Dating on a Landline

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I've been reading posts around here, and I see some suggestions now and then about phone calling and when to call and how many rings to let it go... blah blah.Anyway, I noticed that some (all?) of these suggestions are really only practical for people who have cellular telephones (aka: cellphones). Now, I don't have a cellphone—just one landline with dial-up Internet access. How should I adjust my... erm... 'strategies' to accommodate this?I have been thinking that perhaps some of my 'clingy' attitude comes from the fact that to get a phone call I have to be expecting it, and waiting for it in my little apartment with nothing to do (no Internet) until it comes.So... how do I work around this? If I am dating someone that I haven't seen in a couple days, it's hard to talk to them on the phone or anything; or know if they are trying to call... etc. Ultimately, it ends up being me who has to do almost all the calling, and I think it rubs some people in a wrong way that give them the wrong impression—("That guy is always calling me... sheesh.")What's a good way to simply explain to people that I would prefer to be able to call them rather than vice-versa? Or let's say she tells me she will call sometime, but I have to leave back home (2 hr drive). She still hasn't called and I am ready to leave. I think the only thing appropriate would be for me to call her and tell her that I won't be reachable at that number any more (even if just leaving a message). HOWEVER, calling someone who said they would call you before they have called you is rather obsessive-seeming, even if done out of good reason.I feel like even when people find out I have a simple landline, they still don't fully grasp how significantly different life and communication is for me, and get the wrong impressions with what I do.How should I manage? How do other cellphone-less folk manage? I guess this is just a silly topic, eh? Oh well; answers GREATLY appreciated! LQ

I would suggest just being the one to call. I'm understanding whoever will under stand that your limited..

Make a call-once-a-day rule, unless you tell someone you are going to call them back or whatever (duh). But some people, (okay, ME) HATE talking on the phone...

Get a call catcher. Mine works great. I can't see who is calling, but I get a ring without being kicked off the net, I just have to decide whether or not I want to stop a download over a phone call sometimes...

There are also programs like Callwave that tell you who is calling right on you computer screen and let the caller leave a message.

Mine is a box that I plug my phone and computer into, no message center, but it is great, cost a few bucks but no monthly fee like the Callwave had.

When I had Dial up I used Callwave and loved it!

I did too. It is just a paid service now. So, I guess if $ is an issue for someone, that wouldn't work. I DO like this box thing...ESPECIALLY with a teen in the house, then I KNOW a call is coming in, there is no mute button on it like the computer has.

Yeah right around the time I get rid of the service they were starting the pay service, though if you wrote to them and told them it was rarely used they marked your account as free, which is what I did. I'm sure they don't have that option anymore lol.

when I had dial up, many years back, happily I got over that and would rather have no net than dial up now days, the software that came with the modem allowed me to screen calls that were coming in.I didnt get DCed by a call, but since I had caller ID it worked with the modem to tell me who the incoming call was from.Now its been far to long to say what modem Id bought, but I can be almost certain it came from CompUSA, as at the time that was the only option around me to buy puter parts.brand I couldnt say. do they even make dial up modems anymore for sale in the market?modems were always pretty cheap, 30 bucks maybe?and I had bought it when I built the computer and noticed the claim on the box that you could see who was calling before DCing.Hit some stores and look into a new modem.Not you eddie, but eh, it made mroe sense with teh shit IA had to say to reply to you rather than him.

Quote:Get a call catcher. Mine works great. I can't see who is calling, but I get a ring without being kicked off the net, I just have to decide whether or not I want to stop a download over a phone call sometimes...After it rings, then, can I just DC and then the phone call continues coming through? Or do I have to DC and then check for the last call and then call back? Thanks for this suggestion by the way! I never thought of just eliminating the problem instead of trying to go around it The trouble I make for myself...

Answering the phone disconnects the computer, and if you don't answer it, it just rings until the caller hangs up. Though I DO think that I have to have call waiting...check prices, its like $3.5 per month for call waiting, and as I recall it was only 2x as much for callwave.