I was listening to a Weird Al song about prank calls and realized you can’t really do them anymore now. Also it was funny that he mentioned dialing 7 digit numbers instead of 10

  • Vex_Detrause@lemmy.ca
    51·
    3 个月前

    Back then “if it’s important they would call”. Recently, “they will call back if it’s important”. Now, “they will leave a message if it’s important.”

  • bunkyprewster@startrek.website
    33·
    3 个月前

    When I was a kid, we would spell out “dirty words” in people’s phone numbers and call saying we were from the “Telephone Number Decency League”. We’d say the naughty word thier number could spell and encourage them to call the phone company to ask for a new phone number.

    • MutilationWave@lemmy.world
      15·
      3 个月前

      Love it. We used soundboards. The Schwarzenegger one was a blast. You get them paying attention with the lines from kindergarten cop then start going wild on them with lines from predator, etc. My personal favorite was “I hope you left enough room for my fist, because I’m gonna ram it into your stomach!” One memorable woman tried to save Arnold’s soul with gospel music. I think she enjoyed the whole thing.

      • KittenBiscuits@lemm.eeEnglish
        2·
        3 个月前

        Hahaha, I would have loved to listen in on those. Arnold quotes are a favorite language a la ‘Darmok and Jalad at Tenagra’ in this house.

      • PopcornPrincess@lemmy.world
        2·
        3 个月前

        I used soundboards with my friends. My favorite was Betty Grovenstein, she was a sex hotline worker with a nasally New Englander accent.

  • Rhaedas@fedia.io
    25·
    3 个月前

    I remember the shift to using area codes and how everyone was so upset at how difficult that would be. Then the smart phones came, and I wonder how many people now know many of the numbers they might regularly call with one tap,

    • tiredofsametab@kbin.run
      22·
      3 个月前

      Where I grew up, we only ever gave the last four digits of our number because the whole town and then some was the same. Later, they changed the area code since it was running out of numbers and then we moved to 10-digit dialing. I remember how weird it felt when things like long distance calls just kinda stopped being a thing

    • adarza@lemmy.caEnglish
      4·
      3 个月前

      we got a second area code on top of our existing one and had to start 10-digit dialing something like 15 years ago.

      to this day i have yet to encounter anyone with a phone number in that new area code. even the scammers that spoof their cid don’t use that new area code.

      before the switch we could 7-digit dial for 40 miles around us, even across an area code boundary. and, tbh i’d rather have had to switch to a new area code and kept the 7 digit dialing than have to deal with the 10 digit bullshit. it just seems so out of place here in the boonies, hours away from, well, pretty much everything.

      • MutilationWave@lemmy.world
        1·
        3 个月前

        Here in West Virginia the entire state was one area code until some time in the early aughts. I had the opposite experience though it seemed like everyone who got a new phone plan got a number with the new area code so I saw it a lot.

    • Alexstarfire@lemmy.world
      3·
      3 个月前

      I remember the land line I grew up with even though I doubt it even exists anymore. Also, apparently remember my brother’s number even though it was when he got a cell phone. So, no real reason to remember it.

  • CileTheSane@lemmy.ca
    8·
    3 个月前

    People still try. When I worked retail we’d get them often enough as you can’t just not answer an unknown number when someone is calling the store.

    That said, if it’s an unknown number we’re already expecting a prank call and are just waiting for the first excuse to hang up.

      • samus12345@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        3 个月前

        “Moe’s Tavern. Hold on, I’ll check. Hey, everybody. I’m a stupid moron with an ugly face and a big butt and my butt smells, and I like to kiss my own butt.”

  • rhacer@lemmy.worldEnglish
    7·
    3 个月前

    Hello ramble81, I am calling to check if your refrigerator is running… It is? Oh my goodness you better run faster and catch it!

  • CentauriBeau@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    3 个月前

    Al mentions 7 digits and not 10 because back in our day you had to pay long distance charges if you dialed a number outside of your area code. Therefore only the 7 digits were required because no one was dialing 1-xxx to get to another area code and have charges show up on their parents bill and then have to explain who you were calling and why.