chats with are more her generation, and younger peeps seem to chat through their thumbs on their phones! Maybe long phone calls are going the way of the old-fashioned letter?

My gripe is that people have a sense of entitlement that you speak to them if they ring you. If I ignore a call, perhaps I am busy or don't want to talk. I don't HAVE to speak to a caller. Have one friend who will keep calling back if on landline and mobile if you don't pick up rather than leave a message and wait for you to return call.

I am amazed at the responses on this thread. I thought it was only me who feared/hated phone calls and preferred the written word.

My parents had completely opposing views on phone calls. This was way before texting or emails. For Dad it was short and a bit abrupt- just something to state a fact; "we will come and see you Friday, if that's OK. Expect us about seven, then. Bye".
Mum would talk for hours on the phone telling her sisters it was a good drying day and she had pegged the sheets out now she was making some soup but was going shopping later oh yes and did you see Corrie last night, that Elsie Tanner, ooh there's a name for people like her......."
Dad would be sitting there rolling his eyes and worrying about the phone bill.

I text and email,but like phone calls,especially from
my daughter who phones me every day when she
gets home from work ? .