Comments on: Is there a phobia for leaving messages on answering machines?

By: George

George — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:18:45 +0000

Found this page off of Google, and I have the exact same phobia! It’s not a fear of whether the call will be returned, but I have a similar anxiety of answering machines because I haven’t said the wrong thing, or I am sounding silly, not phoning the right person in the first place, worried what I might say, etc. As soon as I hear that the person isn’t there, I hang up. I don’t like having to talk when there’s no one there, but when it’s being recorded for someone else to hear, it really creeps me out!

By: yvette

yvette — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:08:17 +0000

Well it depends. A phobia is when you are really scared of something even the thought of doing it is scary. Now you have to ask yourself if it is just something that you don’t like or if it is something that youcan’t imagine doing because it is scary. I myself never leave messages but I know it’s because I don’t like it not because I have a phobia. I have never heard of someone with a condition like this one so if you do have it it is really RARE!

By: Q-Rius Kate

Q-Rius Kate — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:39:32 +0000

Hmm, I’m not sure. I highly doubt it though. I’m usually very reluctant to leave messages on answering machines. As silly as it seems, I think my ‘fear’ lies in the anxiety that comes a long with saying the wrong thing, or sounding silly with no way of deleting and starting again. xD I think there’s also the concern that my message will not actually go to the person it was intended for, or that it will be shared with someone I don’t want it to be shared with, lol. Maybe it’s the fact that voice messages are savable and I have no actual knowledge or control over what will be done with it or where it will go! xD Whatever the rationale, I think it’s just one of those silly quirks that some of us have. ^_^

By: SD-Charger Fan since '81

SD-Charger Fan since '81 — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:19:19 +0000

It would be more so a fear of what leaving that message means if the call is not returned.

Athazagoraphobia, the fear of being ignored.

By: Danismum

Danismum — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:58:04 +0000

what? haven’t you just needed an answer now and later doesn’t suit?
or maybe your going for your nap soon and you don’t want that disturbed.
or maybe i just don’t feel like leaving a 5 min ramble.
and yes old people are scared of them.

By: irishlady

irishlady — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:07:35 +0000

lol I think there is at least when I leave a message I seem to use Um alot but I honestly don’t know why lol

By: thugpassion

thugpassion — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:21:13 +0000

i leave messages, knowing they will call right back
they will get the message, way after i already talked to them.

By: Janice

Janice — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:17:02 +0000

I would say yes. What if you mess up what you were trying to say? Are you sure you dialed the right number? I hate talking even to my families answering machines.

By: Montana

Montana — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:34:17 +0000

In my opinion there is only fear talking to the machine, as you do not plan to do so. It takes a full text in short to be said for a message you wanna leave & sometimes it might make you confused as your reflexes tend to rather drop the phone, then talk to a record.

If you practise with that, it ll take your discomfort sooner then you think