Have you ever noticed how many people say, “It’s just me” or “It’s only me” when they phone you or leave a message on your voicemail?
I hadn’t realised how often people say this until I just cleared ten messages off my machine. And only one person said, “Oh hi, it’s Mary…” The rest were a rather dazzling succession of callers who announced themselves in this fashion.
Do you get that? Or do you say it? I think I do when I call and have to leave a message! “Hi, it’s only me…”
What does it mean? Is it because the caller thinks the person they’ve phoned is hiding from someone? Telemarketers perhaps? Or the bank manager who asked ten days ago for them to drop in the form they requested in order to process the mortgage details so that… oh. Wait, that could just be me. But yeah. Apart from that, who are these people so fearful of receiving calls that we have to start with “Hello, only me…”?
Or is it that we are so self-deprecating that we don’t put enough value on ourselves that the person is wanting to receive our call?
Shouldn’t it be “HEY! You are soo-oo-oooooo lucky, my friend, because…. it’s ME!” Hmmm, don’t think I’ll be announcing myself like that anytime soon. But feel free to try it on your friends! Tell me how many hang-ups you get.
I specifically DON'T do it because there are a ridculous number of people who do it to me, assuming I'll know who it is I am talking to straight off. I hate it. And if I don't it's embarrassing for me and them. Even worse are those I don't speak to that often that just say "Hiiii" after I answer and then silence. Then I am struggling to tell who it is from one tiny word. Or even worse again, those that follow up with "you don't know who it is, do you?" Aaarrgghh! PET HATE!
Oh yes, that really IS quite tedious too. "Hoiiiiii" I mean, really!
I do it but I think in as much as to say it's not a super important call, just me, calling to gasbag and waste a load of yours and my time. LOL
Not sure how often I do it though. Will keep check for you now. You know I will don't you? LOL
ha ha, I get quite a few of these and it usually takes me a few play backs to figure out who 'only me' is.
Yeah! Exactly, Heather.
Tanya, heh heh. Actually yes, that's why I say it too – "not super important, just really about to procrastinate and use YOU as my excuse!"
The only person who says that when leaving a message is my mum, and I say it back to her, lol.
I think I probably do say "Hi it's Me" but I can't be sure. Now I'll be listening to myself when I leave a message to make sure I don't!
I do it all the time but mainly because I only ring my kids or my parents and I suppose I assume they know my voice – LOL. In future I will have to remember to say Hi, Its Mum.
Haha guilty! Although I only do it to my mum and sisters and they always know who I am.
I agree! Here's something I've recently just noticed I always do: When the person I'm calling answers, I say, "Hi! It's Joan! Is this a bad time?" Like a call from me takes a LOT of time and effort!! Why do I do that?!!
@Joan – oh goodness, yes, I do that too. Oops! Hee hee.
It's funny, isn't it? It only struck me because of listening to them all in succession like I did. And they all said it!! (Lucky for them we recognised all their voices – dads, brothers, aunts, a friend or two…) But sometimes I don't recognise "just me" who's calling and I'M the one who feels bad!