It used to be expensive to call you. That’s why it was a pleasure to pick up the phone.

Now it’s so cheap that it’s more expensive to pick up a call in terms of your wasted time.

Usually it's just a scam/robocall, and answering will register your number as "active" causing them to bombard you with even more calls. It's not worth the risk when most people I know know to text me, not call me.

That is also because the only unknown numbers who call you these days are 99% scammers and 1 % advertisers.

I dont even wait for it to stop. Ill answer, place myself on mute so they hear dead air, and then wait for them to disconnect on their own. Same number for nearly 20 years and only get spam calls about once a year when they try to probe my number again.

This isn't even a slight exaggeration.

Robocalls

I see it the same way as mail. Getting the mail is so exciting as a kid because it's a glimpse into being one of those adults; you race to the mailbox to be like the grownups. Nowadays, I drag my feet getting the mail because it's just another pile of junk and bills that I already paid and wish were paperless.

In the past, it used to feel like if someone who called you was a scammer that you could maybe do something about it.

These days there seem to be no consequences for robocalls, scam calls, spam emails, scam ads, privacy invasion, even successful hacks.

You guys take unknown numbers?

I just put my phone on do not disturb and allow my entire contact list to get through.

That way it blocks unknown numbers

Enshitification of phones started shortly after

Lately I've been getting marketing calls with recorded messages.

And it's absurd to even wish I didn't need to have a phone.

These days, we all have a phone in our hands every second, and the Internet connects us directly to the entire world. Back then we were isolated in our little bubbles, and a ringing phone meant the potential for a connection outside of our home. It may not be a big deal now, but it felt like it was back then: "The WORLD is calling!"

You wait for it to stop ringing before googling? I'm so offended I google it as it's ringing

I actually screen all unknown numbers and ignore them. I've been suffering so many automated social engineering attempts that this is the only option. If you want to contact me, email me or text me first.

We didn't have SMS in the past