2008-11-11 13:49:08
I can't stand cell phones, I only got one out of extreme necessity (and because my work stopped using pagers). I like to concentrate - I hate how cell phones immediately "demand" to be picked up. If you don't pick up you've got to listen to some damn message - and you're sitting wondering about the content of the message until you listen to it.
With a pager, someone notified me of their desire to speak to me, I wrap up whatever I'm doing, and I call them. If it's really urgent, they put a 911 at the end and I move a little quicker. I really do miss them... I can't be the only one... right... right?!
My voicemail goes something like this:
You have reached Hadlock. If you need to leave a message, please hang up and send me a text message or email. Thank you." I've never checked my voicemail. If it's a personal call, they'll text message me. If it's business, they have my email address. Since it's a personal phone line it's mostly text messages.
Voicemail is just a gimmick to get you to use more minutes than you really should, at no expense to the carrier since they don't actually have to connect the call to anyone. It's 100% profit.
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Like voice memo, voicemail takes time to record and time to listen. Not efficient system.
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> If you don't pick up you've got to listen to some damn message - and you're sitting wondering about the content of the message until you listen to it.
I almost never pick up my cellphone anymore... I leave it on silent. My voicemail goes here [phonetag.com], and if I feel like it I can check the transcription email on my phone. No tedious sorting or listening because I can read ten times faster than people can talk.
The transcription service works extremely well, and is pretty cheap. Sorry to sound like an ad but I was in the EXACT position as you and I am much happier now.
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You also didn't have to recharge your pager once a night. I remember two AA batteries going for months in my old pager.