National Inane Answering Message Day takes place on January 30 throughout the country. Like the word ‘inane,’ which means silly or senseless, this national observance is a direct call-out to all the senseless answering messages that people use on their phones: “Hey, wait for the beep to leave a message, and wait for the sun to set, to open a bottle of wine.” These people waste our precious time by setting reckless caller tunes, and we must make our aversion known.
History of National Inane Answering Message Day
National Inane Answering Message Day dates back to the year 2001, when the founders of Wellcat, Thomas and Ruth Roy, claimed the day in their series of Funky Holidays. The Roys have co-opted over 80 days and given them unique recognitions. The rationale behind the day is to call out the people who leave long, senseless, and often patronizing answering messages on their phones.
Inane answering messages are as American as the apple pie. We love to put a unique spin on this rather generic form of greeting. You might remember how Ross from the show “Friends” wanted to put a rendition of Queen’s song ‘We will rock you’ as his shared answering message with Joey and Chandler. But there’s a difference between personalizing a message and ridiculing it. On some days, hearing “we will, we will call you back” is tolerable, but imagine if you have to endure it every day, especially before leaving a very serious or urgent message. In a fast-paced world, with only counted hours at your disposal, the last thing you want to hear is a silly message when you are trying to start a critical conversation. It is also important to not waste the receiver’s time by leaving them with meaningless messages.
National Inane Answering Message Day is a good day to revisit your answering message and remove any goofy or silly elements from it. You can also reprimand your colleagues, friends, and family members who have fit the bill to do better.
National Inane Answering Message Day timeline
English polymath Robert Hooke creates the first acoustic telephone from two soup cans, discovering the transfer of sound from one cup to another via a string.
American businessman Cyrus Field lays the first transatlantic telephone cable across the Atlantic.
Bell invents the telephone by developing the electronic transmission of speech, making the world's first wireless call.
Bell conducts a coast-to-coast phone call for the first time and introduces long-distance calling to the world.
National Inane Answering Message Day FAQs
What is a good telephone answering message?
A good answering message is personal, discreet, and to the point. You can try something like, “Hi, this is [your name]. I am unavailable to take this call. Please leave a message. I will get back to you at the earliest.”
Do people still use answering machines?
Smartphones indeed host a majority of our personal conversations now, but answering machines are still used in homes and offices across the country. Answering machines are reliable, resourceful, and still in high demand.
Who invented the answering machine?
The answering machine was invented by William Schergens in 1935 by trapping audio waves in a phonographic cylinder.
National Inane Answering Message Day Activities
Clean out your contact book
When was the last time you took a good look at your contact book? Numbers saved from a decade ago, chats from times you no longer belong to. Since we are already introspecting our answering messages on January 30, it’s time we take the trash out of our contact list as well.
Update your WhatsApp status
Since we do most of our conversations on WhatsApp, we must craft a status that best describes us. If your WhatsApp is set at ‘available,' National Inane Answering Message Day is your reminder to update it.
Call an old friend
While you are basking in nostalgia on this super fun day, why not call an old friend, or better yet leave a message for them? Remember the days of telephonic conversation and bring back the old times.
5 Stats About American Cell Phone Behavior That’ll Leave You Uneasy
Good morning mobile
80% of Americans check their phones within 10 minutes of waking up.
It’s toilet-o-clock
70% of Americans use their phones while using the toilet.
Thicker than blood
52% of Americans haven’t been separated from their phones for more than 24 hours.
Phone? Don’t call
Americans spend only half an hour communicating with their phones, as opposed to spending more than two hours surfing social media and/or playing games.
It’s a hefty indulgence
23% of Americans confessed to going into debt because of a cell phone purchase.
Why We Love National Inane Answering Message Day
It’s good to sweat the small stuff
At face value, answering messages don’t seem like a big deal. But if an inane message is a constant source of irritation, today is the day to call it out.
Time is money
People with inane answering messages want to waste our time. Why else would they want silly jokes or one-liners to be their introduction? We mustn’t let this abuse of power go unchecked; call them out with fervor.
We don’t need the extra silliness
Do we really need the intentional silliness that greets us when we’re dialing up someone for crucial business? The answer is no, and the opportunity to lay this problem to rest presents itself on National Inane Answering Message Day.
National Inane Answering Message Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | January 30 | Thursday |
| 2026 | January 30 | Friday |
| 2027 | January 30 | Saturday |
| 2028 | January 30 | Sunday |
| 2029 | January 30 | Tuesday |
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