For you dating folks, be you male or female. If you've got nothing to say---don't call! If you want to call someone just to let them know you're thinking about them, then call them, say it--and bow out of the call gracefully.

I HATE talking on the phone. I have 200 minutes/month on my cellphone with rollover. lol...I've got over 3 months worth of minutes built up on my phone right now.

Okay..so I'm sure not everyone hates talking on the phone. But I cannot STAND it when someone calls me then just sits there and has nothing to say. Geez, even small talk is better than silence!! I end up having to be the one to carry the conversation and since I do not like to talk on the phone, it just annoys me. And then when *I* run out of things to say, it makes me feel like a boring conversationalist when the other person doesn't pick up the ball from there.

Silence when I'm physically with someone is okay. I do not feel the need to fill a silence when I am with someone I'm comfortable with. But silence on the phone? Doesn't even make sense to me.

So, guys...(girls)... If you find your phone conversations uninspired--please consider that the other person may not enjoy talking on the phone and keep it short!

...rant over...I thank you for your time! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Another point. Folks like to call when they're traveling from point A to Point B. This usually happens when I working. They're bored and want to talk. I have to earn a living. Make it short..... or ask if talking is convenient......

Guess what? M. and I don’t even talk on the phone that much. We discovered early on in our relationship that we don’t communicate very well over the phone. Then, we start misinterpreting each other, and insecurities build. We’ve learned to keep it short. Okay, maybe he already knew, I’ve learned to keep it short and only when I need to really share something.

Now for rambling conversations... I call my girlfriends.

I hate it when someone tells me "I'll call you tonight, later, etc." and then never does. Sometimes it is obviously to end a conversation. Other times, the person just got busy and forgot to call back. Either way, it destroyes a person's credibility.

I don't like the phone & would avoid if I could. I don't like the silences & jump in with nothing just avoid them. I'm actually a good conversationalist in IRL & do like to email but on the phone I feel awkward & it shows. I'm not rude just not smoooooth.

No wonder why you cannot stand it. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

At the first sight of silence I say - sorry, have to go, the postman is knocking at my door. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

My longest single phone conversation was 12 and a half hours. I LOVE TALKING ON THE PHONE! I've checked my phone records and my calls to friends average 55 minutes. No small talk, no repeating, no gossip, NO SILENCE. Just honest 2-way converstion.

How? Call or answer when you have something to say. Think about your experiences and the lessons and feelings accompanying them. Share, ask, and listen. Repeat until satisfied. Conversation is social communion. But only if you see it that way....