I find the telephone an interesting device.  I've not answered my telephone, except for a very occasional call, in over a year.  I have no need to.  When the telephone rings, I rarely even walk over to check the ID - I simply let it ring.  Later, when I am interested to know who may have called, I check.  There are a number of factors which have led me to this habit.  The first of which being that I've worked in call centres before for prolonged periods of time where I was forced to answer calls, whether I wanted them or not.  I don't hate talking on the phone, but after 45 calls per day, saying "hello!" and "goodbye" into a machine makes me want to gouge my eyes out with plastic forks.  The actual conversation, I don't mind so much.  The other key factor that led me to hate talking on the telephone was a faulty phone line at my last residence which made it virtually impossible for the person on the other end to hear full sentences.  So I don't answer my phone.

I often hear people say "I wish so-and-so would stop calling my house but I HAVE to answer the phone or it just keeps ringing."  I respond "I have a solution.  Turn off the ringer."  "But then I won't know if somebody is calling!"  Are we that dependant on the telephone ringing?  Who cares if somebody is calling.  If they don't get ahold of you by telephone, they'll simply visit or write, assuming you don't call/write or visit them first because you enjoy speaking to them.  Why people feel the need to answer the phone, especially if it's someone they do not wish to speak with is totally beyond me.  It's like having someone you don't know or that you don't like turn up at your door and you invite them in, give them coffee and offer for the to drop back any time.  Why bother being political?  It's your house.. politics are for public places.