What's up with people not wanting to, or afraid to call other people?

I get anxiety over calling people. I can’t really explain it, and it can be embarrassing. I actually got fired from my first job out of college over it. Been this way as long as I can remember.

It’s even weird in an office setting. I’m much more comfortable walking down the hall to someone’s office to ask them something than I am picking up my phone and calling them.

Ever since the invention of the text message, people have started to become lazy and lose social skills.

I still prefer phone calls over any form of digital communication.

It depends. I have a sister in law who is always wanting free shite, or for me to do some chore for them with my truck, etc. So, she won't text, but rather call and say "Hey I need to ask you something call me back."

No shite you need to ask me something...I figured that's why you called. But she won't leave what she wants in the message so she can trap me when we are talking on the phone.

Phone calls require immediate responses and decisions. Texts and emails let me deal with whatever it is in my own time.

calls are mostly extemporaneous versus text communication that allows for planning and control (and a paper trail)

I totally get the generational disconnect over this, but I think planned/traceable communication has increased the standards of the content... standards that would less likely be met in an impromptu situation hence the anxiety.

ETA: also the immediate inconvenience of a call... text/email is like a planned c-section of communication versus hey a-hole, it's conversation time because I called you.

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Nobody wants to talk anymore.

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I'm for communicating via text/email, but it's because I'm infinitely more articulate when I can gather my thoughts. When I'm talking I'll switch words around, forget the name of things, and mix up pronouns. Not in the misgendering way, but if two people are having a conversation and one is a female and one is a male I can not keep "he" and "she" straight which leads to a ton of confusion. It happens sometimes when I type as well, but not nearly as much.

My mom is the opposite. I often make the joke that if I texted her "Please call 911. I'm being robbed and if you call I will be murdered. this is not a joke, please do not call me." she would immediately call me and say "What are you texting me?"

I don't need to call people. I have reading comprehension, the ability to express myself through writing, and the ability to type quickly. If you have those 3 things the need to call almost disappears unless you need specific, hands-on direction.

It's a generational thing a lot of times, along with those who have social anxiety. I still prefer calling people. I can take about two minutes of a text conversation before I get irritated with it and just call the person.

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also the immediate inconvenience of a call... text/email is like a planned c-section of communication versus hey a-hole, it's conversation time because I called you.

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Exactly. Calling someone is asking them to drop what they're doing for you. If you insist on speaking via phone versus email, at least schedule a planned call with the person.

My clients are also on west coast time and do most of their admin duties after 3:00 their time. I answer emails at all times of day or night, but I'm not answering the phone at the dinner table or from happy hour.

Can't stand frickers who won't pick up the phone but will then immediately respond to a text or an email. It makes something that could be handled in 30 seconds over the phone turn into something that takes much longer