HORTON Frustrated by endless voicemails? You're not alone in the quest for human contact

Communication in today’s world should be much easier than in previous time periods, but it’s not. If you really want to speak with a human being, good luck.

With voice mail, direct dialing, emails etc. I find it harder to speak directly with a person.

When you call a telephone number, the norm in today’s world is a voice answers asking you to listen to a directory, which often prompts, “If you know your party’s extension, you may dial it at this time.”

If you are fortunate enough to know the extension, you might think you are about to talk with a live person. Not! Often once one hits the number, be prepared for yet another recording. Thank you for calling. I’m either away from my desk or I’m on another line helping someone. Please leave a message and I’ll get back with you.

You may leave a message or redial our main number to speak to someone else.

OK. If you are like me, you are now unhappy. I don’t want to leave my number. So, I redial the main number and start the process over again.

I push numbers because I’m really wanting to speak to a human being, not someone’s voice mail. I have been known to be so unhappy I get in my vehicle and drive to the business all while I’m on the phone waiting for someone, anyone to answer me.

Now, I don’t mind returning someone’s call when they leave a message on my work voice email. Sometimes people are really away from their desk or on the telephone helping someone else. I don’t have voicemail on my personal phone. I don’t know when I’ll be able to answer a personal message, but your number will appear on my phone. You may also text my cell phone number, which is my personal phone. If you are on my contact list, it will give me your name, the time and day you called. If it is a personal call and you are on my contact list, I’ll answer you when I take a break at work, because if I’m at work I need to be answering my office telephone. If you are calling my cell and it is work related, I’ll see your number and return your call.

I have a list of places where I prefer not to call since you can spend a lot of time trying to get a person to answer. Some time when I’m in a “good” mood and you ask me, I might share those places.

Barbara Ann Horton is a staff writer at the Daily American Republic. She can be reached at bhorton@darnews.com.