Email/Text vs. Phone Calls

JoolieW68
JoolieW68 Posts: 1,879 Member
edited November 7 in Chit-Chat
I work in an office M-F and take a lot of phone calls and emails. Generally, I prefer to communicate via email with people, just because it's easier for me to have things written down (I do mobile phone support where I work) for people to refer back to.

If someone leaves a voicemail, many times I will email them a reply - again so they have something to refer back to. I also sometimes prefer (at least with my work customers) to 'keep it short'....meaning if I reply only to their question/issue, they don't ask me 15 other questions about other non-related things.

I also text/IM a lot - with family members (even my 73yr old mother text messages back and forth with me).

I don't hate talking on the phone, but for the most part I'm not a 'chit chat' type of person (I do call mom once a week!!), but have been on some marathon support calls...thank DOG for headsets....

So....I'm an 'email' person. Which are you - email or phone person?

Replies

  • smilebhappy
    smilebhappy Posts: 811 Member
    I talk on the phone all day (office job)
    I will talk on the phone just really don't want to since I have done so all day long ;)
    so I'd have to say I perfer email or texting =)
  • srdeaver
    srdeaver Posts: 38 Member
    Oh, I'm definitely a text person! I save email for work...
  • twanthe1
    twanthe1 Posts: 407
    I am more of a phone person - e-mail/text leaves a lot to be desired in personal relationships. I think it takes more thought to call someone, you can feel someones emotion through their voice.
  • blueyegrl
    blueyegrl Posts: 248 Member
    Email, I have always hated talking on the phone. Even when I was younger. I'm just not a phone person, my mom and grandmother are the same way. We all text or email each other! lol Yes, even my grandmother...she is an avid emailer, though not that great at it! :laugh:
  • ryno0618
    ryno0618 Posts: 361
    Definitely email and text. I like to screen my work calls.......bwahaha. Return if necessary. But prefer to email.
  • Shanna_Inc86
    Shanna_Inc86 Posts: 781 Member
    Oh, I'm definitely a text person! I save email for work...

    This...

    I like talking on the phone to my sister or if it'd be faster than texting to quick call
  • ladybug1009
    ladybug1009 Posts: 68 Member
    Both?

    I prefer text and phone calls. But if you call me and don't leave me a voicemail, I won't call you back.

    I love talking on the phone, and I wish people would call me more. Things get misinterpreted over texts and emails.

    Heck, I would even love to have a mail sent letter to me. Nothing beats a wonderful heartfelt note.
  • JoolieW68
    JoolieW68 Posts: 1,879 Member
    Definitely email and text. I like to screen my work calls.......bwahaha. Return if necessary. But prefer to email.

    This is so me....I screen my calls at work all the time.
  • MissO﹠A
    MissO﹠A Posts: 906 Member
    Can't stand having to call people; I've got some form of phone-a-phobia or somesuch nonsensical crap. Not big on texting either. Emails for me.
  • yesthistime
    yesthistime Posts: 2,051 Member
    I don't like talking on the phone because I want control over when the conversation is over. So I send calls to voicemail and my family/friends already know that if they then text me, I will respond. I like that, with texting, you have time to gather your thoughts before answering and you are free to do other things during the convo. Also, if somebody is asking you something that you don't want to answer, you can pretend you didn't get it. Beautiful!

    P.S. Don't tell my mom about this. She just thinks I'm a REALLY busy person :)
  • Tropical_Turtle
    Tropical_Turtle Posts: 2,236 Member
    email or texting! I just have no tolerance to listen to people blab on and on for hours over nothing. Keep it short simple and sweet and tot he point!
  • Pocket_Pixi
    Pocket_Pixi Posts: 1,167 Member
    Definitely email and text. I like to screen my work calls.......bwahaha. Return if necessary. But prefer to email.


    This..
  • PeaceLoveVeggies
    PeaceLoveVeggies Posts: 673 Member
    Definitely an e-mail person. I would 100% prefer to e-mail someone rather than talk to them on the phone, but then again, if I had my phone connected again - currently disconnected for personal reasons - I would be texting more than e-mailing!
  • polarsjewel
    polarsjewel Posts: 1,725 Member
    I am a compulsive texter. I spend all day on the phone at work, screen my personal calls (at work and at home). I rarely respond to email, and if I do it is weeks later. My friends and family know that if they need me now they'd best be texting me. The only person I do talk to on the phone with any sort of regularity is my Mom.
  • MaximalLife
    MaximalLife Posts: 2,447 Member
    In person but I ONLY talk business with one person, and that's for about an hour each morning.
    That's my whole work day, and his job is to cover my rear while I go out and play tennis, hike, fish or just relax.

    He deals with all the stupidity and high maintenance dolts that could be making my life miserable.
    I can't stand being chained to either a phone or email. Nobody has my email or phone number, and the ringers stay off in the event of a random call. I hate being accessible.

    But when it comes to powerful, in person, get-it-done meetings, that's what I prefer.
    Get in, get it done and over with, so I can go play.

    That's my whole motivation for everything.
  • Qarol
    Qarol Posts: 6,171 Member
    I do not text (not even activated on my phone), but I'd much rather email or IM than talk on the phone. So much *kitten* does not get done because I don't want to make a stupid phone call. And between me and my husband, *I'm* the one who makes all the phone calls. *sigh*
  • TDGee
    TDGee Posts: 2,209 Member
    I prefer semaphore
  • annameier8706
    annameier8706 Posts: 417 Member
    Totally a text person!! I really don't enjoy talking on the phone... We also have crap service in our house, so texting gurantees people get 100% of what I'm saying
  • erxkeel
    erxkeel Posts: 553 Member
    Semaphore huh? hmmm Should I test your abilities out.....
  • jenlb99
    jenlb99 Posts: 213 Member
    I'm a HUGE text person.

    I can't stand how people think having a cell phone means you're at their beck and call 24/7. Drives me nuts! Text me, I'll get back to you when I feel like it, and you can do the same. If it's urgent or you really need to talk, then call.
  • monocot
    monocot Posts: 475 Member
    I don't have access to a phone at work Cept my Cell and Im not allowed to touch it during my shift., So I don't touch one at work. But At home, I'm a avid Texter. I don't email much. In fact my bother refuses to reply to my text messages Just to make me call him... Though I dont talk to my grandmother at all. if she had a cell phone, I may attempt to Text her as well
  • Val_from_OH
    Val_from_OH Posts: 447 Member
    For personal stuff, I almost always call, except for my hubby, we text all the time.

    For work, it really depends on the situation. For a quick question, a text or email works great. If I can't get the email down to a single paragraph, I prefer to call.
  • RockChick1984
    RockChick1984 Posts: 239
    i am a massive txt'er ... very rarely chat on the phone
  • lc504
    lc504 Posts: 130 Member
    I like all three, but I'd say I'm a biggest fan of talking on the phone.

    I just find it easier, especially when scheduling something, to go through everything that needs to be addressed or answered within a few minutes without twenty different emails or texts back and forth. However, I do always send up a follow-up email to confirm all the info we discussed.

    But honestly, my email inbox is so full most days that it drives me nutso trying to reply to everyone! I can wake up, and have up to 100 (sometimes more) new emails, and half of them will be "legit" things that need a response.
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    In person but I ONLY talk business with one person, and that's for about an hour each morning.
    That's my whole work day, and his job is to cover my rear while I go out and play tennis, hike, fish or just relax.

    He deals with all the stupidity and high maintenance dolts that could be making my life miserable.
    I can't stand being chained to either a phone or email. Nobody has my email or phone number, and the ringers stay off in the event of a random call. I hate being accessible.

    But when it comes to powerful, in person, get-it-done meetings, that's what I prefer.
    Get in, get it done and over with, so I can go play.

    That's my whole motivation for everything.

    charming.
  • juliecat1
    juliecat1 Posts: 3,450 Member
    Im a texter or IMer. Im always on the go or my kids do the "moms on the phone lets all go bazerk" thing. Its just easier to talk this way for me.
  • JellyJaks
    JellyJaks Posts: 589 Member
    I definitely prefer text or email. It's much easier for me to respond to them than to deal with my kids and their "mom is on the phone let's get into things: antics.
  • chelekaz
    chelekaz Posts: 847 Member
    I cannot stand talking on the phone. Thank God my office job is mostly emails, I've even slowly integrated texting into managerial communications! I would text instead of call (started when I needed managers who were in meetings and I noticed they responded much quicker to texts than calls). I've even got my mom sending me messages on FB chat (of course hooked up to my Droid) .....

    I think for me it stems from having worked in a call center for 6 years........ now... I cannot stand talking on the phone!
  • 2bFitNTrim
    2bFitNTrim Posts: 1,209 Member
    I prefer to e-mail, but the text is the only way I can get my college son to respond to me. :laugh:
  • MissTattoo
    MissTattoo Posts: 1,203 Member
    A mix. I don't want to completely cut out human interaction. I sometimes get up and go to someone's office just to see another human face to face.
This discussion has been closed.

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