⭐︎Fear of the Phone 1419

Was it last year that I started hearing the term "telephobia" so often?
They say it's not uncommon for people to feel mentally unwell because they are afraid of work-related phone calls.
Well, even I was scared when I first started working and had to answer the phone, wondering, "Will I be able to hear them clearly?" or "What if I make a mistake?"
You just have to get used to it, right?

…Or so I thought, but the environment has changed so much that I can't just say that anymore.
With the spread of mobile phones, it's no longer rare for homes to not have a landline.
When we used landlines, there was the tension of not knowing who would answer, and when answering a call, the tension of not knowing who was calling.

Whether calling someone or answering a call, manners like greetings and honorifics were necessary. I learned them by listening to how adults responded, imitating them, and saying them out loud.
New employee training after getting a job naturally included role-playing for business phone calls.

It's not just the words you use to respond that are important.
Since you don't know who is calling or who will answer, the impression your voice makes is extremely important.
You have to be mindful of volume, pitch, tone (brightness), clarity (crispness), speed, and timing.

Even so, sudden phone calls make my heart race.
Because I don't know who it's from.
Because I don't know what the business is.
Because even if I answer, I don't know if I'll understand (the business).
In the first place, they call without any regard for my convenience.

Moreover, for the mobile phone native generation, calls are always directed to them personally.
It's taken for granted that if you call, the person you're aiming for will answer.
If most communication is done via email or LINE, perhaps there are fewer opportunities for phone calls (other than for chatting).
No wonder people develop telephobia.

Around noon today, I received a rare LINE call from Susumu (pseudonym, my second son).
I was washing my hands while out, so I missed it and called him back.
The trouble with phone calls is that you never know when they'll come in.
And since Susumu rarely calls, I was startled, thinking, "What happened?"

It was a scam-like request to take a photo of my driver's license and send it immediately.
It was Susumu's voice, Susumu's way of speaking, and Susumu's lack of friendliness, so it was definitely him, not a scammer.
The new red-ish one (not-red iPhone) I'm using is all managed by Susumu in terms of model, plan, and costs, and it seems some change occurred that required a procedure.
Even when I asked again, I couldn't understand, and both Susumu and I were out and in a hurry, so I sent the image of my license without understanding.
He wouldn't misuse it, would he?

After ending the call, I suddenly realized something.
Susumu asked, "Is now a good time?" but I hadn't greeted him before that.
The voice I used to ask, "What are you using it for?" was full of distrust.
I didn't even say goodbye when hanging up.

Perhaps because I knew it was definitely Susumu and that the business was from his side, I completely ignored manners and voice impression (I regret this).
There are individual differences, but if you only interact with close friends on your mobile phone, does this become the norm?
If so, it might not be strange to feel fear toward work-related phone calls.

Telephobia is not limited to Japan.
It seems the British newspaper Financial Times also published an article titled "Young people who cannot handle phone calls."
If mobile phones and social media have been the norm since birth, and making or receiving calls is a rare experience, then (telephobia) is likely a phenomenon that transcends countries and generations.

I tend to want to lump everyone together by saying "young people these days," but thanks to Susumu, I had a chance to reflect on myself.
It's funny that this phrase has existed since ancient times, isn't it?

By the way, when I got home, the blinking light on the landline indicated a message on the answering machine.
Let's see what it is.

I don't have such a credit card.
Even if I did, I would never spend more than my account balance.
I don't really care, but I want to retort to the automated voice (I'll hold back if it's colloquial).
It should be "because it is overdue," not "since it is overdue,"
and it should be "we will connect you to an operator, so please press zero," not "please connect to an operator."

I wonder, "Who on earth would be fooled by a call like this?" but I suppose there are people who would panic and press zero.
Emails are scary, but phone calls are scary too.

2026.2.22. Sun

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