Question: I still forget to dial 859 when calling Northern Kentucky. Every time I get a few rings, then this annoying wah-wah sound, then an irritated woman telling me to redial. What's with the wah-wah? Why so annoying? Does the phone company make it annoying as some form of behavior modification?

        Answer: Well no, your phone company doesn't want to annoy you or modify your behavior, says Tressie Long, media relations specialist at Cincinnati Bell. “And believe me, there are no stupid questions where the new area codes are concerned.

        “There is a very good reason for that sound, and a very necessary one. It's made for smart phones, which are your public pay phones. It signals the system that this call isn't going to be completed, so don't charge the customer.

        “Then your 35 cents comes back and the customer doesn't lose out because of a mistake. Callers get it at home because there's no way to make it apply only to pay phones.

        “Is it annoying? I don't know, but honestly, it's necessary.”

        If you have a stupid question, send it to Ask a Stupid Question, Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati OH 45202; fax: (513) 768-8330.
       

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