why do most people always say "hello" when they answer the phone?

Question

i used to say hello, but it started to sound pretty stupid. so i say "yea"? to mostly everyone when they call me on my cellular phone or home phone. i also say "hey" or "wasup" to my friends when they call. if it is someone i dont know or dont know the number on my caller id, i say "who's this"? is it rude for me to do all this? or is it normal? and why do people say "hello" i just dont understand it, its sounds retarded.

Answer 1

Well, in my opinion, none of your repsonses are stupid. I think they are all reasonable.
I also don't think saying "hello" is stupid. Most people say "hello" with the intonation of a question...ie. "hello?" (as if to ask, "is someone there?"..to which the caller responds with his/her name, or may i speak to..)

I answer my home phone with a formal repsonse, only because just about anyone can call that number, and can also be business related ( "------ residence, "my name" speaking"). My cell phone is a different situation. The only people who have my cell phone number are friends and I rarely give my cell phone number out for business purposes. So, upon answering my cell phone, I use.....hello?, yea, "my name" here..and the always popular.."Harry's Bar and Grill..will this be for dine in or carry out?"...lol..I don't own or work at a bar and grill...I jsut do that to get a laugh....doesn't always work:)

Answer 2

I guess saying 'who is this?' could be interpreted as having interrupted you and it might be kind of rude but seeing your point i wouldnt mind it, i dont know why people say hello its probably just a way of greeting someone.

Answer 3

However you answer the phone, refrain from answering with "yes" or "yea", as the solicitors of the telephonic highways really just need your authorization taped, to do what they do best, take advantage of the unsuspecting. Don't be naive.

Answer 4

Yes in my opinion it is being rude, you should say "hello" because it shows the person calling respect.

Answer 5

lolz...its not stupidity, its like a welcoming introduction for the other end...dont feel bad about it.....your diversion in answering instead of saying hello is another way of you being a person, a creative one...it depends on every person though.......

Answer 6

When i answer the telephone anymore i just say "it's your nickle" Saying hello is the proper thing to say that is why people say it.

Answer 7

hello everybody,

they say hello to other people because they want help with their maths problems

Answer 8

hello is proper to greet a caller. do you think you should answer it : "Good Bye"?

Answer 9

we say hello because silence would be kinda awkward

Answer 10

You could say, 'such and such residence'
or 'Venus Beauty Salon'