Can we admit that phones are stuck in the past? You carry a portable one with you now, but it's the same as the originals: you have it, it rings to interrupt you, you cater to it or you don't. This needs to change.

I think texting is great, but if you and I need to hash something out, we will likely need a phone conversation. Is it a good time for you? When will be? Will you call me or will I call you? Or I could just call you. At 3 AM, when my needs are forefront, to me at least.

Ultimately this all happens because of one reason: you are not in charge of your phone. You can turn it off, but that's just a temporary ignoring of the burden we choose to carry in our pockets. We could negotiate, but your local Red Cross isn't going to do a text negotiation of a good time for you. They just call, and sometimes you want that call. Other times you would rather not.

Phone Janitor is a good start, since it means incoming calls only happen if you are giving the ok ahead of time. We are a bouncer to your party. This is a fine start indeed, but we can do better.

Maybe we need a simple "I'm busy" button, to say hold all my calls. Maybe we need a test to see if a caller is human, unless it's your friend's number because obviously they pass. Maybe other things need to be done.

The details aren't that important right now, the point is you need control of your phone number. We all deserve better, because we know who has the privilege of waking us at 3 AM, and when the red cross needs to leave a voicemail for us to get back to them, and when we'd be happy to pick up for them because they are polite and always use proper Caller ID.

Want something specific faster? We listen to our customers. The more you want it, the more we'll prioritize it. I guess that means you control your phone AND your phone company, too.

I guess phones are changing.