I Know You Don’t Agree, But This Telephone Habit Annoys Me

Gentle Reader, I'm very aware that the way we communicate has changed very drastically and rapidly over the years. It's not just something I've noticed, I'm sure you've seen it, too.

Not that long ago, teenagers were fighting to stay ON the phone, talking for hours. At least they were back in my day. Now, since we all have individual phones, the kids text these days.

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Which is fine. It is. But I think we might have lost a little of the delicate art of telephone etiquette. Or, it could be that I'm old, I'm dating myself, and I need to get with the time.  Let me demonstrate what I'm talking about.

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I called a business here in Sedalia the other day. I won't name them, that's not fair. But they're a brick and mortar place, and they're an established business.

*Dial, rings six times*

Them: Hello?

Me: Um... hello. Is this BUSINESS?

Them: Yeah. What do you want?

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Am I out my mind, or is that just... rude? The thing is, as the conversation went on, the person on the other end was perfectly fine, and didn't have an attitude or anything.  They were, in fact, very helpful. But I just couldn't shake how much the start of that conversation bothered me. First impressions, you know? It occurred to me that sometimes people may not know they're being impolite, especially if people aren't, you know, raised on answering phones anymore.

So if you'll indulge me, Gentle Reader, this is how I feel like it should have gone.

*dial, rings six times*

Them: Hello, you've called BUSINESS, this is PERSON SPEAKING, how can I help?

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Now in another instance, I called a different business, and it rang for about ten times, with no answer.  No voicemail option.  So that was that.  Moved on.    Then about an hour later, I get a call back.  Here's how it went.

Them:  Hi, I missed a call from this number.

Me:  Okay, are you a business?

Them:  Yeah, this is BUSINESS. 

Here's, again, how I felt it should have gone.

Me:  Hello?

Them:  Hi, I this is PERSON calling from BUSINESS.  I see we missed  a call from this number.  Is there something I can help you with?

I mean, to me, that's what seems polite.  I am willing to concede that I might be wrong, though.  To me, it just seems polite to identify yourself.  If you're a business, especially.  I mean, how many times has someone accidentally dialed our numbers here at the station, thinking we were the post office or something?  It's happened a lot.  And 85% of the time when they hear "KSIS" or "Townsquare Media", they realize they have dialed a wrong number.   If you just say "Hello", they have no idea they're misdialing.

Maybe I have some over specific phone etiquette?  What do you think?

Phoningly yours,
Behka