Quote:
Originally Posted by Dimitry  I do respect where you're coming from but I think you're confusing two very different situations.
Situation A
I do not pickup the phone because I feel I will be peer pressured into doing something I don't want to do. Or I just don't feel like talking to this person.
Situation B
I do not pickup the phone because I'm dedicating my time to people who are in front of me right now and I show them respect by providing them my undivided attention since the plan was to enjoy time with THEM at this moment.
Other similarities might be that you are busy working, or doing other things and the phone isn't priority right now. So you let the people calling leave a voice mail if it's really important to get ahold of you, and you call them back at a more approriate time. If they didn't leave a voice mail, whatever they were calling about was not important enough anyways so it doesn't matter if you picked up then or not.
I think you really should distinguesh those two. I agree with you that if you avoid picking up the phone due to Situation A, that you should be upfront with people instead of saying white lies and hiding behind them. At one point or another, the truth will come out, your values will look weak at that point and people might even think that they're just excuses anyways.
I see nothing wrong with Situation B, I actually thing that's proper etiquette and shows respect to both parties: you are giving all your attention to the person you're with; you'll be able to give more time and energy to the person on the phone when you can actually call them back AND the next time you're with them in person, they will receive the same treatment of your undivided attention. |
Agreed completely. If your priority are what you are doing at that moment, then do not pick up the phone. Make a decision, be proud or embarrass and do not feel back about it.