I get a lot of robo/scam calls on my landline - I just let all calls go directly to my answering machine, and only pick up if someone legit starts to leave a message.
Pretty much ditto.
When I retired, one of my major goals was to simplify things to avoid stress, and like Ben, I hate talking on the telephone.* So now all I have, phone-wise, is my copper-wired land line connected to my answering machine, a cordless house phone for walking around with, and a wired house phone next to me by the couch.
If a call comes in, after four ringie dingies the machine will throw out the simple outgoing message and the beep. Robocalls seem to be sensitive to the fact that an answering machine has answered and hang up. It's sort of a built in IFF system.
If someone starts to leave a message I have the option of answering or calling back. The Sheriff's Emergency Notification Service will leave a recorded message.
I also got a simple Motorola flip phone through AARP a long time ago which costs me all of $15 + taxes and fees strictly for emergencies. It is never on unless there's an emergency or I want to make a call when I'm away from the house. I have never set up the VM function on it, so all callers get is a "not available" answer.
Ah, the simple life.
Mike, don't you dare call this "virtue signaling," it's just the way things are around this simple and efficient household.
Terry, 230RN
*This is largely because growing up, "Ma Bell" would charge 10¢ per three minute "message unit," and one or another of the authority units would be reminding me to get off the phone, what do you think I'm made of money? That stuck, somehow.
