Private numbers

staker

Do you answer "private number" if it rings your mobile phone?
Personally I don't,I like to see a number.
Private numbers are for people who don't like to be contacted and i feel they have one up on me right from the off if I answer..
Just want to see the general consensus...

Alanstrainor

Yes i do. That is all.

AnonoBoy

I generally answer my phone if it rings as long as I'm not busy.

The only time I'll deliberately not answer it is if I'm actively avoiding someone and their number or a private number comes up.

If I'm not ducking anyone and a private number calls I'll answer. My curiousity will always get the better of me.

orestes

I saw the thread title and misread your username as stalker. Thought we were in for a second jigsaw thread. I'm so disappointed right now

abi2007

I'm to curious.. have to ans

dsmythy

Yeah why not? Hang up if you don't like what you find. How did people survive altogether before caller ID...

dsmythy

orestes wrote: »

I saw the thread title and misread your username as stalker. Thought we were in for a second jigsaw thread. I'm so disappointed right now

I could of sworn i read that too.

Danbo!

Yeah I've never understood why people dont answer. If its someone you dont want to talk to, grow a pair and hang up the phone. Or, if you dont want to offend, come up with some crap excuse.

ShooterSF

Never do. If you have to hide your number you must know I dont want to talk to you

Does annoy some mates with ex-directory home phones though

Terry

I've a few friends who had to get new and private numbers because of psycho exes, so I do answer.

Vain

Some times i do others i don't. If you have nothing to hide you shouldn't be worried about a blocked number.

xOxSinéadxOx

I'm less likely too, if it's private sometimes I couldn't be bothered answering

DarkJager

Nope. If you can't be bothered showing your number, I can't be bothered answering it.

abi2007

Vain wrote: »

Some times i do others i don't. If you have nothing to hide you shouldn't be worried about a blocked number.

Very true

Biggins

No.

You wouldn't answer the door to someone hiding behind a mask.
You wouldn't buy anything off someone hiding behind an anon name.
..that and I just consider it bad manners.
If they want to chat to me, they should have the decency to provide a number in this day and age of security, to me to be able to identify them.

eVeNtInE

This post has been deleted.

artanevilla

My gaff is ex directory, so I do.

Rowley Birkin QC

I don't care.

If my phone rings I answer it. I have a mate who won't answer the phone if its a private number or if he doesn't have the number previously saved.:mad:

Del2005

Biggins wrote: »

If they want to chat to me, they should have the decency to provide a number in this day and age of security, to me to be able to identify them.

Private numbers can always be indentified if your worried about security. It's just not as easy as looking at your display. But you must be really parinoid about people if you won't answer your phone to people who already have your number

Holsten

Yeah I will.

It's annoying though, why have your phone on private?

Sometimes do and sometimes don't, depending on my mood, but that also covers whether I'll answer a number I don't know...

Biggins

Del2005 wrote: »

Private numbers can always be identified if your worried about security. It's just not as easy as looking at your display. But you must be really paranoid about people if you won't answer your phone to people who already have your number

Security is my business.
Some people have tried to contact myself before - just to confirm that they have indeed got the right number, and if that is so, they can track me, trace me or bug me etc.
Sometimes all three and more...

Kiera

Nope. I dont want to be stuck talking to someone i dont know/like. If its important they'll leave a message and i'll call them back.

Keith186

eVeNtInE wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Same for me.

towel401

I find that most private numbers who call me are messers, pranksters and the like so i don't answer them anymore

also a real stalker, someone who really wants to contact you will have a steady supply of numbers in different countries. i used to be a stalker, i'd know.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

Generally not, as I think if it's someone with their number on private they probably think I won't answer if I know it's them (hello Mammy :P) Also coz my sister's boyfriend pranks me a lot (as if I won't recognise his voice as long as his number's on private, the plank)

Darragh29

Done to death recently...

Random

I don't answer private numbers in case the big scary monster jumps down my phone and kills me.

Mark200

eVeNtInE wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Yeah same for me


Some of my friends have their phone numbers blocked for some reason, so if I'm half expecting a call then I'll answer. But if it's a call out of nowhere and I can't think of anyone who'd be ringing me then I probably won't answer it.

Lone

Generally I don't, my phone is busy enough without answering calls from unidentified numbers..

rubadub

dsmythy wrote: »

Yeah why not? Hang up if you don't like what you find. How did people survive altogether before caller ID...

Many didn't survive, they were hacked up by the phone stalkers who otherwise would have moved onto another victim.

Since the majority are readily able to make the number available, but choose not to, then it is similar to somebody knocking on your door and refusing to identify themselves. (albeit without the risk of physical harm)

Biggins wrote: »

You wouldn't answer the door to someone hiding behind a mask.
You wouldn't buy anything off someone hiding behind an anon name.
..that and I just consider it bad manners.

Yep, bad manners in my mind.

eVeNtInE wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Same here. Job agencies always ring me on them, I presume so a name does not appear on the phone in work where somebody might see. If it rings 4-5times I do answer. There was no bell on my house when I moved in, still never got one. If people are coming I usually know, if they come unannounced and are mates they will have the balls to hammer the window down. Just like mates who have legitimately no access to their usual phone will have the balls to ring 4-5times.

The bigger question is why do you have your phone on private?

Bob the Builder

Whats so funny is people with distinctive voices pranking you behind private numbers. Fools!

I prank people a lot, but when I prank people, I show concern. I only prank people that I think don't mind being pranked, and that will play along, and even when I'm pranking people, I always leave my number off private. Pranking should be fun, not all discreet and anonymous. In return, if I do get pranked, I'll happily play along.

And I don't answer private numbers during the day or when i'm actually enjoying myself. I never answer my phone unless I know who it is. Also, whenever I'm 'on my own time', I will simply relax by putting my phone on silent, and leave vibration on, only for text messages though, not calls.

And I've told my friends that if there's ever an emergency or something wrong that I should pay attention to, to send me a text with one word in it. Also If anyone texts me on my time, I will reply either straight away, later, or never.

doonothing

No, bastards... What have you got to hide? Are you someone I don't like?

LEIN

DarkJager wrote: »

Nope. If you can't be bothered showing your number, I can't be bothered answering it.

Fixed lines that are ex directory wont display on your phone.

One day it could be an emergency!

I answer all calls.

Azureus

yeah unless im specifically avoiding someone.. usually work.. id always answer it on private!
prefer when people just leave their numbers on show tho-why not? obviously have something to hide!

know a few people who completely avoid answering them cuza pscho exs and stuff tho (see, people with something to hide!).
landlines are the only ones with an excuse

Scoobydoobydoo

DarkJager wrote: »

Nope. If you can't be bothered showing your number, I can't be bothered answering it.

That is my opinion also. They can proceed directly to voicemail!

yea, they're sometimes from people who can affect your credit rating.. so you should always talk to them.

Newaglish

Biggins wrote: »

You wouldn't answer the door to someone hiding behind a mask.

Yes, but you can't get stabbed in the face by a phonecall.


PS. Your post also makes me think of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d82Lq2rVB_4

biko

Yes, it's never a hot stalker though
Or non-hot for that matter.

yellowcurl

DarkJager wrote: »

Nope. If you can't be bothered showing your number, I can't be bothered answering it.

Totally agree there!

Newaglish

Newaglish wrote: »

Yes, but you can't get stabbed in the face by a phonecall.]

never have truer words been spoken..

dotsman

Scoobydoobydoo wrote: »

That is my opinion also. They can proceed directly to voicemail!

+1

Usually let them go to voicemail. If it's a buddy or if it's urgent, they leave a message and I can call them back. Besides 1 buddy who rings from an ex-directory landline, most times I've answered a private number it's been a sales rep or random stranger with the wrong number.

SMG123

Kiera wrote: »

Nope. I dont want to be stuck talking to someone i dont know/like. If its important they'll leave a message and i'll call them back.

Same for me

ejmaztec

People I know don't have private numbers so the furtive feckers that have can feck off, even more so if they're looking for money.

Toto Wolfcastle

Our landline is ex-directory (not our choice, they removed us years ago by mistake and wont put us back!) so I answer.

It got a bit annoying though when the course director in college was also on private number because there was no way I was answering my phone to her.

To be honest, the only time I wont answer is if the number comes up and I don't want to talk to that person.

giggsy664

I answer.

The longer they try to bs me, the less money they have.

Unless, of course, its a nigerian prince who needs my assistance in recovered leadership of his home country, then I shall give him my credit card details.

IvySlayer

I don't get many calls

I'll answer anything.

Dave!

No, not anymore. It could be (a) work, or (b) someone else I don't want to talk to.

Tar.Aldarion

Of course I do, they make for the most interesting calls.

Firetrap

Yes because I've a couple of friends who have ex-directory phone numbers. I also answer numbers I don't recognise...

reverandkenjami

Normally don't answer them. If its important they'll leave a message!