Was I out of line?

[Sigarms]

Phone rings. I answer it.

I say "hello".

I get a "Hey" in return, and then a pause.

I say "who is this" and I get it's one of my sons 14 year old friends.

I informed the boy that when you call a home and someone on the other end of the phone picks up and says "hello", you do not repsond with a "hey", but you let the person know who you are and who you'd like to talk to and even perhaps as to why you're calling.

Honestly, I was ready to hop down the kids throat LOL I did inform my son that if anyone of his friends answer the phone that way in the future (with a "hey"), that I won't waste my time and just hang up. Both my wife and I have been over this with our boys per proper phone "manners".

I'm guessing kids today have no clue what it's like to call a home and not have the direct cell number to call someone.

My own boy lost his cell phone privileges for some time thus I'm guess the reason for the surprise phone call.

 

[Racenut]

I think you're exactly right. The kids are so used to having direct communication, they've not had a reason to learn etiquette for such a thing. Worse yet, the kid probably rolled his eyes and thinks you're being lame for trying to correct them.

 

[/pine]

Just sounds to me like the caller thought the person that said hello was the person he was calling for...it's a common response to a recognized voice...

 

[Sigarms]

Just sounds to me like the caller thought the person that said hello was the person he was calling for...it's a common response to a recognized voice...

Perhaps, although my one boy (the one being called on) has a southern dialect and I do not.

I would never expect somone answering a home line to answer with their first name until the caller identifies who they are.

 

[bcp]

Caller: Hey...

Answerer: Don't need any more. The cow died.

 

[ruffdog]

I think many people, me included, have to work on being more tactful on our responses to things that irk us. :drink:

 

[BertZegers]

Phone rings. I answer it.

I say "hello".

I get a "Hey" in return, and then a pause.

You said "hello" he said "hey", what is the difference?


In Europe, we learned to pick up the phone and say our name. Like "hello this is Bert Zegers" Just hello is considered rude. Now I live in Canada and people picking up the phone say "hello".

How am I supposed to know who I am talking to?

If I call someone and the person picking up the phone says "hello" I will say my name and I will ask "who am I talking to?"

 

[Diggin It]

"Was I out of line? "

Phone rings. I answer it.

Yes. Never answer the phone.

In Europe, we learned to pick up the phone and say our name. Like "hello this is Bert Zegers"

How am I supposed to know who I am talking to?

'Hello, this is Ernestine your operator. Is this the party to whom I am speaking?'

 

[Jstpssng]

I think that a lot of people assume that you have and check caller ID before answering. Since you answered, he thought that you knew who he was.

I know that if a strange number shows I let it go to voice mail, if it's important they will leave a message. I also often do a reverse lookup, just in case.

 

[tjkubota93]

I think many people, me included, have to work on being more tactful on our responses to things that irk us. :drink:

Amen.

I struggle, but try