Hints from Heloise

Dear Heloise: Hello again from Manhattan, Kan.! Could we try again to help telephone pests understand how to be a courteous caller instead of an aggravating telephone nuisance?

For example: Say you are standing on a ladder when your phone rings. If you are smart, you will take your time to get down before heading to answer the phone. Courteous callers will let it ring 10 times before hanging up, giving you a reasonable amount of time to reach your phone. Or say you were busy with your hands messy and you had to clean them off before heading for the phone.

No one should ever risk his or her safety by hurrying to answer the phone. Too many injuries have happened that way. – Helen Roser, Manhattan, Kan.