I was taught ten rings but nowadays with cordless phones, cellphones, answering machines and what have you, I figure 6 or 7 are ample unless I know the party might have trouble getting to the phone. As for mine own, the machine gets it in 3 or the kids (teenage girls) hear it before it rings.

Phones have a strange place in society I think, instant and accepted excuse to interupt another's life, or be interupted. However. I have a home based business (private music instruction) which depends on the phone so I accept the thing. I have no qualms about screening calls with the answering machine, I won't sprint the steep cellar stairs to answer the phone, and if I'm out in the yard I might be there to get away from the phone.

I confess to being irritated by the phone, but it saves lives too.

A few months ago my mother and my sister, in two distant hospitals, exchanged their last goodbyes over the phone. Mom's speech was severely damaged by a stroke, and Barb couldn't form words at all from her cancer ravaged body. Holding the receiver for Barb that day was the hardest thing I ever had to do, for I also heard Mom's heartbreaking farewell. At least the phone can bring people together, unlike some other contemporary technology...like the war machine.

Peace, Mooh.