Despite having reservations - not least among them that I'm not comfortable on phones - I decided to finally do some phonebanking for OFA today. It seems simple enough on the surface: They provide you with names, numbers, a script, and some simple survey questions to fill in once you reach someone. There are bubbles to select if the person is not home, if the number is wrong, if they hang up on you, or other reasons why you were unable to make contact. When you do make contact, it goes toward a total that increases your "rank" at various intervals - and I'm all about volunteer competition (I practically went berserk on Galaxy Zoo). Nevertheless, after giving it the old college try, I think my talents are best employed elsewhere.
First of all, most of the numbers I got were either dead or wrong. Sorting out this chaff from the database would seem like a good way to relax between contacts, but I'm sort of an "anxious caller" - I have to get mentally prepared each time I call someone to avoid stuttering or blurting out my lines if someone answers (no telemarketing for me!) So regardless of how many numbers are dead, wrong, or don't pick up, I end up putting forward the same amount of effort each time - and yet only the ones where someone picks up, is the right person, and responds to the questions get counted. In other words, for someone like me, it's somewhat stressful work with little satisfaction and only marginal contribution.
But even if every single number were live and accurate, that would hardly make it easier: When people hang up or respond with annoyance, it pisses me off - and then I feel like a jerk for feeling that way because their response is totally understandable. When they give unusual answers or ramble hither and thither, I get thrown off balance and don't know what to say next - I find myself immediately saying "Okay, thanks, bye" and hanging up as fast as I can, even if they haven't finished. This is why I don't like talking on phones, and why I'm an awkward conversationalist in person unless I already know someone and am comfortable with them.
I definitely appreciate that it's necessary work, but as far as phones (and even more, in-person GOTV) are concerned, I belong in the rear with the gear. Now, I do recognize that the same amount of work needs to be done regardless of how many people are doing it, so I still want to have at least an equivalent impact if possible. So I'm donating $40 to OFA, and hopefully that will be worth as much or more as a week of whatever I could contribute as a caller. I'll just have to swallow the vaguely nauseating sensation of feeling like a chickenhawk.