I also have the phone fear. For me, it's because I dislike awkward pauses in phone conversations much more than in face-to-face conversations, because there's nothing else to fill them. (I also hate when people call when they don't really have anything to say. Call to chat, fine, especially if I haven't seen you in a while. But don't call just to hold a half-assed convo while watching TV or doing dishes.)

I don't tend to want to call people, but I have no real phone issues. As demonstrated by the couple of weeks I spent one summer being a receptionist during the day and telemarketing at night.

The thing with both of those jobs, though, is that you don't have to know anything -- as a temp, you just say, "Sorry, I'm a temp. Let me transfer you," and telemarketing, you have a script.

Hey, I just realized I could technically get teacher certification right now!

But since I think I'd have to pay another $100 to get it upgraded once I finish my program, guess I'll hold off. Still, it was a startling realization.

Like Connie-- I have phone fear for outgoing calls. Since I have answered the main phone for every job since I was 16 until now, incoming phone fear would be incapacitating. or possibly, have kept me out of shit jobs.

I don't have phone fear if I am calling for someone else or on business, for some reason-- for example-- I can;t order a pizza on the phone for me, but if I need to order several pizzas, for work, with tax exempt status to come at a certain time-- I am fine.

Well, well, well. CNN is saying Michael "Drownie" Brown has resigned as FEMA director. Can't say we didn't see that coming.

Too bad they didn't fire him... but this is almost as good. (And I'm sure he had no choice....)

I don't have phone fear if I am calling for someone else or on business, for some reason

I wish I had this. Whenever I have to call someone on business, I have to psych myself up for it, even if they're expecting the call. Some of it is being afraid of sounding like a dork.

I remember once when I was doing cold calling that I had to hang up immediately, because the recipient was a mildly peeved Englishman, and the sound of a sexy, snarky British voice made my brain lock up.

Michael Brown's going to spend more time with his family: [link]

the sound of a sexy, snarky British voice made my brain lock up.

They could just take the country right back if they simply exploited this fact, couldn't they?

I'm not really afraid of the phone.

That first job at the sandwich shop I was given the job of making collection calls for bad checks. I was the youngest and least experienced and I had to call people up and threaten them.

This actually served me well when I worked at the land surveryor's and had to threaten people with liens and other nastiness if they didn't pay up.