Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1916 — Bad Manners at the Telephone. [ARTICLE]

Bad Manners at the Telephone.

If a person rings the front doorbell he is not supposed to ask, “Who are yOu?” of the one who answers the. summons. Yet that is practically what is done when a telephone caller greets the responding “hello” with "Who is this?” There are many lit tie annoyances in telephone usage, but this is perhaps one of the most provoking. To be called to the phone and then asked to establish identity is calculated to unbalance the equanimity especially of a busy person. Telephone practice is after all largely a matter of manners, notwithstanding the separation in distance of the persons who are talking. Probably the one who asks “Who is this?” on calling another is mentally off guard momentsujily on hearing a voice other than that which is expected, but even so the effect on the person who is called is unfortunate. Telephone users should always bear in mind the fact that it is best to establish their own identity first of all when the connection is made, so as to leave no question as to who is speaking from the initiating end. —• Washington Star.