If answering your calls in real time is mandatory, let's call it quits
If answering your calls in real time is mandatory, let's call it quits
The link between insecurity and emergencies
I love employed men. I love responsible men. And I’m rarely if ever hating on busy men. When you’re also employed, responsible and busy, there’s an understanding that sometimes you cannot answer every call that comes through. I thought about this recently while listening to the Breakfast Club duo discuss whether a significant other should answer every time the other SO calls. Inspiration for this conversation came from Yo Gotti answering his girlfriend’s call in the middle of an interview.
My first thought while listening to the recording was, “This is insanely unprofessional to do during an interview.” My opinions are biased. I used to be a celebrity/entertainment journalist. I interviewed both married men and women, as well as those in relationships, and I cannot recall any of them ever interrupting the recorded interview to answer the phone (although one did lose his focus when his godmother walked backstage). Generally speaking, if you’re at work, you should really prioritize what’s going on with your job unless there is an emergency.
Children may be an exception to the rule — sorta
When I was a kid, my mother insisted that I call her every single day when I came home from school. (I was a latchkey kid.) I did as I was told, but I would be very careful about calling her back unless I absolutely needed to. Even as a manager, I didn’t want to be a nuisance to her colleagues or the people who worked for her.
Coincidentally, she has this same mindset about calling me as an adult. No matter how many times I tell her she can call, she reminds me that she does not want to disturb me while I work from home full-time. Although I wouldn’t mind her contacting me, I appreciate it. She usually texts me and waits for an answer, or calls me over the weekend.
This familial mindset is why I just can’t comprehend the idea of constantly calling someone all day long while they’re working — and being obligated to answer each time. (Side note: I had no clue who Yo Gotti’s girlfriend was. But after finding out what woman’s voice that was, I totally get why he is rushing to answer her calls. He put in a helluva lot of work to get her since the DM days. Answer ALL her calls, sir!)
Angela Simmons aside (and I’m kinda joking about that last line), I’ve been both the significant other who got called from his job all the time and the one who was constantly badgered to answer every call while I worked. Honestly, it comes across as an insecure power move.