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Comment by teeray | Hacker News Reader

I actually think this is a shame. Phone calls are way better for catching up with people than messaging. You mostly have everyone’s attention and there’s a defined start and end to the conversation.

Yes, there’s video calls now, but they’re not automatically better. Dealing with cameras, lighting, grooming ahead of time, and bad compression just gets in the way of a casual conversation.

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Is it just me? I've always hated phone calls, even back in the 80's when that was literally the only way to talk to somebody who wasn't physically in the same room as you. Voice calls combine the worst of real-time interactions with the worst of remote interactions.

I hate phone calls. Just despise. In part, because it requires someone to stop at least part of what they are doing and spend time talking to me.

Messaging? The conversation can go on around other things. Let me know you are playing games and I can set my expectations for responses. Don't get back right away? Well, it probably isn't important and you know I thought about you, and you are free to get back to me when convenient.

When my spouse and I lived on different sides of the atlantic (pre marriage), we could have discussions that transcended sleep and work schedules. Other folks, the discussion just ends, sometimes informally but sometimes in similar ways to phone calls.

I hate video calls too, but I use them occasionally for family since I now live across an ocean, but only if they insist.

I'm the opposite, I love the death of phone calls. Phone calls being synchronous and forcing you to pay attention to them immediately is incredibly annoying. Just let it go to voicemail? Sure, but then just text me.

Phone calls require real time audio processing I’m extremely bad at. No matter what I do, my brain won’t stay focused on a call and I constantly miss words and sometimes entire sentences.

Video calls are usually better because I can lip-read to some degree. I miss less. Text is the best, because I can re-read something that didn’t process correctly.

if voice calls were the only option perhaps your ability to deal with them would be stronger? its interesting that with the advent of tech, things that were required for participating in society are now suddenly impossible for so many

Highly unlikely. No amount of running a cash register improved my ability to do math in my head. No amount of “trying harder” improved my focus. My issues stem from parts of my brain not working.

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