Phone calls

Techniques > Conversation techniques > Closing the conversation > Phone calls

Description | Example | Discussion | See also

Description

Use the phone to interrupt the conversation and give you reason to leave.

Get a friend to call you. Pre-arrange a number of minutes into the conversation, at which they call you. You can then decide whether to stay or be called away.

Set your phone alarm for several minutes in. Get it to sound like a normal ring tone. Answer it and look alarmed. You can then apologize and hurry away.

Example

Sorry, this looks important. Can I take this call?

Do excuse me, I have to call home.

Yes...yes...oh dear. Excuse me, there's a panic on in the computer system. I have to go.

Discussion

The phone has a strange priority in our lives, in that we allow it to butt into conversations where normal visitors might take their turn. This makes it a useful instrument to cause interruptions when they are desirable.

The mobile/cell phone has made this excuse much more usable in many situations. So do remember to take your phone with you!