Mother doesn’t want me to answer unknown phone numbers

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Twistii

Active member
#1
Apr 9, 2021
382
59
28
#1
Hi everyone, minor here. My mother tells me to not answer calls from numbers I don’t know. Do you guys have any advice regarding this? I feel bad because it might be something important from someone and also I could potentially be in a position where I come off as rude to the person trying to call me right? I know obedience to parents is talked about in the Bible, but do you guys think I should obey in this case? Thanks! Btw, in case this affects what your answer will be, my mother is non-Christian.
 
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TheIndianGirl

Guest
#2
#2
I don't answer unknown calls either. I wait to receive a voicemail.
 
Dino246

Dino246

Senior Member
#3
Jun 30, 2015
25,489
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#3
As a minor, you do indeed have a biblical mandate to obey your parents. However, if you're old enough to be asking questions of strangers on the internet, you're old enough to ask your mother for a rational explanation for her prohibition, and to negotiate a solution that both of you find acceptable.
 
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azsheepdog

Member
#4
Apr 11, 2020
57
52
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#4
I don't know if this happens outside the US, but here in America I get unknown phone calls everyday. I carry a work phone and my personal phone. It happens on both. I don't answer them. If it's legit, they will leave a message. Scammers use auto-dialers to go through numbers (broken down by prefix) and determine which ones are targets by the answers they get. They can "spoof" a phone number in your area and be calling from anywhere in the world. You are not missing out on life by letting these calls go. If it's legit, they will leave a message. Listen to your mother on this one.
 
NotmebutHim

NotmebutHim

Senior Member
#5
May 17, 2015
2,938
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#5
Yep my philosophy is: "If it's important, they'll leave a message". :cool:
 
Subhumanoidal

Subhumanoidal

Well-known member
#6
Sep 17, 2018
4,061
3,175
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#6
Twistii said:
Hi everyone, minor here. My mother tells me to not answer calls from numbers I don’t know. Do you guys have any advice regarding this? I feel bad because it might be something important from someone and also I could potentially be in a position where I come off as rude to the person trying to call me right? I know obedience to parents is talked about in the Bible, but do you guys think I should obey in this case? Thanks! Btw, in case this affects what your answer will be, my mother is non-Christian.
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I never answer calls from numbers I don't know. If those people think it's rude you don't answer that is Their problem. You are not required to answer every call as they come in.
Just keep all your relevant numbers in your address book. If a call comes in that isn't in there then it's likely not anyone you know or anything important.
And as others have said, if it is they'll leave a message.

Keep I'm mind people still do scams over the phone and it requires them calling people they don't know.
 
GardenofWeeden

GardenofWeeden

Well-known member
#8
Jul 27, 2018
411
370
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The Garden of Weeden
#8
Your mother is trying to protect you. Your safety is more important to her, than your being conceived as rude by some stranger. Listen to her, not because it's Biblical to respect and obey your parents. Do it because you trust her to do what's best for you. :)
 
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Twistii

Active member
#9
Apr 9, 2021
382
59
28
#9
wow, thank you all of you for replying! I feel like I’ve learned stuff today, thank you.
 
Billyd

Billyd

Senior Member
#10
May 8, 2014
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#10
Exo 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

This is God's command to us and it comes with a promise.
 
Nehemiah6

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
#11
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
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#11
Twistii said:
Hi everyone, minor here. My mother tells me to not answer calls from numbers I don’t know. Do you guys have any advice regarding this?
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Your mother is wise and you should listen to her, since you are in fact a minor. Failure to do so may lead to serious, or very serious, problems. And if you are on any social media, you should cancel your subscriptions immediately.
 
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Twistii

Active member
#12
Apr 9, 2021
382
59
28
#12
Billyd said:
Exo 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

This is God's command to us and it comes with a promise.
Click to expand...
I feel like honoring and obeying are diff y’know? You can correct me if I’m wrong on this, but I guess the Bible is for (as in, instead of opposed to) the concept of “for children it’s obeying (not always) + honoring parents, while adults gotta be honoring parents.” (regarding obedience to parents, it seems the Bible is for a not always kinda thing, if I’m not mistaken. This is maybe gonna be a very, very, highly, highly, highly, improbable example, but say, if they said to murder, it’s better not to).
 
Billyd

Billyd

Senior Member
#13
May 8, 2014
5,233
1,641
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#13
Twistii said:
I feel like honoring and obeying are diff y’know? You can correct me if I’m wrong on this, but I guess the Bible is for (as in, instead of opposed to) the concept of “for children it’s obeying (not always) + honoring parents, while adults gotta be honoring parents.” (regarding obedience to parents, it seems the Bible is for a not always kinda thing, if I’m not mistaken. This is maybe gonna be a very, very, highly, highly, highly, improbable example, but say, if they said to murder, it’s better not to).
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Honor and respect are the key in this command. As a child you can not respect your parents if you don't obey them.

God handled obedience exception in the remainder of his commandments. He gives us the exceptions in the "thou shalt nots".

Your OP question doesn't fit into the exceptions.
 
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Gideon300

Well-known member
#14
Mar 18, 2021
5,367
3,163
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#14
Twistii said:
Hi everyone, minor here. My mother tells me to not answer calls from numbers I don’t know. Do you guys have any advice regarding this? I feel bad because it might be something important from someone and also I could potentially be in a position where I come off as rude to the person trying to call me right? I know obedience to parents is talked about in the Bible, but do you guys think I should obey in this case? Thanks! Btw, in case this affects what your answer will be, my mother is non-Christian.
Click to expand...
I'm 70 and I won't answer most calls where I don't recognise the caller's number. There are way too many scams going on. If it is important, they'll leave a message.
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#15
Jul 3, 2015
60,330
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#15
Your phone is for your convenience. Not answering it at the whim of any who
might call for whatever reason is not being rude. Unknown numbers are often
solicitors and/or scam phone calls. As a minor, you need to obey the house rules
your parents lay out for you. Believe it or not, they have your best interests at heart :)
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

Well-known member
#16
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
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#16
children shouldnt really need phones but I guess parents can be overprotective and want them on call all the time. I sometimes think it defeats the purpose of having one.
 
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Scribe

Guest
#17
#17
Don't answer. You already know who it is.....

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MoonCresta

Guest
#19
#19
Twistii said:
Hi everyone, minor here. My mother tells me to not answer calls from numbers I don’t know. Do you guys have any advice regarding this? I feel bad because it might be something important from someone and also I could potentially be in a position where I come off as rude to the person trying to call me right? I know obedience to parents is talked about in the Bible, but do you guys think I should obey in this case? Thanks! Btw, in case this affects what your answer will be, my mother is non-Christian.
Click to expand...

Mom's right. No point in answering it. Trust me, you're not missing a blessed thing!
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

Well-known member
#20
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#20
if youve saved the numbers on your phone you can see whos calling you by saving their name.
If anyone calls you thats not saved they'll be using a different number so you can tell it wont be them.
If you dont give your number out to many people it will just be people you dont know and they wont have any reason to contact you right?

So you can just ignore them. If its really important they will leave a message.

anyway some scripture to help look up John 10:4-5

My sheep know my voice, to another they will not listen.
 
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