Call Waiting Feature on phones, I hate it...what do you think?

Question

It is very irritating when you are the phone with family or friends and they go to answer their other line. Is life that important? You can't concentrate on one phone call at a time? I find it very rude, do you?

Answer 1

I hate it too. Many of my friends have cancelled the call waiting feature because it is "maddening" and rude! It's as if: the second caller is more important than the first caller. Yikes! It is NUTS!!!!!!!

Answer 2

No. I don't think its rude. It shows that people who use call waiting want their calls, want to be reached by people, and may find that having call waiting allows them to get on their phone and have a long conversation because they know if someone wants to get them they won't be getting a busy signal. People who have children (even grown ones) often want to know that they will not miss any call from their children. People may be waiting for other important calls as well, so - yes - sometimes life can be that important.

I figure the world is divided into two types of phone people - the ones who want their calls and are friendly and who use call waiting and call forwarding and who check their voice mail frequently. Then there are the people who don't want their calls (the ones who hide from bill collectors, ex-boyfriends, telemarketers, anyone who calls them). These are the people who favor caller ID and who don't answer their phones or check their voice mail at all. These may be the e.mail people. They'll e.mail you. They want you to e.mail them. They won't read what they don't want to read. They're an unfriendly lot for one reason or another, or else they think they're so important they don't need to respond to anyone until its on their time.

You find call waiting rude because you think the person you're talking with should devote all their attention to you. The fact that they have other calls that are of importance to them as well may make you feel you're not being treated as well as you believe you should be. The call waiting people just think you'll understand because, maybe, you're their friend and they assume you don't expect any particular "royal treatment".

If you understand that call waiting people are trying to be reachable and responsive to anyone who takes the time to call them, you may see that they are actually being quite polite in their own way. I think people who border on insecure find call waiting more offensive than more secure people do.

(Again, any parent who goes off to talk to their son or daughter must be overlooked because it is so natural for parents to see those calls as very important. There are also the calls from the elderly parents that some people don't want to miss.)

Answer 3

My mom thinks it is rude too. I like it because I get important phone calls.

Answer 4

no i dont find it rude as this feature is for the person who are real enough and dont like to miss even a call. anyway if you dont lik you can turn it off

Answer 5

Yes in fact I myself have been guilty of being rude and doing just what you are talking about...I just got rid of call waiting 3 days ago and I really don't miss it at all. :)

Answer 6

I just hang up and explain later that I don't like to be put on hold for other calls.

Answer 7

I have it and it's a pain in my a-s. I'll be in the middle of a conversation and beep it goes. But I have a business so I have to have it but I hate it

Answer 8

I have to agree. It's rude.

Answer 9

It is rude. I hang up.

Answer 10

Have it turned off.