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Would You Kindly Get Your Butt To Stop Calling Me?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate

Pocket Dialing


Ring Ring.

Hello???

Hello???

Hello!!!

Aaargh!!!

Click.


According to Wikipedia, ‘Butt Dialing,’ also known as ‘Pocket Dialing,’ refers to “the accidental placement of a phone call while a person's mobile phone or cordless phone is in the owner's pocket or handbag."  We’ve all been there.  Your phone rings, you recognize the number, you answer – and nothing.  Well, except for some garbled voices and mysterious, mostly unidentifiable, background noises.  Basically, that’s all you ever hear.  If you’re lucky.

Thank You For Playing “Bodily Functions:  The Audio Game”

Recently, after inadvertently redialing my phone number, a male colleague proceeded to 'walk me' into the men’s room.  Awww, Man ... talk about a cellphone version of TMI!  Suffice it to say, I was unexpectedly treated to an uncomfortable and awkward earful.  Then yesterday, I received another misfired call from a business acquaintence who didn't realize she had redialed my phone number either.  Not nearly as graphic as the previous accidental call, however, the restaurant at which she was dining actually sounded fantastic!  I'll have to find out the name and go there sometime.

What Do I Do Now?

When someone calls unintentionally, why do we stay on the phone and desperately try to get the caller's attention?  Maybe it's because we're not completely sure whether the call is a mistake.  Perhaps it's a bad connection and the caller really meant to call us.  Or, perhaps it's an emergency and the caller is in trouble.  Nope.  Usually, the caller is entirely clueless and I will eventually hang up.  Just between you and me:  There have been times when I've found myself shamelessly intrigued by the circumstances – stealthily trying to decipher the caller's whereabouts like an amateur detective.  That being said, with the invention of screen locks and phone passwords, I thought Pocket Dialing was a thing of the past.  Alas, it is not.

Do You Have An Unusual Pocket Dialing Story?

Posted by

carie shapiro

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Comments (25)

Tatyana Makarov
Century 21 All Points Realty - South Windsor, CT
Your Greater Hartford Area Realtor

Oh my.... I had couple of calls like that at 2:30 am!!! Very annoying.

 

Oct 21, 2012 07:47 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Carie, This made me laugh as I remembered when my daughter was away in college, I got a call from her and quickly answered it. It was an accident call of sorts but after yelling into the phone It's Mom I just listened a little until I decided it was way too much information. This was a different side of my daughter that I didn't want to know at that time. LOL

Oct 21, 2012 07:48 AM
Melissa Zavala
Broadpoint Properties - Escondido, CA
Broker, Escondido Real Estate, San Diego County

I like pocket calls from my hubby. I can eavesdrop and make sure that he is saying nice things about me.

Oct 21, 2012 09:43 AM
Janis Borgueta
Newburgh, NY
Retired RE Salesperson

Yes.. i have had a few come in .. but no way am I going to be able to share those with you Carie.. LOL

Oct 21, 2012 10:07 AM
Carie Shapiro
North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate - Evanston, IL

Frank & Karen:  Wow is right ... this has never happened to me before!  Anyway, I see a bumper sticker in your future:  I Heart Butt Calls :)

Lori:  Well, I personally know two people who don't :)

C. Lloyd:  Glad I made you laugh.  And, thanks for the reblog too!

Peggy:  Ha!  Now that's positive thinking ... "at least you know your phone works."  I like it :)

Carla:  Oh, yes ... drunk dialing calls are a whole other blog :)

 

Oct 21, 2012 10:29 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Carie- Congrats on the Feature and a very funny post.  We were at a park a few years ago, riding our bikes.  I had a small backpack on that held my phone in the outside mesh pocket so (hopefully) I could hear it.  Anyway after about an hour into our ride, we stopped for a break.  My phone rang and there was a dear friend calling from another state.  

"Are you all right?  I've been so worried."

Me; I'm great.. why do you ask?

"because you kept dialing my number and all I could hear was what sounded like you out of breath.  I thought something or someone had happened to you."

Oct 21, 2012 10:33 AM
Carie Shapiro
North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate - Evanston, IL

Tatyana:  And 2:30 am calls are usually a wrong number too ... grrrr!

Debbie:  I remember my college days ... I'm sure your daughter was just studying :)

Melissa:  Too funny!  Have you told him he calls you accidentally?

Janis:  That's okay.  We've all had calls like those, so I'll just use my imagination ... LOL!

Kathy:  Ha!  Great story!  I guess it happens to us all ... sounds like you have a wonderful, dear friend :)

 

Oct 21, 2012 10:46 AM
Doug Rogers
RE/MAX Coastal Properties - Destin, FL
Your Real Estate Resource!

There is a local agent who will butt dial me from time to time. I'm really not sure how to address this, so I normally just delete the minute long voice mail.

Oct 21, 2012 11:40 AM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Hi Carie, yes this has happened to me. Enjoyed reading this post and the comments.

Oct 21, 2012 01:12 PM
Christine Donovan
Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA
Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Carie - 2.42 minutes of messages with nothing but garbling.  Typical pocket dial.

Oct 21, 2012 02:39 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

I have certainly experienced that.  You recognize that number and answer to a conversation.  In my case the conversation was not embarrassing to the other person.

Oct 21, 2012 11:18 PM
Carie Shapiro
North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate - Evanston, IL

Doug:  It's so funny how sometimes the same people are the culprits over and over again!

Rebecca:  Thanks!  It's happened to all of us :)

Christine:  2.42 minutes??  Phew ... that is one long pocket dial message :)

Grant:  Yes, most times it's not.  But, sometimes .....

 

Oct 21, 2012 11:49 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

What an interesting post thank you. I have to comments. First, a family member is a politician and often had this happen. I had to tell him to mind this and he did. The second comment is I had an associate who was trying to court a woman and I caught him pitching out of the blue. I wondered why did you call me to hear this? He didn't

Oct 21, 2012 11:54 PM
Ashley Connolly
Northeast Water Wells Inc - Jaffrey, NH

My husband had a cell phone that was infamous for pocket dialing and also had an issues where if he was texting you and someone texted him it would respond to the incoming text. My favorite was when i asked what he wanted for dinner and he responded with a list of materials for a job we were executing mmmm tasty.

 

Congrats on your feature.

 

Oct 22, 2012 02:57 AM
Carie Shapiro
North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate - Evanston, IL

Richie:  A politician with a 'pocket dialing phone' ... oooh, that sounds dangerous :)  Good that you reminded him!

Ashley:  Funny!  I especially like the dinner story ... 'mmmm tasty' LOL! 

 

Oct 22, 2012 05:09 AM
Ginger Harper
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage~ Ginger Harper Real Estate Team - Southport, NC
Your Southport~Oak Island Agent~Brunswick County!

We just call it butt dialed. I get several of the calls a week. Still can't quite figure out why..was I the last number called and it just automatically dials the last number called. I'll have to chaeck into that.

I always call the perosn that called and say..Did you need Me?

 

Oct 22, 2012 06:20 AM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Carie:  I guiltily admit ... I laughing my BUTT off while reading this post.  I know ... bad joke.  This happens all too often.  And while funny at times, it's rather infuriating at others.  Is it my imagination too, that men do this far more than women??

Gene

Oct 22, 2012 12:10 PM
Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

BAHhahahahahahaHA! Carrie! You are a mess! My hubby butt calls me all the time!! Never from the men's room! HHHHHHHAAAAAA!

Oct 22, 2012 12:36 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Good morning Carie, this is a classic!!

Thanks for the laughs and have a great week!!

Oct 22, 2012 04:43 PM
Carie Shapiro
North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate - Evanston, IL

Ginger:  It is a mystery, isn't it?  And, thanks for the reblog!

Gene:  I like your 'bad joke' ... thanks :)  Hmmm ... that could be true.  Maybe because men tend to carry their phones in their pants pockets more than women??  Could be.

Joni:  Thank you.  I just couldn't resist the blog ... LOL!

Bob:  You're welcome :)  Hope you have a great week too!

 

Oct 23, 2012 02:40 AM