I think this kind of problem is more exhibited in millennials who grew up on online chat and message boards. For younger Gen Zs who basically live on Discord, there’s less apprehension about calling someone. Face-to-face communication is another story for those Gen Zs, though.
I greatly prefer asynchronous communication for a few reasons…chief of which being able to craft a thoughtful reply instead of being on the spot. 30 quiet seconds to think about something is a hell of a lot easier in a chat than it is on the phone. (I’m not talking about general conversation, a lot of times I’m asked to explain complex topics or provide ideas on how to fix things).
I also find it a hell of a lot less distracting. Especially when it replaces meetings. I’d gladly have a few days-longs chats going to work things out, versus a few hour-long meetings. It makes the actual project itself the focus of my attention, not the meeting, and makes it a lot easier to maintain a flow.
I dunno. Maybe I’m just a special breed of Inattentive ADHD + Social Anxiety + Millennial. But I also think that probably describes the largest slice of neurodivergencies among millennials.
ETA: also fuck everything about video calls. Maybe it’s just because I’m in IT that we don’t do them…it’s just not a part of our work culture. We’re a sausage-party of ugly nerdy recluses, we know that and don’t need to see each others faces to confirm it. Of course they always come on for the sales calls…ugh. Making me put on a clean shirt and have to think twice about standing up so I don’t do it in view of the camera. Hate 'em. And having to tidy up behind me. It’s not a mess, and I’ve got the blur filter on, but I don’t need my boss asking about my White Claws or my bong.
Yeah, having to think at a reasonable pace and be presentable on the job are such unreasonable expectations. We had better slow all business communication to a crawl regardless of urgency to make sure little snookums doesn’t have to wear a clean shirt or put on pants.
I prefer to write emails because then I have proof about everything that was said and I can take the time to think about my request. It could be very productive.
The reason I call anyways is because people are too lazy and stupid to read more than one sentence and then I have to repeat what they missed out the first time over and over until they answered everything.
Emails serve a purpose, but so do phone calls. People getting crippled by fear at the thought of having a real time conversation and then expecting everyone to make huge accomodations for their fucking fragility are ridiculous.
If a person is genuinely that anxiety-riddled they can’t function in society and I will gladly have my tax dollars pay for their disability benefits. Everyone else needs to put their big kid undies on and be able to stand and deliver on time sensitive problems.
I think this kind of problem is more exhibited in millennials who grew up on online chat and message boards. For younger Gen Zs who basically live on Discord, there’s less apprehension about calling someone. Face-to-face communication is another story for those Gen Zs, though.
I’m a millennial who grew up on chat. It’s really just a vocal minority.
Ba-dum-tss!
Millennial who grew up on online chat here.
If you want to be treated like an adult, act like an adult. That means making and taking calls without hesitation when the need arises.
Don’t be a baby, it’s a conversation. If you can’t understand what someone said, say “I beg your pardon” or “can you repeat that, please”.
I greatly prefer asynchronous communication for a few reasons…chief of which being able to craft a thoughtful reply instead of being on the spot. 30 quiet seconds to think about something is a hell of a lot easier in a chat than it is on the phone. (I’m not talking about general conversation, a lot of times I’m asked to explain complex topics or provide ideas on how to fix things).
I also find it a hell of a lot less distracting. Especially when it replaces meetings. I’d gladly have a few days-longs chats going to work things out, versus a few hour-long meetings. It makes the actual project itself the focus of my attention, not the meeting, and makes it a lot easier to maintain a flow.
I dunno. Maybe I’m just a special breed of Inattentive ADHD + Social Anxiety + Millennial. But I also think that probably describes the largest slice of neurodivergencies among millennials.
ETA: also fuck everything about video calls. Maybe it’s just because I’m in IT that we don’t do them…it’s just not a part of our work culture. We’re a sausage-party of ugly nerdy recluses, we know that and don’t need to see each others faces to confirm it. Of course they always come on for the sales calls…ugh. Making me put on a clean shirt and have to think twice about standing up so I don’t do it in view of the camera. Hate 'em. And having to tidy up behind me. It’s not a mess, and I’ve got the blur filter on, but I don’t need my boss asking about my White Claws or my bong.
Yeah, having to think at a reasonable pace and be presentable on the job are such unreasonable expectations. We had better slow all business communication to a crawl regardless of urgency to make sure little snookums doesn’t have to wear a clean shirt or put on pants.
For fucks sake…
Did you read the rest of the post? Meetings and phone calls are a time sink nowadays
Yeah, so if they’re boring, they shouldn’t be causing a panic attack now should they?
I prefer to write emails because then I have proof about everything that was said and I can take the time to think about my request. It could be very productive.
The reason I call anyways is because people are too lazy and stupid to read more than one sentence and then I have to repeat what they missed out the first time over and over until they answered everything.
Emails serve a purpose, but so do phone calls. People getting crippled by fear at the thought of having a real time conversation and then expecting everyone to make huge accomodations for their fucking fragility are ridiculous.
If a person is genuinely that anxiety-riddled they can’t function in society and I will gladly have my tax dollars pay for their disability benefits. Everyone else needs to put their big kid undies on and be able to stand and deliver on time sensitive problems.
Writing an email isn’t a huge accommodation unless you’re illiterate
Unless you need a lot of information right fucking now