Matt Wilcox

Have people over 45 realised how bat-shit-insane phone calls are yet?

“It’s perfectly normal that anyone at any time can interrupt my life with absolutely no context and has to be engaged with exactly then and at no other time”

Have they realised that “why don’t people call my business if they’ve been on the website” is because entire generations of people *hate phone calls*? It’s the most hostile form of communication?

No joke; you won’t get my business if I have to call you. Or you call me.

Mar 25, 2025 at 2:04pmWeb
Show threadJustin 😸Mar 25, 2025
@mattwilcox I have 3 residential vendors I need to call today, which I've been putting off for MONTHS because I hate it all, so I have now decided to throw away my entire afternoon to these tortures.
Show threadMatt WilcoxMar 25, 2025
@onyxraven I feel you. I get so anxious with anything phone related. Especially after being very close to getting scammed over one.
Show threadJustin 😸Mar 25, 2025
@mattwilcox the worst is when a vendor has a contact us form on their site, or an email address, but it obviously never gets checked. And then you call and it just goes to voicemail. None of this makes it easy to work with them. The thing is there are absolutely excellent small vendor CRM systems out there, but they must be just expensive enough that its not worth the initial hurdle (even though it'd probably increase their overall revenue).
Show threadHilaryMar 25, 2025

@mattwilcox

I am well over 45, and yes. Phoning people used to be hateful but unfortunately often necessary. Thankfully there are now many better options

Show threadEric MarshMar 25, 2025
@mattwilcox On the other hand, if I can’t call a business and get a return call, I won’t do business. (And I’m just under 45.)
Show threadMatt WilcoxMar 25, 2025

@vrguy That's fair - but that's an "opt in" and not an "expected method", so I have less issue with that.

I don't trust phone calls received though. Ever, after almost getting scammed. If I haven't called you, using a number off a public and official document, I'm not trusting anything.

Show threadShadowbottleMar 25, 2025
@mattwilcox @monkeyborg hi, goonie generation here, can’t agree more. Distinctly remember the inverse growing up and being excited for phone calls and worrying about “why hasn’t X called me?” And waiting by the phone impatiently. Hell of a shift to WHO GIVES YOU THE FUCKING RIGHT TO CALL -ME-?? lol
Show threadMarkus 🤓✨Mar 26, 2025
@mattwilcox @simondassow Apple adding ignore unknown callers as an iPhone feature was the best quality of life improvement from them in YEARS!
Show threadA-nom-nom-nom-aly BSC SSCMar 26, 2025

@mattwilcox

I don't think calls are a hostile form of communication. I actually prefer them with some people because I communicate better in speech than I do in writing. 90% of communication is non verbal, the tone, the intonation, pitch and context... all of that makes it easier to understand than the written word without all of those things.

What I hate... is the expectation that you must be available immediately to take some ones call.

As a result, I don't give out my mobile number unless 100% needed. I don't answer my phone unless the number is some one I actually know (even then, I might send it to voicemail if not in the mood).

I miss the days when some one would say, I'll call you at 7 on tuesday, and do so. Now they call you when it suits them and get miffed if you're not available.

The hostile calls are from companies who demand your mobile, then spam you with calls and demand that you call them back and sit on hold for 45 mins... they can fuck off.

Friends can call if arranged... everyone else can fuck off.