Tag: almost forgot about that

tilthat:

TIL there used to be “party lines” for telephones, the entire neighborhood was linked to a single phone line and they had to take turns using the phone. You could listen in to your neighbors’ calls, or interrupt them telling them to get off the phone because they talk too much and you need to use it

via reddit.com

My grandmother was on one up into the ‘80s, until the phone company completely did away with the option. It wasn’t even that much cheaper by then, and I have no idea why she insisted on keeping the party line as long as she could.

By the time I came along, there was only one horrible old lady down the street on there. And she listened in on everything. Probably sad that the eavesdropping opportunities had dwindled to one other household 🙄