>When telephones started to become a household thing, did people used to think they were just talking to a computer/robot? No. Before voicemail and answering machines, all calls were answered by a human being. Your child might answer the phone. We had proper phone etiquette. It was quite nice. If you needed a number you didn't have, you could dial directory assistance and a human operator would help you. 911 / 999 connected directly to a person. As to your idea... It's another avoidance trick. Tricks are short term at best. And in my experience just undermine you in the end. I understand you're seeking a way to make things easier. I advocate strongly for speech therapy to improve fluency.