Although it’s just my opinion and I’m probably the last person who should be able to recommend normal behavior, especially with cellphones, I will nevertheless offer an obvious guideline. If you are going to take the time to call someone, especially in lieu of texting/email/messaging, please state the general nature of your call when you leave a voicemail. Please don’t say something inane such as “Call me back” and end the call. If we could call such a vote today, my vote is that we shall henceforth never returns calls to people who leave messages like that. Ever.

For example, if you are afraid that you might not have either enough time or energy to communicate your message, say ” 911 ” for an emergency and ” 411 ” for a request for an at-leisure call back. Either one is short, yet contains the essential 2 types of messages.

Better still, why not leave a message something like this: “I have very important or juicy news that I personally and desperately wish to tell you. Call me back.” By doing this, the person you are calling will immediately know without threat of stress that the call is not time-sensitive or urgent.

Under no circumstances is it fair or wise to sound desperate without leaving clues as to whether it’s a true emergency, something that it important to you but not necessarily to me, or any combination thereof.

While I’m moaning and complaining, if you are going to take the time to call, leave a message – any kind of message. Take a second and be creative. If you are going to make me go through the motions of checking voicemail, putting in my password and listening, please make it seem like there was some effort and genuine effort involved. Zombie calls should be made by legitimate zombies.

I think that we all need to focus when we call other people and be better communicators.

It’s unfair to leave the person getting your message without a clear understanding of WHY you called.

Again, just a few words from my frazzled brain for you to consider.