I think what turns me off there is the generic nature of the neediness. "I want to talk with someone and I don't care who, but you will do."

On the other hand, I've sometimes called a household with different specific things I want to talk about with each person, but not caring about the order, and on a superficial analysis that could create the same effect.

And Randy and I do have some mutual friends who sometimes call to talk with whomever answers the phone, in a way that feels quite right and appropriate.