Married/en-coupled folk, I've asked this before, but I can't remember your answers -- is this typical? Or calling even once a day during the work day?

Yup. We have stuff to coordinate -- what's for supper? Can you pick me up to run errands? Did you find out if the kid forgot his trumpet? Many of those can't be coordinated by E-mail because they're time-limited. And once the conversation starts, I am going to say "Have you still got that cold?" and "I love you" as well as talking about the current issue.

If it's two calls with no content but "I love you, kootchy-koo..." well, just assume it's Twu Wuv. It isn't as if your co-worker actually chooses an office environment in which you can overhear.

Every day? Twice a day? What do they have to talk about when they get home?

This makes me laugh because, well, you're asking a group of people who can make a conversation about which hand the fork goes in last a week. What do we talk about all day, every day?

I've been in offices in which there were people who'd call someone - spouse, s.o., daughter - several times a day and treat everyone in the area to what was going on in their lives. Open offices are a problem ... but I'd really like to encourage people to use a little discretion. I really, really don't want to hear it.

Right now we have a woman in my office who's going through some sturm und drang, so I get to hear her call several times a day and then recap with her friends in the office. It's been going on for a month.

I've spent the last two work days talking on the phone about why my insurance won't cover stuff. I pity my officemates. Fortunately, it's nothing too gynecological or graphic.

This makes me laugh because, well, you're asking a group of people who can make a conversation about which hand the fork goes in last a week. What do we talk about all day, every day?

Yes, but, here I'm "talking" to a variety of people. Or, sometimes, talking to myself. But talking to the same person, twice a day, everyday, and then going home to them... I don't know.

It's obvious that I'm not married, no?

Plus the "talking" here doesn't involve anyone else listening to the details of our lives - keyboard clicking is remarkably uninformative.

(Waits to hear someone say that they've learned to inerpret keyboard clicks and know exactly what someone's been typing.)

Plus the "talking" here doesn't involve anyone else listening to the details of our lives - keyboard clicking is remarkably uninformative.

I thought it was the constant communication that was confusing, not the talking as such. (If I'm wrong, then nevermind.)

Constant communication was my take.

Oh. Well, yeah, constant communication is because I like him. I see stuff I think he would think is interesting and I pass it on. Actually, I send him a lot more mail than he does me, but that's fine.

The same sort of link I post to Buffistas goes to him in mail. Look at this weird thing, honey.

Waits to hear someone say that they've learned to inerpret keyboard clicks and know exactly what someone's been typing.

Wasn't that one of Constable Fraser's many skills?