Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Student to Student: The Terrors of Telephobia
University of Massachusetts Amherst ^ | 10/24/25 | Ewode Meggison

Posted on 01/24/2025 12:36:34 PM PST by DallasBiff

For many, it is a common occurrence to ignore phone calls, but for others, talking on the phone can become highly anxiety-inducing. Those who suffer from the effects of telephobia might have no issues with communication in person but might have difficulty with communication over the phone. For some, telephobia can negatively affect one’s personal or professional life. What is Telephobia?

Telephobia is reluctance or fear of making or taking phone calls. A fun fact that is a not-so-fun fact is that it can affect up to 76% of millennials and 40% of baby boomers. At least you know you are not alone now. This fear of phone calls can usually be associated with the fear of being criticized, judged, or rejected and can fall under the umbrella of social anxiety, affecting 15 million adults in the United States.

(Excerpt) Read more at umass.edu ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; History; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: phobia; telephobia; telephone
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-42 next last
When I was a kid way back ago my brothers and sisters would race to answer the phone, caller-id introduced in the early 80's stopped all that.

Texting began the telephobia, I hate texting.

That said if I get a call that says scam I don't answer.

Have fun it's friday.

1 posted on 01/24/2025 12:36:34 PM PST by DallasBiff
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff
My telephobia is entirely due to me watching this unsettling skit when I was younger. I wonder if it’s not too late to file a lawsuit.


2 posted on 01/24/2025 12:43:51 PM PST by Leaning Right (It’s morning in America. Again.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff
Generations past must be laughing, or crying, at how pathetic this generation is ... anxiety about answering the phone.

How low have we sunk?

3 posted on 01/24/2025 12:46:06 PM PST by Lizavetta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff
talking on the phone can become highly anxiety-inducing.

Poor weedle snowflakes.

4 posted on 01/24/2025 12:51:39 PM PST by libertylover (Our biggest problem, by far, is that almost all of big media is AGENDA-DRIVEN, not-truth driven.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff

I always dread calling people on the phone, at least when you text, you know you’re not forcing them to stop what they are doing.


5 posted on 01/24/2025 12:54:47 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Leaning Right
Dr. Johnny Fever did it for me.

Johnny: [after hearing the sirens] It's the phone cops. They know what I did here today.

Venus: What are you talking about?

Johnny: They're coming to get me, man!

Venus: That's paranoia, man!

Johnny: Wake up, sucker, this is the phone company we're talking about! They see everything, they know everything, they got their own covert police force! I'm probably wired for sound right now! I gotta get out of here!

Venus: Johnny!

Johnny: Don't use my name!!
6 posted on 01/24/2025 12:57:03 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff

Almost every adult I know, who is 45 or younger, is bad at answering phone calls or responding to texts.
I don’t know what it is. They don’t even seem to feel guilty about ignoring messages.


7 posted on 01/24/2025 12:57:23 PM PST by lee martell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff

Oh, I answer each one of the 6 or 7 robocalls I receive each day ... and I play one of several “special recordings” I have collected over the years when they come on the line. Depending on how many times they’ve called or at what time they call (some as early as 5 or 6 a.m.), they may be treated to one of my “special recordings.” (An ol’ man’s gotta have a little fun, ya know!) Cheers!


8 posted on 01/24/2025 12:58:01 PM PST by glennaro (2025: The year of America's rebirth as a Great (and Free) Republic)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff
This is an actual movie, released in 1980.


9 posted on 01/24/2025 1:00:39 PM PST by Angelino97
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

I’ll admit to having a phone phobia and I usually blame it on the night my brother died.

All my friends know not to call me unless it’s very important and I will always answer their calls but a lot of them will actually text me and ask if it’s okay for them to call.

When I was a teenager back in the dark ages I wouldn’t answer the phone unless I had to and unlike my brothers and sister I never chatted for hours with my friends or boyfriends.

Back in the day when long distance phone calls were special and expensive my parents would make calls to far away relatives, the whole family would be there and they would make you have your turn to Speak and I would ask if I had to and I would ask them to just tell them that I said hello.


10 posted on 01/24/2025 1:15:10 PM PST by tiki (To)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Leaning Right

I was thinking that skit!: “One ringy-dingy! Two Ringy...”


11 posted on 01/24/2025 1:16:10 PM PST by CodeToad (Rule #1: The elites want you dead.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: tiki

Yep, I was like “If you don’t here from me, I’m fine!”


12 posted on 01/24/2025 1:16:27 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

Uggh, that’s “If you don’t hear from me, I’m fine!”


13 posted on 01/24/2025 1:16:44 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: glennaro
I did the same with a fax machine answer .wav file.
Guess their computer dialer would take the number off their list.
Cut the 800 calls way back.
14 posted on 01/24/2025 1:19:11 PM PST by TangoLimaSierra (⭐⭐To the Left, The Truth is Right Wing Violence⭐⭐)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

Another misnomer, like “homophobia” (literally “fear of the same”); this one means “fear of covering distances”.


15 posted on 01/24/2025 1:20:19 PM PST by Olog-hai ("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is going to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff

Shouldn’t the term be something like “telephone phobia”? “Tele” in Greek means distant or far away, so “Telephobia” would mean fear of distance.


16 posted on 01/24/2025 1:24:49 PM PST by Fiji Hill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff
I have telephobia. Do not call me, please. When the phone rings I freeze. Previous "partner" terrorized me with repeated calls and voicemails, after torching everything. You know who you are. I struggle to forgive.
17 posted on 01/24/2025 1:27:02 PM PST by OwenKellogg (...if my people, who are called by my name...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OwenKellogg

LOL, like Shery Crow put it:

Hello it’s me, I’m not at home
If you’d like to reach me, leave me alone


18 posted on 01/24/2025 1:27:43 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: DallasBiff

I had telephobia long before texting was invented. Always have hated making phone calls but can’t think of any reason for it, save perhaps one disgusting, vile prank caller when I was a kid.


19 posted on 01/24/2025 1:31:42 PM PST by piasa (Attitude adjustmilents offered here free of charge)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator; gundog; SaveFerris; SunkenCiv

At least when you’re on a phone call, you can yell “Chinese food!” in a Chinese accent and say “Gotta go, my Chinese food is here!”

Doesn’t work as well if they know you’re in a car driving.


20 posted on 01/24/2025 1:32:41 PM PST by Larry Lucido (Donate! Don't just post clickbait!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-42 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson