Ode To the Rotary Phone
A look back at the days of the rotary phone and the lessons it taught us.
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Who remembers the craziness that surrounded rotary phones?
The first thing I think of were those twisty cords that got all knotted up, and how you had to constantly untangle them.
Or trying to stretch the phone into a nearby room for some privacy. But the door would never close all the way (of course because there was a thick cord in its path), so most of my teenage conversations ended in whispers.
[Tap to listen to the sound of a rotary phone dialing]
With today’s technology, I enjoy privacy I never could have dreamed of in my teen years.
And I think how nice it would have been to send a private text instead of trying to stretch that phone cord into another room.
There were a lot of inconveniences that came with rotary phones and landlines, but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.
I think it taught me a few lessons, at a young age, that stuck with me for life.
Below are five things I think we all learned from the rotary phone experience. I’ve sprinkled in a bit of trivia here and there, for those of you who enjoy fun facts.
I hope you’ll add your thoughts and experiences at the end of this piece. I’d like to know if anyone actually ever broke a leg racing their siblings to answer the phone. Or if anyone else got in as much trouble as I did for overheard conversations!
5 Things We Learned From The Rotary Phone
Wait. Wait. Wait. Between dialing and busy tones, there was a lot of waiting involved. But when we did reach the person on the other end, the sound was crystal-clear, and we gave them our full attention.
Here are five lessons we took away from the rotary phone days, and how they still impact us today. Did I miss any? Add yours in the comments below!
#1 Rotary Phones Gave Us A Sense Of Anticipation Surrounding Conversations
The physical act of spinning each number around a dial, and waiting for it to release, gave us precious moments to anticipate the connection we were creating.
Before call waiting (circa 1988) and caller id (circa 1987), there was always a chance you could get a busy signal instead of a voice on the other end.
Busy signals could last a few minutes or a few hours. We often had to try calling again and again, hoping to hear the sweet sound of ringing instead of the dreaded busy signal.
I remember times when driving to a friend’s house was quicker than waiting for their phone line to free up.
The anticipation taught us patience and the value of a person’s time.
#2 Rotary Phones Built A Stronger Sense Of Connection With The People In Our Lives
Rotary phones, being exclusively landlines, provided a higher-quality connection than what we enjoy on today’s mobile phones.
The crystal-clear sound quality of landlines made it feel as if we were sitting in the same room as the person on the other end of the line.
Better sound quality allowed our conversations to become immersive and intimate, fostering a deeper sense of connection with every conversation.
#3 Rotary Phones Helped Us Build Long-Lasting Relationships.
Without text messages or emails, we had to be fully present and focused when communicating with people by phone.
This made it easier to get caught up in the moment, and more natural to share stories, listen closely, and bond with each other.
This intentionality helped us build stronger relationships, fostering connections that often spanned decades -- some of which may still be a part of our present-day lives.
#4 Rotary Phones Exercised Our Memory
In the era before speed dialing and stored numbers, we had to rely on our memory or a hand-written phone list to access phone numbers.
We often memorized the numbers of our closest friends and family. It was like having a small part of them with us wherever we went.
Whose phone numbers would you know by heart today, if our phones didn’t remember them for us?
#5 Rotary Phones Sharpened Our Communication Skills
Without instant messaging and email, voice was our primary mode of communication.
Because of that, we honed our ability to answer questions, articulate our thoughts, and convey feelings through the spoken word.
The rotary phone taught us to be prepared, responsible, and thoughtful in our communications, recognizing that each call held significance.
We still carry those values with us today and can use them to form stronger connections with the people around us.
Fast Forward to 2023
Rotary phones aren’t sold by phone companies anymore, but you can still purchase them from collectors or on websites such as Etsy.
In a world of quickly-advancing technology, sometimes it’s nice to remember the magic of those moments spent on the rotary phone.
But I wouldn’t go back to it for anything.
Thanks to today’s technology, my friends and family can reach me instantly in case of a crisis or emergency. Or just to say “I love you.” Equally as nice is that my flashlight, calculator, filing cabinet, music player, television, and telephone all exist in one small hand-held device.
I think we can recreate that same sense of connection, though, even in this digital era.
Whether it's through video calls or heartfelt voice conversations, we can still listen attentively, share our stories, and make every interaction feel as personal and meaningful as those cherished rotary phone calls.
The rotary phone may be a relic of the past, but the values it taught us about communication are still relevant today. Let's remember those values to form stronger connections with the people around us, even in this digital era.
Did anything in our rewind spark a memory for you? Join the conversation below or drop by Baby Boomer Rewind on Facebook to share your thoughts and memories.
Challenge: Can you remember your childhood phone number?
Additional Sources:
Dr. Shirley Jackson: NRC.gov, FCC.gov, image: Wikimedia
Rotary and touchtone phone timeline: Techwalla, Cellular Sales