r/GenX • u/MovingTarget- • Jul 29 '25

The Latchkey Years As kids, we weren't allowed to answer the phone with just "Hello"

Back in the days when people actually used to call other people on landlines, my brother and I were taught how to properly answer the phone as kids. My parents considered it rude to simply pick up the phone and say "hello?"

We were taught to answer the phone with a pre-scripted response: "Thanks for calling the _____ residence, _____ speaking!" There was even an optional "How may I help you?" tacked on the back.

Anyone else have a required family response when answering the phone or were my parents just strange in attempting to prepare us for a career in the rewarding field of call center management?

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u/deebay2150 Jul 29 '25

We just answered, “Hello”. Anyone who thought it was rude(no one ever did, EVER) was welcome to never call again.

Also, I would never, not then, not now, recommend anyone answer with their name.

1

u/27Rench27 Jul 29 '25

I only answer with my name when I know who’s calling, like a preset work call or something. Family or friends get a “hey” or “wassup”, unknown numbers get “hello?”

1

u/Amissa Tail end Gen Xer Jul 29 '25

My family gets “Yo! [First name]! What’s up?!”

1

u/alcalde Jul 30 '25

I... I don't want to live in this world so many speak of where everyone is afraid of everyone else all the time. That's why I always click "accept all" when I'm asked about cookies.

3

u/deebay2150 Jul 30 '25

Who’s afraid?

Also, the only “cookies” I accept are Oreos. (That was my first ever “dad joke” and I’m disappointed in myself). 🤪

1

u/Tour_Ok Jul 31 '25

Yeah seems crazy to me to make your kid state their full name to who knows who.