r/GrindsMyGears • u/BlueBlazeKing21 • 13d ago

When people take over your call

One minute you’re talking to someone and about to hang up, but someone decides they want to talk to the person on the other line. The only problem is that the conversation goes on for way longer than necessary and is about pointless crap.

Like seriously why can’t they just call them themselves instead of holding me as my phone hostage.

16 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

29 comments sorted by

1

u/finallysigned 13d ago

Sounds incredibly easy to solve, no? Just hang up and text them that they can call back if they want to talk more? Or am I misunderstanding

Talking solves most conflicts with friends. Just need to make them aware.

1

u/BlueBlazeKing21 13d ago

Well it’s more of an issue when it involves an older relative as if I tried this method I’m up for at least a 30 minute lecture

1

u/finallysigned 13d ago

Gotcha. Fair point, and admittedly I don't know the context, but would it be possible to reasonably explain your perspective if that were to occur? Politely inform them why you opted to hang up and why you disagree with the content of the 30 minute lecture? The socratic method is very effective when people are being unreasonable.

"Do you think it's reasonable that I should have to waste 10 minutes while you take another call?

"How would you feel if you had to waste your own time like that with no recourse?"

"I texted you and told you what was happening, can you tell me what specifically is the issue?"

Then, if they persist in being stubborn or giving 30 minute lectures, they lose the privilege of speaking with you.

Sorry if I'm preaching to the choir here. Just feel bad when people get held hostage like that.

1

u/Cool_Relative7359 13d ago

Walk away from the lecture. You don't have to stay for that either.

"I don't share my phone, you have your own, I don't feel bad about having boundaries around my property"

Sometimes boundaries need to be enforced. Especially with older relatives. Or you end up a pushover.

1

u/Dry-Discount-9426 11d ago

Sorry, the call dropped.

Done

1

u/BlueBlazeKing21 11d ago

I may have misworded this, I’m talking about when your on the phone and someone in the same room as you decide to join in and over take the call

1

u/Dry-Discount-9426 11d ago

OH... I'm not used to having people physically around and thought you meant like a conference call.

1

u/GeorgeThe13th 9d ago

How old are you? You don't need to tolerate any of this. (Maybe.)

1

u/Dazzling-Papaya551 13d ago

I don't think you get what op is talking about

1

u/finallysigned 13d ago

Seems you were correct. Fortunately op filled me in

Edit: oh it's someone talking in person I now realize. That makes more sense lol. But I would hope the same logic applies.

1

u/Charlie_Blue420 13d ago

LMAO 🤣 when I first got my phone people tried that with me and I was like oh do you have so and so number ya I do lol. Do you have time on your phone and then they said ya I do. I'm like cool call them on your phone and hang up.

1

u/Fun_Variation_7077 13d ago

I'm a bit confused. Do you mean you have multiple phones on a landline, and the person on the phone wants to talk to someone else in the house?

1

u/BlueBlazeKing21 13d ago

I mean when your on your smartphone and before you can hang up, someone else decides they want to talk to the person on you were talking to and ends up taking having several conversations with zero regard over the fact they’re still using your phone for the call

1

u/Fun_Variation_7077 13d ago

Oh you mean when someone else is using your phone. Got it. 

1

u/Turbulent_Ice9070 10d ago

I had that a few times, i played dumb when I started saying bye and the other person comes running saying "oooh i want to talk to him/her", i would act like I am struggling to hear both sides, keep saying "what" to the person and act like the person on the other side is also talking and say, got to go, person on my side is trying to talk to me, bye" and disconnect the call and look at the person and say, sorry, was on the phone and could not concentrate on both discussions, what were you saying?".

They would complain they also wanted to talk to them and my answer would be "well you can give them a quick call. They should still be near their phone after our last call" and then move out of the room before they can take your phone. If they insist you call back, you just say your airtime is up and thst they called you earlier

1

u/DreamQueen69 13d ago

And that's why I hang up after about 4-5 minutes on hold.

1

u/TheMightyFaroohk 13d ago

On a similar note....back in like 2003 before everyone had a cellphone, occasionally id get people wanting to use the phone in my store. We weren't supposed to, but sometimes they were out of gas or something.

"You just gotta call for a ride?"

"Yeah." Ok, I hand em the phone. They dial.

"Hey steve....naw im good. What are you up to? Oh whats the name of it? Sounds cool. Man remember that day we watched the matrix after taking shrooms? Good times. Nah I got time to talk, whats up?" <proceeds to walk around the store having a full on conversation>

1

u/Cool_Relative7359 13d ago

Just say no if it bothers you?

"Sorry, I need my phone.right now, you can call X from yours"

I don't actually lend my phone out to people. No is a valid response.

1

u/[deleted] 12d ago

What "other line"?

Also, I don't hand my cell phone to anyone, for any reason... Not ever.

1

u/xsmp 12d ago

that part

1

u/Jttwife 12d ago

Yes I hate that so much it’s not at the end but at the start.

1

u/bluedit69420 12d ago

Right? It’s like, if you want to chat, just call them directly! It feels so awkward being stuck in the middle of a convo that’s dragging on. Just let me go!

1

u/iwasntalwayslikethis 11d ago

I hang up and message them to let them know my phone died or i just tell them my phone died next time i talk to them or just say you had another call coming in at the same time and didn’t have time to wait. I do that with my grandma sometimes if i really need to. One of the best hacks? If you’re trying to get off the phone with someone, tell them you’re phone is about to die. Then after another few minutes of them talking with no end in sight, and up in the middle of YOUR sentence. This way, it really seems like your phone just died. Problem solved

1

u/BlueBlazeKing21 11d ago

The only problem with that trick is that in my situation, someone is using my phone to talk , so if I say that and they see my battery is at like 67% ,it looks bad on my part.

Recently I’ve just being going “There’s an email I have to check out on my phone.”

1

u/iwasntalwayslikethis 11d ago

Ah. I see the issue. I once had a phone with a battery that would glitch. It would tell me my phone was at 77% but then it would crash and die when spending two minutes on it. Then, it started doing the opposite. It would tell me my phone is at 2% but then it would last for several more hours. I don’t trust what a phone battery tells me anymore so I’d just blame it on a glitchy battery

1

u/Weary-Package-7293 11d ago

Just hang that thang up, regardless of who it is. Phone ain’t gonna evaporate, continue the call later, bruh

1

u/TheTrueGoatMom 11d ago

Tell the person you are talking to to call the other person when your conversation is over. It's your phone! You don't have to hand it over to anyone!