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We are in the '90s, right? That's what I thought. If we ARE in the '90s now, the Technological Age, the most advanced computer and electronics time ever, why do I still have trouble trying to connect to another phone number?

Let me give you an example. I dial my phone number, 617-628-1491, for example, except this time I'm dialing from a few towns over. Shouldn't be a problem right? After all, we are living in a computerized age. So, what happens?

I get one ring. "Cool," I think, "the call is going through." I get two rings . . .
"All right, soon the answering machine will pick up and then I can get my messages." Three rings. "Okay, any minute now I can get my messages."
Instead, what do I get? Some really tired sounding person telling me that it is not necessary to dial the area code when dialing this number. Meanwhile, I sit there listening through three stupid rings just to hear this guy tell me not to dial an area code. Now come on. I don't think that I am being unreasonable here.

Unfortunately, I don't know all about the underlying circuitry that allows this man to come on and tell me that I don't need to dial the area code. But I'll tell you, I could care less. I want to make my phone call and he just delayed me at least a minute. Not to mention the aggravation that he just caused.

So, I ask the general Geek population reading this rant . . . why must I deal with sitting through three rings before being told that I don't have to dial an area code? Why? I would prefer to dial the number and immediately hear the same woman who reads me the number I ask for when I call Information. She could say something like, "I'm sorry. You don't have to dial an area code when calling this number." I would even settle for one ring. If any Geek has control of this you can make it say something like, "Hey, stupid, forget the area code!"

As a matter of fact, this irritates me so much that I will give any Geek who can give me the most technological reason for the existence of this a pair of GlareWare glasses. Remember, it doesn't even have to be the real reason. Just make it sound like it is. Also, remember that I'm a Geek and I know a lot about technology. Just not too much about switching circuitry for phone companies. Not yet anyway.

Send your reason to telephone@ugeek.com.

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