The Sand Trap of Telephone Services: Call Waiting

I've always felt that call waiting was like a sand trap. Its a hazard to phone etiquette and traps a person into never ending, "Hold on. I've got another call." hell.

Suppose you were in a store discussing a purchase with a sales person. Suddenly, another person interrupts with a "Can you tell me about this widget? Does it come in black? How much is it?" Your sales person says to you, "Wait while I sell this person a widget."

What would you do? How would you feel?

Me? I'd be pissed and walk out of the store without making a purchase. In all candor, I'd probably not frequent that business again.

That's how I feel about call waiting. If the current call is interrupted because of call waiting and I'm put on hold, then am I second best? Chopped liver?

To me the current conversation is the most important. That other incoming call can wait, use voice mail, or simply call back. I'm not going to interrupt my call with you merely because someone is trying to "bleep in."

#include justCallAgain.h