Ask Amy: Enabling parents look for a way out
Dear Amy: I chat with my sister a few times per week on the phone. We usually call each other on a whim.
More and more lately, she multi-tasks while we are talking, either preparing and eating a snack, or driving, etc.
The problem is that these activities create a lot of noises, some of which are quite distracting or even grating through the phone.
When she's driving, the call often cuts out.
She has even called me while at a cafe, then asks me to hold on while she orders or pays.
If I am in the middle of something when she calls, I ask her if I can get back to her in a few minutes.
If I notice she's multi-tasking when I call, I offer to call back later, but she usually says no and carries on with what she is doing.
What is accepted modern phone etiquette?
– Hanging on the Line
Dear Hanging: It’s not necessarily “modern,” but basic good manners means that you don’t talk with your mouth full of food, initiate a conversation when you’re in the middle of a transaction (or vice versa), or choose to contact someone when you can’t pay full attention.
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