I LOVE your lack of introduction.
“Here’s some handy hints for ya! *kanye shrug*”
Wait, did you say “slow your roll?” *falls out of chair laughing* *coughing* *chokes and dies from the lack of air*
*back alive* Mr. Telephone Man?! *digs grave and gets in*
I. Can. Not.
FTR, Americans don’t say “goodbye” because there are much cooler ways to say it. For example, there’s “Aight den,” “OK den,” “Peace,” “Later” and my personal fave, #sarcasm, “One.” We ain’t got time to tell you “bye.” There’s major shit going down somewhere other than the end of that conversation, dig?
*Pulls out Karate shoes,singing* Help me out,PLEASE Mr.Telephone man,I tried to dial her number ohhh I get a click every timeee…
Hey if you want me to leave a proper comment don’t invoke the power of New Edition,I can’t control myself.
I don’t answer my phone on PT that’s just rude and annoying.
Question: So ending my phone conversation, Love Peace and Soullllll is wrong? My clients seems to enjoy it. hehehe
*sides splitting*
This is one of my favourite ever video blogs!!! I agree whole heartedly.
I hate the damn phone. Especially when people call me to tell me something and then start telling me what is going on around them. ie. what their cat just did. Please. Get on email so I can hear all about this nonsense in my own sweet time.
Goodbye!
“ moving box on wheels “ > that made me chuckle.
OMG, this is a cultural difference I had no idea about: I had no idea that Americans didn’t end their phone conversation properly without saying ‘bye bye’. This would annoy the hell out of me. In France, in formal situations, I would say ‘aurevoir’ but to anybody else, I would actually say ‘bye’ or ‘ciao’. I could not agree more with this business of talking to you and another person at the same time, taking the excuse of multi-tasking and there are other cases on the same topic which annoy me:
- when someone is typing away and I am talking to them. When I talk to someone on the phone, the only thing I can do at the same time, is either doodle or look at pretty pictures in a magazine, pictures only, not text, cos I would get mixed up with what the person is saying and the person I am talking to. In the rare occasions when someone talks to me, I like to devote to them my full attention
- ooo and I also hate when someone is on the phone and they need to attend to a kid. You’re having an intense conversation and in the middle of explaining some trauma, which is already complicated enough, where you’re trying to summarise, and then you hear the person shouting saying ‘stop it ciaran, ciaran no, don’t, put it back, no put it back’ aaaaaaaaaa drives me bonkers. The least the person could do is say “just a sec, ciaran is being naughty, hold on” then person attends to brat, then me.
- When someone calls you when they’re drunk. Ok I don’t mind drunk texts, they are funny and if you put your phone in volume 1 or on discreet, then they won’t disturb you. My best friend from 2 years, who I had to ditch one year ago, would call me in the evenings (God I used to love her so much). Anyway, she would call me after one bottle of red, and while we were talking she would pour herself another bottle. We would stay on the phone for 1 hour and two. The conversation would be hilarious as she would start slurring her speech and she would spend her time slagging off the boyfriend and complaining about him. I would support her and say ‘yeah, he’s useless, men are useless, bla bla bla’ and the following morning, she would not have a clue about what we talked about on the phone, and the time I spent trying to console her and support her. Pff :/
As for the use of the phone in general, if I arrange to meet a friend cos he’s got some trauma to talk about and we meet at a coffee place or something, I’ll put the phone away, and only check it for messages when he’s gone to the loo or something. Nothing ruder when you arrange to meet a friend and she/he’s constantly texting or playing around with his apps on his iphone: I feel insulted, like I am not entertaining enough. As for checking your phone every 2 seconds, cos your toddler might be in trouble, yeah that’s fine, but not some 18 year old who’s ringing the mom to ring to ask where’s the sugar and stuff like that.
In any case, maybe it’s just me, but if you are waiting for an important phone call or text, it might be courteous to warn the person, e.g “Just to warn you, I am waiting for a call from the solicitor any minute, so I might need to cut out conversation short and call you back ok” or “just waiting for a text from so and so, I hope you don’t mind if I leave my phone on the table”.
Oops, that’s a lot of characters. I guess you’ve really inspired me.
Loved the video blog. Keep them coming 
You are ace xxx
Suddenly all the things I hate about the use of telephones came charging into my head – I hadn’t really thought about it before. Come to think of it, I’ve tolerated a lot….. like, being in a meeting and the guy’s phone rings and HE ANSWERS! What’s that about – have I suddenly disappeared? I’m in mid sentence in a fairly involved conversation and a phone rings – I’ve lost them. I thought it was an important issue and you never really get the flow back. What about the people who call you and then say “Who’s that?” You called me sucker, you should know who you are calling, why should I tell you who I am – identify yourself first. I must stop – I’m embarking on a rant.
And phones in cars – just don’t. Apart from anything else, isn’t it illegal?
Don’t get me thinking like this again – it’s not good for my equilibrium!
@mamabangs Hello mama bangs. I am a big fan of yours. Have you got your own blog? I’d love to read it too x
so during the course of this vlog.. i have died and been resurrected three times. this record is only topped by the all time high death and resurrection record of four times during the viewing of the edris vlog. *whispers* i love him.
morning officially made.
Even if we don’t say goodbye, there is usually a notice to let you know the call is over. “I’ll talk to you later”. We always let you know the call is over.
I think the only people who don’t do that are businesspeople. Truly.
My other pet peeves? Speakerphones and those old Nextel (push to talk) phones. It’s really a combination of the worst aspects of phone calls: yelling, the annoying chirp, and speakerphone.
And I just read Mama Bangs comment – and she’s 100% right, although you can pull off the earpiece while driving.
Let’s not discuss how the earpiece makes you look like a crazy person who talks to themselves.
@tyronem hahahahaha the ‘earpiece making you look like a crazy person who talks to themselves’
Liloo, you pretty much covered everything I was going to say there! I *hate* it when you’re on the phone to someone and they’re like “mmm…yeah…oh right…yeah” and then you hear that tell tale farmyard noises and you realise you’re attempting to have a conversation with someone who’s tending to their Farmville.
Worst experience ever was when I called someone up and they answered when they were clearly having a bit of a session with their other half. That’s the only exception to the hanging up without saying goodbye rule….
Right mama, no answering your phone next time we go out to eat…or worse still no tweeting on your phone (Bangs recoils in horror!) Lol
Oh, Bangs brings the ruckus (and her mama).
Agreed. Retweeted, facebooked, etcetera…
Bangs goes straight for the jugular and makes me smile. I think I’m your most committed stalker (sorry follower) as of today
So true about the whole not saying goodbye thing. My North American friends tease me so much as I tend to say Bye like five times before I hang up. ‘Ok, bye then, yep byee, byebye, byeee’. It’s a family failing. What can I say? And call waiting is the most inconsiderate thing in the world. My parents have it and I’ll be chatting with them on the phone (bearing in mind I’m their daughter living halfway across the world etc etc) and my mum will say ‘Sorry darling, that’s another call, better go! Byee, bye ok, byee’. Nightmare.
People have lost all sense of dignity since mobile phones came into mass usage. People divulge the most incredible things on public transport. When I’ve forgotten my book, or I’m on a bus that is making me feel sick so I can’t read, it can be entertaining. That said, the last time I was on the bus the guy behind me was trying to get his girlfriend to stay with him. He threatened to batter her at one point. Then denied ever saying that and said he wanted things to go back to how they were. Another time I heard all about someone’s battery and sexual assault case. An insight into humanity I think I might be better off without. Or maybe I should catch different buses?
Couldn’t agree with you more Bangs… spot on the mark with everything! I also agree with an earlier comment – drunk dialing is THE biggest telephone faux pas, after the booty call!! I can’t abide it.
My boyfriend often attempts to combine the two after a night out with the boys: “Susan, can I pleeeeease come over for a kiss and a cuddle?” (aka: Susan, I’m drunk and horny… are you even semi-conscious?) eh…. make that a no… I love you, but no!! Fool.
Oh, and in relation to twitter, I don’t think I’m able to tweet you because my twitter is private – I’m @susyxxxx if you’re interested!!
Hilarious and spot on, as always! I speak to the most horrendous people at work and have one friend who regularly eats while she’s talking to me- now to think of the most subtle way of getting them to see this! Thanks as always for your brilliance Bangs x
Now i just need to subtly guide about half the people i know to this post and my life will improve drastically. Hilarious and spot on as always- thanks for your brilliance Bangs x
I was trained to say goodbye but damn! I’m so through! I was done when I heard Ralph Tresvant’s begging voice! Bwahahaha! I’m dying over here!
I totally agree with you. Every rule and even the saying of Goodbye. I don’t know how often I encounter the talking to air. Maybe it’s the shitty cell towers where you’re dropped every fucking minute!
Who knows but I’m laughing here! Good video!
I could not agree more, and after spending some time working in call centers I have seen it all and more.
A few other issues are
Eating while talking on the phone
Coughing/sneezing/hacking a lugey in your ear
Speaking for your wife/husband while they are sitting next you (so basically just repeating everything they say, so we get to here it all twice, fun times)
… and so many more I could write a novel
Absolutely hilarious!!!!!
Phones in restaurants…..hmmmm….I consider myself suitably chastened! In my defense its only when it’s REALLY important.
Love this blog post! I completely agree, esp on the whole not saying goodbye issue. Is it really that hard to do? It has always bugged me when I saw on TV shows or Movies and they always just hang up without saying good bye while on the phone. If one of my friends did that to me I would just be like WTF? She just hung up on me! How do you know for sure the conversation is over with out saying goodbye, or something like it?
I also really, really hate listening to people eating on the phone.
UGH my daughter is THE WORST on the phone! I might need for her to watch this video.
Oh, and you’re a fool for Mr. Telephone Man!!
Ciao
(see that? That was the end of my conversation with you. In case you weren’t sure. AMERICA RULEZ!! *performs a douche bag air guitar dance*)
This was your best yet. Loved it. And I completely agree with you. I once broke up with somebody because every time I hung out with her, she would constantly take calls from her friends. It drove me nuts. The final straw came once when she called me, then started talking to somebody standing next to her while we were in the middle of her chat. Rude, rude, rude.
But Americans do say goodbye on the phone. Never really encountered abrupt endings.
Anyway, great video. And you look sensational in it. ;+)
SMARTY – Your comment is funnier than the whole damn video!
F$%K IT – I don’t answer my phone on public transport either. Actually I don’t really answer it anywhere. I’m not even sure why I have it.
CLAIRE – Exactly! I don’t wanna to listen to all the excess crap – cut to the chase! Via email preferably!
LILOO – I’m not sure where to start with all that, other than to say, I agree wholeheartedly!
MAMABANGS – First of all, YAY for you commenting! Who did that to you? Who answered their phone in a meeting? Let me at ‘em! No one does that to my Mama Bangs. I hate the ‘who’s this?’ call too. Ugh. I didn’t mean to get you all worked up, I’m sorry. Go have a nap. P.S. I love you.
LILOO – I keep telling Mama Bangs she needs to get on Twitter & have a blog. So far, no dice. *sigh*
FRENCHIE – I just died at that comment!
TYRONE – I disagree, often there really genuinely isn’t an indication that the call is over. I find most people over there say ‘alright’ and just hang up! I’m sure it’s not everyone, but a whole lotta people do! Bluetooth in the car is fine, but bluetooth under any other circumstances is just wrong. I hate it when people walk around with that thing in their ear all day.
EMMA – I’m a little speechless that someone answered the phone while in ‘the act’. Clearly it wasn’t that good.
BEX – Oh the not answering the phone part is fine, I never do anyway. But no tweeting?! Now you’re just pushing it! (I kid, I kid).
BRIAN – I do indeed try to bring the ruckus (and Mama Bangs always has my back)
STUART – Yay! Thanks for commenting!
SOPHIE – I do the same, say ‘bye’ a stupid number of times, just to hammer the point home!
LULU – You’re right, manners have completely gone out the window, the more we get hooked on all things digital/technical. And God I hate listening to those awkward conversations on the bus. Cringe!
SUSAN – Ahhh the drunk dial. Terrible!
HELEN – Arrrggghhh I HATE it when people eat on the phone!
LADY K – You’re right, it could be cell phone malfunctions, but I still put it down to rudeness!
JENNIE – I fully agree with all those things – ALL HIDEOUS!
ABBY – Indeed, consider yourself told!
MEAGHAN – Thanks! And yes, not saying ‘bye’ is ridiculously prevalent in movies and on TV. That never made sense to me.
JADED – Don’t act like you didn’t LOVE my musical interlude. And did you just air guitar on my comments? I can’t with you.
HAHA – Aww thank you *blushes* Perhaps Americans just never say goodbye when talking to me? I’m not sure, but it took me ages to get used to it when I lived over there.
All of that right there..? Couldn’t be more true!
So wait. None of these are sufficient to sign off with?
Laters
Peace
One/ Uno
Aiight chill
[...] The ever so lovely Bangs and a Bun has tips on Phone Etiquette [...]
This makes me want to start ending phone convos with things that dont make any sense just to increase my hang-up-in-ya-face ratio…which would have me dying every time I hung up the phone. Something like “Yo” or “Aye”…then *click* Good times.
Very educating post, bookmarked your website in hopes to see more information!