I find the principle that it's OK to call people at any time very bizarre.

I think it depends when you were born.

In the 70s/80s/90s it was very common to get phone calls (on landline phones) at all times of the day from family members or friends.

I remember being on the phone to friends from school for hours in the evening, I don't even recall the subject matter of the conversations but it's just what you did.

Then as more and more people got on the internet, using other communication mediums like IM, IRC email etc became more and more common, and nowadays I'd find it very unusual for someone to call me out of the blue.

I agree- I didn't mind getting calls when it was the only way to communicate long distance. It was still inconvenient but better than nothing.

That's better but it's still kind of imposing. We are not socially wired to be compatible with the technology to magically steal people's attention from space.

If you don't want to be bothered, just turn off your ringer and notifications. Don't try to invent non-existent social norms. Part of the reason I have a phone is so people can reach me.

> Don't try to invent non-existent social norms.

That's how new social norms come into the world. Often, they get invented in response to technological change. For example, prior to answering machines being widespread, the norm was to never ignore the phone ringing. After, it became OK to ignore the phone if it was inconvenient to answer because if the call was important, the caller would surely leave a message.

Now there's a push to normalize texting to see if it's a good time before calling, at least if the call isn't urgent. I support this: it's a very minor imposition on the caller's time and reduces interruptions when the callee is busy, as the content of a text can be checked at a glance.

I am not saying new norms don't develop. I am saying people shouldn't assert the existence of norms they wish existed but don't.

Sure, but now you see why it's easier to text: you might not be able to reach a person at that moment. That's why it takes your daughter and hour to organize things, because the people she's organizing with are busy for the hour.

A lot of people have a smartphone in order to use mobile internet services and apps and would prefer not to be able to be called.

Simply owning a phone is not an invitation to be called.

You and your circle of contacts may love being called and that is fine for you but don't impose this "norm" on others.

Personally I like to be available for emergencies but would prefer routine information exchange to be handled via text.

This social norm exists.