For me, it's a matter of priority.
yes, the cell phone is a communication tool, but a person can exercise their use of the device and prioritize how and when to use the device and receive incoming and outgoing messages whether by actual voice call, or by text method.
Perhaps I do this because I'm on the cusp between a voice generation and a text generation, but each has it's place and purpose. In the workplace I absolutely prefer receiving email over calls. I can scan an email in just a few seconds and determine what a coworker needs and get right to work on that. A phone call can monopolize the time that I can get things done for the person.
In the case of SMS, I use it in situations where a voice call is either not appropriate, or not warranted. I use public transit and can't stand when someone is having the overly obnoxious talk-as-loud-as-they-can cell phone conversation. I SMS instead if I need to say something, or wait. Alternatively, if something just needs a short reply? "What do you want for dinner?" it takes less time to write "Let's meet at Assiaggio's for Italian" than to play phone tag.
But I do use voice, off work hours, and for things that an SMS is not appropriate for. I will spend upwards of an hour or two conversing with old friends many states away catching up on life.
As for not answering incoming voice calls at all, I will say that if I do not recognize your phone number, or you are not in my address book when you call, I WILL let it go to voicemail first. I get three robo-calls a day on my cell phone because someone else apparently had my phone number before me and I constantly receive her calls instead. Since these are political, religious or collections calls they do not fall under the Federal Do Not Call registry restrictions. So they all go right to voicemail. If I suspect the call may be important, I'll listen to the voicemail then decide the appropriate task to take to respond if it needs a response.
Priority - How do I choose to respond to a message and which way would be the fastest or most appropriate?
Appropriateness - Does the social or environmental situation dictate how I should respond to a message?
Warranted - is a specific form of reply warranted, or is it easier or more efficient to respond in a particular way?
Discussion on:
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