Awhile back my telephone with the answer option broke.
Because I was busy with other things I didn't have time to replace it.
It took about a week but I suddenly realized life is a lot less stressed and a great deal more peaceful without it.

Those long automated messages drive me mad!
I can hear the chinkle chinkle as my coins slip into the hands of the phone company if it's long distance and the whoooooosh as my time disappears on the local calls.
I opt for shortest message possible.
wow