I was listening to a Weird Al song about prank calls and realized you can’t really do them anymore now. Also it was funny that he mentioned dialing 7 digit numbers instead of 10
When I was a kid, we would spell out “dirty words” in people’s phone numbers and call saying we were from the “Telephone Number Decency League”. We’d say the naughty word thier number could spell and encourage them to call the phone company to ask for a new phone number.
Love it. We used soundboards. The Schwarzenegger one was a blast. You get them paying attention with the lines from kindergarten cop then start going wild on them with lines from predator, etc. My personal favorite was “I hope you left enough room for my fist, because I’m gonna ram it into your stomach!” One memorable woman tried to save Arnold’s soul with gospel music. I think she enjoyed the whole thing.
I used soundboards with my friends. My favorite was Betty Grovenstein, she was a sex hotline worker with a nasally New Englander accent.
Who is your daddy, and what does he do.
Back then “if it’s important they would call”. Recently, “they will call back if it’s important”. Now, “they will leave a message if it’s important.”
“They will text me why I should pick up”
Now is just, “They will text if they are not trying to sell you a warranty extension for your car”
People still try. When I worked retail we’d get them often enough as you can’t just not answer an unknown number when someone is calling the store.
That said, if it’s an unknown number we’re already expecting a prank call and are just waiting for the first excuse to hang up.
my phone has been on silent mode since 2012
People get really upset that I don’t check my phone often and keep it on do not disturb…
They can just keep on being upset. Their reaction kind of reinforces why I have the damn thing mostly disabled from its primary function anyway.
Because of my job I have to answer unknown numbers. My God is it ever irritating
Moe from the Simpsons would be happy.
I remember the shift to using area codes and how everyone was so upset at how difficult that would be. Then the smart phones came, and I wonder how many people now know many of the numbers they might regularly call with one tap,
Don’t go making fony calls. Please stick to the 7 digit numbers you’re used to!
