My biggest reason for not liking calls is that I often very much struggle to actually hear what's being said. I'll take talking in person over a call. Text mediums also have the benefit of being able to be referred back to. Great to double check something, or to cover your ass. I'll take a paper trail any day of the week.

That said though, in my professional life I have encountered a surprisingly huge number of people who just cannot write clearly. It baffles me. Ultimately, to each their own, and I'll try to meet people where they're at. But I much prefer written formats.

A phone call allows people to hold a conversation. All the others are just correspondence.

I don't like phone calls either. But now people are starting to send voice messages. Might just as well call me if you're going to steal 3 minutes with every message, with info which could have been typed in 5 words. I ignore voice messages, I tell people I do yet they still get angry with "why didn't you reply, all the messages is only 7 minutes of listening time it's not that bad". FFS

People in the comments claiming it's social anxiety but I have no problem talking to people face to face or in an internet-based voice or video call. But phone calls are just ass. The audio quality sucks, I barely understand what the other person says and I don't get to choose when and where it happens, might be one or both people are in some noisy situation etc and it's just all around so awkward. I also think it's kinda rude. A message is "Hey I want to exchange X information, reply whenever you want", a call is "YOU WILL PAY ATTENTION TO ME RIGHT NOW". It's also incredibly annoying when some official place insists on phone calls only. Fucking brilliant, now I have to take half an hour of my day queueing and/or calling repeatedly to get done what I would have typed out in half a minute as an email. It's even worse if it's them who call you. "You will get a call from us in the next 3 days". Now I have to be on fucking high alert to be available at that exact time or the back and forth missed calls start. Instead of just receiving an email and replying whenever.

Edit: not to even mention that text is permanent and can be referenced later while calls are not

Personally since chat/messages are now ubiquituous, call implies you need my reply/attention/input now, and/or need the vocal tonal part of communication.

If you call, and it's clear there was neither reason, I'm annoyed. There was no reason to interrupt me, as I'll assume there's an emergency or urgent situation and pick up dropping whatever I'm doing.

There are exceptions of course, but nowadays those (like family get-togethers or check-ins) have honestly moved to group video chats so they're not "calls", either.

This was a teacher that told me in the 90s. “Phone calls are an invasion. When you call someone you’re saying ‘stop everything you’re doing and talk to me’. This was specially true when Caller ID was not a thing.”

Leaving a message equals to a DM or text. The recipient can respond later, but a call, it must be at that moment. It’s synchronous.

For me, calls interrupt my workflow with things that don’t need immediate attention anyway. So it draws focus away unnecessarily.

I also prefer to have a written record of things if they’re important. That way you can always refer back to it. A phone call just annoys me at best and divides my attention. So it’s in their interest as well that I can respond when I’ve got time.

why there are no dots after the last numbers

For the workplace, calls are king. If you're a professional, calling another professional, it's the easiest and fastest way to exchange information back and forth. Long email chains that take several days to reach their conclusion are inefficient. If you need something done, in the work/business arena, just call. Younger generations are entering the workforce for first time and are scared to make or answer calls. It's embarrassing.

Sure, outside of work, keep calls to a bare minimum. Family usually text first to arrange a phone call.

People have no back bone anymore. Oh no, I'm getting telemarketing calls... Just hang up.

Why do 98, 99 and 100 have no dots?

Why though?

What is so hard about getting a call and talking to someone?

Because the more serious discussion the more time I want to have to be able to convey myself concisely and prepared. Phone calls can be awkward and reactionary. plus how the fuck have we not yet solved phone audio quality and consistency problems.

One thing that severely degrades the usefulness of the phone network is all the spam calls. It’s all I get these days. I can’t just call someone and have them pick up because nobody answers calls from unknown numbers.

It’s especially frustrating when I’m waiting for a call, like for a delivery, and have to pick up every unknown number.

ETA: Also, the immediacy of phone calls make them mainly used for emergencies. If I get a call from someone I know the first thought is “oh god what’s wrong?”

So I don’t call people because I don’t want to freak them out.

For me, it's autism.

How did voicemail (or voice message) make it above skywriting?

Because I take no joy in small talk, waste of time. I type basically as fast or even faster than I talk. I can maintaine multiple conversations at once. And I can answer when I want instead of being locked up with one person that gets its way.