Even though cell phones are somewhat new in society, they have already been widely accepted and as a result, you have probably seen some bad cell phone etiquette. The next topic has a lot to do with etiquette, and it also has to do with sending a certain message.
The problem I am referring to is returning a call with a text message. Happens all the time. You call someone, only to go to their voice mail. You leave a message, something like, “Hi, it’s me, call me when you get a chance.” And then you play the waiting game. Eventually, the person answers you, but instead of calling you, they text you. Typically, this message will say something like “sorry I missed your call” followed by a generic excuse like “I was at the gym” or “I was in a meeting.” So if you left a question on your voicemail, the person may include the answer in their text. If your voicemail didn’t include a question or reason for the call, the text message will usually be brief.
This is a problem? Not always. Let’s say you didn’t need to talk, you just needed some specific information from the person. Maybe he wanted to know what time a party started or if a movie was worth the $10 price of admission. This question could easily be answered via text message, and then the important answer would be given without either party wasting their precious free time.
But sometimes, we call people not to get specific information, but to talk. Someone we want to know how vacations went, or see how a new job is going, or just tell someone you’ve been thinking about them. This type of communication can be just as important as the direct call for answers, if not more so. You are getting closer to the person, letting him know that you care about his life and his well-being.
By responding to this type of call with a text, you’re essentially saying, “I can’t be bothered to talk to you on the phone.” Of course, talking to someone on the phone takes time. Sometimes it takes a long time. And many human beings, especially when they reach adulthood, are extremely busy. Between work, wanderings, family and friends, children and so many other things, many times we don’t have time just to “talk”. But what we don’t always realize is that talking to someone has value, both the connection you make with that person and the value you give them by showing them how important they are.
When you text to reply to a voicemail, you’re sending the message that the person isn’t worth your time. Now, some people suck and probably aren’t worth it, but if the caller is someone you care about, try thinking about the message you’re sending when you reply with a dismissive text. If you ignore or dismiss someone’s calls often enough, your friendship is sure to fade. Returning a call with a text destroys relationships and lives.
