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[Spehss _]

I think I have an irrational fear of calling/talking to people on the phone. I keep needing to make calls to people since I'm preparing to move and need to set up stuff, but the whole idea of calling them gets me anxious, and I keep procrastinating on each call. Answering the phone was also something I was terrible at in past jobs.

It's a basic human function but fuck me, who needs to be a functioning human right. ha ha _{^{kill me}}

[Lord Shonus]

The dutch word for 'match' is lucifer. Which makes sense from it's latin root meaning 'carrier/bringer of light'

This is a "Kleenex" or "Aspirin" situation. "Lucifer" was the brand name for the first commercially viable self-igniting match and the brand name became the generic one for a long time in English. This  seems to be permanent in Dutch.

[TD1]

Sister Mary! How did you light all those candles? So quickly, too!

I used the power of Lucifer, Father.

....

....

[Kagus]

The dutch word for 'match' is lucifer. Which makes sense from it's latin root meaning 'carrier/bringer of light'

This is a "Kleenex" or "Aspirin" situation. "Lucifer" was the brand name for the first commercially viable self-igniting match and the brand name became the generic one for a long time in English. This  seems to be permanent in Dutch.

My Norwegian grandparents seem to think that Kikkoman is just the word for soy sauce. Considering what an awful example of soy sauce Kikkoman tends to be, we've tried to correct them a few times on their usage of the word.

[hector13]

I think I have an irrational fear of calling/talking to people on the phone. I keep needing to make calls to people since I'm preparing to move and need to set up stuff, but the whole idea of calling them gets me anxious, and I keep procrastinating on each call. Answering the phone was also something I was terrible at in past jobs.

It's a basic human function but fuck me, who needs to be a functioning human right. ha ha _{^{kill me}}

You’d be surprised how many people don’t like to use the phone. It is common enough that researchers have advised businesses on how to get around using them, ‘cause older folks like to use them to communicate ideas, while younger folk prefer emails or face-to-face meetings.

[scriver]

I hate phones. I think I've got it down to it being about how I can't see the person I'm talking with. I'm not sure.

[Egan_BW]

It's absurdly stressful to talk to someone, but their voice is distorted and you can't see their face or even know where they are and you have to hold this piece of shit plastic thing up to your face or the other person won't be able to hear you.

[scriver]

And the side of the face you're holding the phone on gets super hot and flushed, especially if it's a mobile phone

[Magistrum]

I find telephone calls to be terrible in general, being a miracle if it works, let alone being able to hold a conversation for more than four words without getting cut or horribly distorted.

Phone calls are for emergency purposes only, if you have something important send a text message or email, if you want to talk use skype or other internet solution.

[martinuzz]

Which country has such abysmal phone connections?

[Magistrum]

I have only been around the South of Brazil and Argentina, but haven't heard better reports from anywhere else.

A good call is usually cause for surprise.

[Rolan7]

I mean, the entire USA isn't 100% perfectly covered by cell towers
It depends on population density I think, since even poor adults usually have flip phones at least.  Interstates and cities have great coverage, rural mountainous areas are spottiest as the peaks block the relatively-few towers.

[scriver]

Fun fact: Sweden has started pulling out their landlines in the rural regions, because who uses landlines these days am I right? Other than backwards hillbilly people, elders, and people who live in rural areas without cell phone coverage... You know, those regions where they're pulling the landlines out of the ground.

[Yoink]

There is a novelty burgerphone for sale at work, which is reason enough to keep landline connections. Also I still dislike making phone calls, but I have somehow gotten into the habit in recent years... also having hearing aids makes it a bit less stressful, I guess.
Still awful when you have to talk to someone you don't know very well, ugggghh. I always talk over them, then stop and there's this mess of awkward silences and aborted sentences... why did my keyboard try to put an umlaut in aborted? Sounds like part of a band name, but with no capital letter? This post almost ought to be in the wtf thread. I mean, wtf.

[Teneb]

I have only been around the South of Brazil and Argentina, but haven't heard better reports from anywhere else.

A good call is usually cause for surprise.

Allow me to surprise you: unless I go to very specific places, it's pretty easy to get a good call. Sounds like you live in a rural area near the frontier, in which case... yeah I have no doubt reception is absolute dogshit. Just, don't generalize when talking about a continent-sized territory.