Wrong Number – No Sorry

Sometimes my phone rings and the person calling starts the conversations by saying, “Who is this?” Really, no “Hello”, no “I’m sorry I might have dialed the wrong number” just an abrupt demand for my identification. This rude sort of call is never a good way to start with me. My normal response is to calmly ask the person who they were looking for and if it was not someone who resides at this number to kindly let the person know they might have misdialed.

My give-this-caller-no-personal-information-first rule is not always met with understanding. Many times the caller repeats their demand to know who I am. That is when I turn into my normal self and demand them to tell me “Who the HE#* are you since you called me.” I have almost never known them personally so speaking so sternly is about the only thing these reckless dialers understand.

Today my misdialing world has expanded from my home phone to my cell phone text. I get a message from a number I did not recognize that just says “Hey.” I respond, “Sorry I don’t recognize your number, please tell me who this is?” The response is, “Who is this?” I lob back, “You texted me first. Who are you looking for?”

“I don’t know I had this number and I wanted to see who it is. I am George.” Back to me saying, “Well George, I don’t know you so you might have misdialed.” George texts back, “Tell me who you are!” Why do people think it is their right to know who I am? I text back, “I am no one to you. Have a nice day.”

“Well why do I have your number?” Isn’t this getting a little ridiculous? What happened to people’s telephone manners where they apologize for their own mistake and promise never to call again? So to George, whoever you are, I don’t know you and now if I ever meet you I am going to walk away because you have been put in the category of people that I try and stay away from – those who thinks the world revolves around them. Only two year olds are allowed to act that way and only once with me, then they get taught how to have manners.

If I ever misdial you I hope that my apology is swift and you feel it’s sincerity because unless I have just lost my mind I take responsibility for bothering you and I promise to never do it again.