Create a New Forum Admin Login Member Login Contribute to Voyager Search VoyForums Help Desk VoyForums Exchange VoyForums Directory/Categories VoyForums Homepage VoyForums News FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, [5], 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ]

Subject: Voicemail blues Author: Wes [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 13:31:21 09/03/13 Tue Another column picked up from the paper -- Wes ---------------------------- Things have changed since I was a kid, but that's something you've heard me say before. Sometimes the change is for the good, and other times not so good. Very often we all have problems adapting to it. One of the things that irritates me more than a little is voicemail. Now this is one of those things that it at least theoretically useful, but in practice if often becomes more trouble than it's worth. Now, before I get too far into this, I'll have to own up to the fact that I'm not very good about using it. Often when I get a voicemail prompt I'll just hang up the phone and resolve to call later, since I'd at least like to know that the person I've left the message for has actually received it. Sometimes -- and I suspect often -- the message doesn't get through. I'm guilty of that myself, and probably more guilty than most. I don't even check the phone for voicemails. At home, my wife is on the phone for the messages like a hawk just about the instant she comes in the door, so there's no point in my doing it. At the office, the machine is on my daugher's desk and I never check it. I don't even know how to. As far as I know she does check it, but she's not here every day, either. One of the things I really hate about voicemail is the fact that it makes people lazy. One time a couple years ago I had a doctor's appointment after work. I showed up on time, but nobody was around the office, not even a secretary. The next day I called them up and asked what happened. "We had to cancel because of a schedule conflict," the secretary rold me. "We left a message on your home voicemail to come in two hours earlier." "Look," I told her. "The appointment was scheduled so that I could come straight in after work. I never even went home. You people have my office number. Why didn't you use it, or did you just think I'm retired?" She said she was sorry about that, but as it turned out she wasn't sorry enough to keep from billing me for missing the rescheduled appointment. They are still waitng for the payment . . . In my job I have to spend a lot of time calling people for one reason or another. I have discovered that there are a lot of people that use voicemail to screen their calls. Now at home, with the many illegal robocalls we seem to be getting these days, that might not be such a bad idea. About all you have to do is hear the slight tone differential that indicates a recorded message, and with one flick of the button it's on to the next robocall. But, if there's a human being trying to get through to you with something besides a sales pitch for aluminum siding or something, things can be a little different. But in this instance, I've gotten to the point of being irritated at the number of voicemail messages I leave with never a clue that they've been recieved. (Yes, I know I'm a sinner as well as being sinned against, but that's not the point.) However, sometimes it works for the good. A few weeks ago I was calling around trying to find out a little critical information for a story. There were several possibilities of people who could help me out, but I got voicemail prompt after voicemail prompt, until I finally got the little bit of information I needed. About half an hour later, I got a call from one of the people I had tried to call -- she'd seen the "missed call" on her cell phone and was either curious or polite enough to call me back. Although I already had the point of information I needed and she couldn't have helped me out anyway, we wound up having an enjoyable wide-ranging discussion on several topics for ten or fifteen minutes. The moral of this story? I don't even know if there is one. Technology is moving on and things change. I guess our manners are just going to have to catch up with them. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> Subject: Re: Voicemail blues Author: Boyd Percy [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 14:36:08 09/03/13 Tue >Another column picked up from the paper -- Wes > >---------------------------- > >Things have changed since I was a kid, but that's >something you've heard me say before. Sometimes the >change is for the good, and other times not so good. >Very often we all have problems adapting to it. > >One of the things that irritates me more than a little >is voicemail. Now this is one of those things that it >at least theoretically useful, but in practice if >often becomes more trouble than it's worth. > >Now, before I get too far into this, I'll have to own >up to the fact that I'm not very good about using it. >Often when I get a voicemail prompt I'll just hang up >the phone and resolve to call later, since I'd at >least like to know that the person I've left the >message for has actually received it. > >Sometimes -- and I suspect often -- the message >doesn't get through. I'm guilty of that myself, and >probably more guilty than most. I don't even check the >phone for voicemails. At home, my wife is on the phone >for the messages like a hawk just about the instant >she comes in the door, so there's no point in my doing >it. At the office, the machine is on my daugher's desk >and I never check it. I don't even know how to. As far >as I know she does check it, but she's not here every >day, either. > >One of the things I really hate about voicemail is the >fact that it makes people lazy. One time a couple >years ago I had a doctor's appointment after work. I >showed up on time, but nobody was around the office, >not even a secretary. The next day I called them up >and asked what happened. "We had to cancel because of >a schedule conflict," the secretary rold me. "We left >a message on your home voicemail to come in two hours >earlier." > >"Look," I told her. "The appointment was scheduled so >that I could come straight in after work. I never even >went home. You people have my office number. Why >didn't you use it, or did you just think I'm retired?" > >She said she was sorry about that, but as it turned >out she wasn't sorry enough to keep from billing me >for missing the rescheduled appointment. They are >still waitng for the payment . . . > >In my job I have to spend a lot of time calling people >for one reason or another. I have discovered that >there are a lot of people that use voicemail to screen >their calls. Now at home, with the many illegal >robocalls we seem to be getting these days, that might >not be such a bad idea. About all you have to do is >hear the slight tone differential that indicates a >recorded message, and with one flick of the button >it's on to the next robocall. But, if there's a human >being trying to get through to you with something >besides a sales pitch for aluminum siding or >something, things can be a little different. > >But in this instance, I've gotten to the point of >being irritated at the number of voicemail messages I >leave with never a clue that they've been recieved. >(Yes, I know I'm a sinner as well as being sinned >against, but that's not the point.) > >However, sometimes it works for the good. A few weeks >ago I was calling around trying to find out a little >critical information for a story. There were several >possibilities of people who could help me out, but I >got voicemail prompt after voicemail prompt, until I >finally got the little bit of information I needed. >About half an hour later, I got a call from one of the >people I had tried to call -- she'd seen the "missed >call" on her cell phone and was either curious or >polite enough to call me back. Although I already had >the point of information I needed and she couldn't >have helped me out anyway, we wound up having an >enjoyable wide-ranging discussion on several topics >for ten or fifteen minutes. > >The moral of this story? I don't even know if there is >one. Technology is moving on and things change. I >guess our manners are just going to have to catch up >with them. I enjoy these columns you post periodically. They remind me how much I like your stories. I have two friends who are non voicemail guys. One has just a cell phone and never set up his voicemail. It saves him money. He is very good about checking missed calls and returning them. The other has just got a landline and uses caller ID to screen calls. I haven't called him much yet so I don't know he will do. However, he is very conscientious so I expect good results.

[> [> Subject: Re: Voicemail blues Author: mark farmer [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 22:14:32 09/05/13 Thu I drove a cross country truck for many years. Directions to the receiver were critical for avoiding truck access problems & unloading times. The receiver might not have a receptionist for connecting to a knowledgeable person for the needed information. Numerous messagee left on various voice mail boxes were unreturned. The home office was our last resort for obtaining a response. The usual defense offered was, "I was busy & letting everything go to voice mail." I am bitter about the passive avoidance of voice mail to this day. >> >>---------------------------- >> >>Things have changed since I was a kid, but that's >>something you've heard me say before. Sometimes the >>change is for the good, and other times not so good. >>Very often we all have problems adapting to it. >> >>One of the things that irritates me more than a little >>is voicemail. Now this is one of those things that it >>at least theoretically useful, but in practice if >>often becomes more trouble than it's worth. >> >>Now, before I get too far into this, I'll have to own >>up to the fact that I'm not very good about using it. >>Often when I get a voicemail prompt I'll just hang up >>the phone and resolve to call later, since I'd at >>least like to know that the person I've left the >>message for has actually received it. >> >>Sometimes -- and I suspect often -- the message >>doesn't get through. I'm guilty of that myself, and >>probably more guilty than most. I don't even check the >>phone for voicemails. At home, my wife is on the phone >>for the messages like a hawk just about the instant >>she comes in the door, so there's no point in my doing >>it. At the office, the machine is on my daugher's desk >>and I never check it. I don't even know how to. As far >>as I know she does check it, but she's not here every >>day, either. >> >>One of the things I really hate about voicemail is the >>fact that it makes people lazy. One time a couple >>years ago I had a doctor's appointment after work. I >>showed up on time, but nobody was around the office, >>not even a secretary. The next day I called them up >>and asked what happened. "We had to cancel because of >>a schedule conflict," the secretary rold me. "We left >>a message on your home voicemail to come in two hours >>earlier." >> >>"Look," I told her. "The appointment was scheduled so >>that I could come straight in after work. I never even >>went home. You people have my office number. Why >>didn't you use it, or did you just think I'm retired?" >> >>She said she was sorry about that, but as it turned >>out she wasn't sorry enough to keep from billing me >>for missing the rescheduled appointment. They are >>still waitng for the payment . . . >> >>In my job I have to spend a lot of time calling people >>for one reason or another. I have discovered that >>there are a lot of people that use voicemail to screen >>their calls. Now at home, with the many illegal >>robocalls we seem to be getting these days, that might >>not be such a bad idea. About all you have to do is >>hear the slight tone differential that indicates a >>recorded message, and with one flick of the button >>it's on to the next robocall. But, if there's a human >>being trying to get through to you with something >>besides a sales pitch for aluminum siding or >>something, things can be a little different. >> >>But in this instance, I've gotten to the point of >>being irritated at the number of voicemail messages I >>leave with never a clue that they've been recieved. >>(Yes, I know I'm a sinner as well as being sinned >>against, but that's not the point.) >> >>However, sometimes it works for the good. A few weeks >>ago I was calling around trying to find out a little >>critical information for a story. There were several >>possibilities of people who could help me out, but I >>got voicemail prompt after voicemail prompt, until I >>finally got the little bit of information I needed. >>About half an hour later, I got a call from one of the >>people I had tried to call -- she'd seen the "missed >>call" on her cell phone and was either curious or >>polite enough to call me back. Although I already had >>the point of information I needed and she couldn't >>have helped me out anyway, we wound up having an >>enjoyable wide-ranging discussion on several topics >>for ten or fifteen minutes. >> >>The moral of this story? I don't even know if there is >>one. Technology is moving on and things change. I >>guess our manners are just going to have to catch up >>with them. > > >I enjoy these columns you post periodically. They >remind me how much I like your stories. I have two >friends who are non voicemail guys. One has just a >cell phone and never set up his voicemail. It saves >him money. He is very good about checking missed calls >and returning them. The other has just got a landline >and uses caller ID to screen calls. I haven't called >him much yet so I don't know he will do. However, he >is very conscientious so I expect good results.

[> [> Subject: Re: Voicemail blues Author: Jokerlove [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 08:35:19 09/07/13 Sat >>Another column picked up from the paper -- Wes >> >>---------------------------- >> >>Things have changed since I was a kid, but that's >>something you've heard me say before. Sometimes the >>change is for the good, and other times not so good. >>Very often we all have problems adapting to it. >> >>One of the things that irritates me more than a little >>is voicemail. Now this is one of those things that it >>at least theoretically useful, but in practice if >>often becomes more trouble than it's worth. >> >>Now, before I get too far into this, I'll have to own >>up to the fact that I'm not very good about using it. >>Often when I get a voicemail prompt I'll just hang up >>the phone and resolve to call later, since I'd at >>least like to know that the person I've left the >>message for has actually received it. >> >>Sometimes -- and I suspect often -- the message >>doesn't get through. I'm guilty of that myself, and >>probably more guilty than most. I don't even check the >>phone for voicemails. At home, my wife is on the phone >>for the messages like a hawk just about the instant >>she comes in the door, so there's no point in my doing >>it. At the office, the machine is on my daugher's desk >>and I never check it. I don't even know how to. As far >>as I know she does check it, but she's not here every >>day, either. >> >>One of the things I really hate about voicemail is the >>fact that it makes people lazy. One time a couple >>years ago I had a doctor's appointment after work. I >>showed up on time, but nobody was around the office, >>not even a secretary. The next day I called them up >>and asked what happened. "We had to cancel because of >>a schedule conflict," the secretary rold me. "We left >>a message on your home voicemail to come in two hours >>earlier." >> >>"Look," I told her. "The appointment was scheduled so >>that I could come straight in after work. I never even >>went home. You people have my office number. Why >>didn't you use it, or did you just think I'm retired?" >> >>She said she was sorry about that, but as it turned >>out she wasn't sorry enough to keep from billing me >>for missing the rescheduled appointment. They are >>still waitng for the payment . . . >> >>In my job I have to spend a lot of time calling people >>for one reason or another. I have discovered that >>there are a lot of people that use voicemail to screen >>their calls. Now at home, with the many illegal >>robocalls we seem to be getting these days, that might >>not be such a bad idea. About all you have to do is >>hear the slight tone differential that indicates a >>recorded message, and with one flick of the button >>it's on to the next robocall. But, if there's a human >>being trying to get through to you with something >>besides a sales pitch for aluminum siding or >>something, things can be a little different. >> >>But in this instance, I've gotten to the point of >>being irritated at the number of voicemail messages I >>leave with never a clue that they've been recieved. >>(Yes, I know I'm a sinner as well as being sinned >>against, but that's not the point.) >> >>However, sometimes it works for the good. A few weeks >>ago I was calling around trying to find out a little >>critical information for a story. There were several >>possibilities of people who could help me out, but I >>got voicemail prompt after voicemail prompt, until I >>finally got the little bit of information I needed. >>About half an hour later, I got a call from one of the >>people I had tried to call -- she'd seen the "missed >>call" on her cell phone and was either curious or >>polite enough to call me back. Although I already had >>the point of information I needed and she couldn't >>have helped me out anyway, we wound up having an >>enjoyable wide-ranging discussion on several topics >>for ten or fifteen minutes. >> >>The moral of this story? I don't even know if there is >>one. Technology is moving on and things change. I >>guess our manners are just going to have to catch up >>with them. > > >I enjoy these columns you post periodically. They >remind me how much I like your stories. I have two >friends who are non voicemail guys. One has just a >cell phone and never set up his voicemail. It saves >him money. He is very good about checking missed calls >and returning them. The other has just got a landline >and uses caller ID to screen calls. I haven't called >him much yet so I don't know he will do. However, he >is very conscientious so I expect good results. Well i my self hate voice mail with a passion. I always check my phone for missed call's and call back numbers i know or have a feeling i should call back to. mostly its spot on and as such, i have never missed any body i needed to talk to. Back in the days i still used voice mail, I did miss them just because it would take time and money to listen to the voice mail messages. time and money best spend on calling back and talking to them directly. Yeah i know real cheapskate like. But I am a dutch guy so he give me a break, its i my blood. i might hate it but its still true. But i can really understand where the columnist is coming from

[> Subject: Re: Voicemail blues Author: Mark C [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 06:42:16 09/05/13 Thu Nice one Wes. Like you, I can see a use for voicemail. I sorta use it. The one 'advance'???!!!??? I detest is call waiting (not sure if it's called the same thing in your countries / locales). You'll be on a call and the other person will say something like 'hang on a sec, I've got another call', and put you on hold. I HATE it! I immediately hang up. I figure that: - One, someone (maybe me) is paying for the call and I'm twiddling my thumbs. - Two, the other person is really saying that their bored and the other call may be more interesting! I honestly can't see a valid reason for call waiting.

[> [> Subject: Re: Voicemail blues Author: Brian Jones [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 07:33:32 09/05/13 Thu Greetings Here in England on the landline phones can show when calls have been received and messages left. The display shows the number used by the caller. So I know whether it is someone who really wants to talk to me. Mobile phones also show calls received and when messages are waiting, when I switch my mobile on. :) Those numbers where you call and have an automatic answer, saying "Your call is important to us, we will talk to you soon" and leave you with some poor music to listen. They really annoy me, as often the call is being charged to me! Brian

[> Subject: Re: Voicemail blues Author: Rob [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 08:33:52 09/06/13 Fri >Another column picked up from the paper -- Wes > >---------------------------- > >Things have changed since I was a kid, but that's >something you've heard me say before. Sometimes the >change is for the good, and other times not so good. >Very often we all have problems adapting to it. > >One of the things that irritates me more than a little >is voicemail. Now this is one of those things that it >at least theoretically useful, but in practice if >often becomes more trouble than it's worth. > >Now, before I get too far into this, I'll have to own >up to the fact that I'm not very good about using it. >Often when I get a voicemail prompt I'll just hang up >the phone and resolve to call later, since I'd at >least like to know that the person I've left the >message for has actually received it. > >Sometimes -- and I suspect often -- the message >doesn't get through. I'm guilty of that myself, and >probably more guilty than most. I don't even check the >phone for voicemails. At home, my wife is on the phone >for the messages like a hawk just about the instant >she comes in the door, so there's no point in my doing >it. At the office, the machine is on my daugher's desk >and I never check it. I don't even know how to. As far >as I know she does check it, but she's not here every >day, either. > >One of the things I really hate about voicemail is the >fact that it makes people lazy. One time a couple >years ago I had a doctor's appointment after work. I >showed up on time, but nobody was around the office, >not even a secretary. The next day I called them up >and asked what happened. "We had to cancel because of >a schedule conflict," the secretary rold me. "We left >a message on your home voicemail to come in two hours >earlier." > >"Look," I told her. "The appointment was scheduled so >that I could come straight in after work. I never even >went home. You people have my office number. Why >didn't you use it, or did you just think I'm retired?" > >She said she was sorry about that, but as it turned >out she wasn't sorry enough to keep from billing me >for missing the rescheduled appointment. They are >still waitng for the payment . . . > >In my job I have to spend a lot of time calling people >for one reason or another. I have discovered that >there are a lot of people that use voicemail to screen >their calls. Now at home, with the many illegal >robocalls we seem to be getting these days, that might >not be such a bad idea. About all you have to do is >hear the slight tone differential that indicates a >recorded message, and with one flick of the button >it's on to the next robocall. But, if there's a human >being trying to get through to you with something >besides a sales pitch for aluminum siding or >something, things can be a little different. > >But in this instance, I've gotten to the point of >being irritated at the number of voicemail messages I >leave with never a clue that they've been recieved. >(Yes, I know I'm a sinner as well as being sinned >against, but that's not the point.) > >However, sometimes it works for the good. A few weeks >ago I was calling around trying to find out a little >critical information for a story. There were several >possibilities of people who could help me out, but I >got voicemail prompt after voicemail prompt, until I >finally got the little bit of information I needed. >About half an hour later, I got a call from one of the >people I had tried to call -- she'd seen the "missed >call" on her cell phone and was either curious or >polite enough to call me back. Although I already had >the point of information I needed and she couldn't >have helped me out anyway, we wound up having an >enjoyable wide-ranging discussion on several topics >for ten or fifteen minutes. > >The moral of this story? I don't even know if there is >one. Technology is moving on and things change. I >guess our manners are just going to have to catch up >with them. Wes, Would it be possible to have some of the columns you write for the paper (such as the ones you've shared here in the forum) to be placed in the Spearfish lake tales website as well?

[> [> Subject: Re: Voicemail blues Author: Wes [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 09:53:24 09/06/13 Fri >Wes, >Would it be possible to have some of the columns you >write for the paper (such as the ones you've shared >here in the forum) to be placed in the Spearfish lake >tales website as well? I suppose, but mostly I put them here to give people a reason to come here. Will think about it. -- Wes

[> [> [> Subject: Re: Voicemail blues Author: Dmitri [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 00:30:27 09/07/13 Sat > >>Wes, >>Would it be possible to have some of the columns you >>write for the paper (such as the ones you've shared >>here in the forum) to be placed in the Spearfish lake >>tales website as well? > >I suppose, but mostly I put them here to give people a >reason to come here. Will think about it. > >-- Wes If no one knows the articles are here in the forum, they won't come to look at them. Do more readers look at the book site or the forum. Hint, hint, hint. They'd be easier to find on the book site, fewer pages to search, especially when you don't know what you're looking for. That doesn't mean the forum isn't a better place for them. Dmitri

[> [> [> Subject: Re: Voicemail blues Author: Rob [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 21:16:26 09/08/13 Sun > >>Wes, >>Would it be possible to have some of the columns you >>write for the paper (such as the ones you've shared >>here in the forum) to be placed in the Spearfish lake >>tales website as well? > >I suppose, but mostly I put them here to give people a >reason to come here. Will think about it. > >-- Wes Perhaps you could put the article here first, then some time later place them in a section on the book site, with a note mentioning that there might be newer ones here. Rob