Since I am participating in the very enjoyable 'Reintroducing myself Blogfest', I thought I'd give fair warning of one of my foibles...I really don't like to tell people to get lost. It's unkind. It causes bad feelings, hurt feelings. Why be nasty when you can leave them smiling? Or scratching their head?
Here's what I mean:
My phone rang about a month ago:
Caller: I am from XYZ Computer Security. Have strange things happened while you were online? (The script requires that I say, why, yes - something did is it bad? I sign on, give access, they sell a bogus, expensive security system, if nothing worse.)
Myself: Why, yes - yes, it did!
Caller: We can help you! Open your computer and we will look -
Myself: You could have helped me?
Caller: We can -
Myself: If you'd only called two days ago! I s-saw the strange things - and MY COMPUTER BLEW UP AS I WATCHED! If you'd called me before then! I'd still have a computer! (sobbing loudly) I've g-got to go! I c-can't talk any more - ! G-good-bye!
They haven't called me since…
Oh the fun we have with telemarketers. Its sad really, considering they are probably writers trying to eek out a living doing whatever they can with their useless English degree.
ReplyDeleteAll in fun though--enjoyed your blog. We all must be a little cheeky at times right?
Feel free to stop by my little nut-tree for a cuppa if so inclined.
~Just Jill
I love your 'nut tree' and your chapters...
DeleteHA! Great way to handle spammers!!!! Not an unfortunate failing at all!
ReplyDeletePerhaps it depends on who you ask... "Gosh, I hope she wasn't hurt when her computer exploded!"
DeleteBwwahahaha.
ReplyDeleteI often think my failing is just being too polite even by British standards. When people walk into me I normally end up saying SORRY! and hobbling away pretending it was my bad.
<3
...But isn't that a splendid way to make them feel terrible? ;D
DeleteThere is always a right way and a wrong way to handle people I find, I also don't like to be abusive over the phone , I just put the phone down and call back when perhaps I could speak to someone who knows what they're talking about.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit and following my blog much appreciated.
Yvonne.
That is so clever. They probably made a special notation beside your name.
ReplyDeleteHahaha! I like your way of handling that!
ReplyDeleteClever and funny. Revenge by guilt. Nicely done. And thanks for participating in the Re-Introduce Myself Blogfest!
ReplyDeleteThanks to all for hosting it! I enjoyed visiting - so much out that that's wonderful, enjoyable, thought-provoking (and, often, howlingly amusing)...
DeletePoor guy probably didn't know what hit him. ;)
ReplyDeleteerica
Stopping by from the blogfest and sadly identified with your story. Unfortunately for you that is going to cause me to join your little group and read more of your stuff...hope you are up to the task! You may feel free to visit me but I warn you it could possibly be hazardous to your eyes and possibly brain.
ReplyDeleteI used to get several calls from a smoke-hoarsened woman asking rudely: "Harry! Is he there?" One day, she caught me in an irreverent moment. I breathed hard and heavy: "Yes, but he can't come to the phone right now."
ReplyDeleteWoman, angrily: "You tell that so-and-so that I want to talk to him. Right now!"
More breathing on my part: "Sorry, we are really busy."
For weeks, I guiltily scoured the paper to see if a man named Harry had been shot by a jealous woman.
Very, very bad, Inge - but so stylish!
DeleteOh, way to go!!! I love the way you handled that. I get way too many of those calls, and I'm afraid I just ask, "How stupid do you think I am?" and hang up. When my hubby gets one of those calls, he asks for the name of the company's name, and then the CALLER hangs up.
ReplyDeleteNice to meetcha. Count me in as your newest follower.
Haha, that's awesome! I usually just hang up in a panic when someone calls trying to sell something, but my roommate tells some pretty funny stories of the things he says to people who call him for sales or the wrong number. Nice to meet you, Diana! : ]
ReplyDeleteAh ha ha awesome story! Pleased to meet you!
ReplyDeleteYou are one smart lady!
ReplyDeleteGreat to meet you via the blogfest.
That is fabulous! Well done!
ReplyDeleteAlso - nice to meet you. New follower!
LOL! That was hilarious. I would have loved to seen the look on that caller's face. :) Great to meet you Diana!
ReplyDeleteHi, Diana,
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you.... What a devilishly delicious sense of humor you have.... Thanks for the laugh! I'll have to remember that the next time I get one of THOSE calls. LOL.
So great. You must be an actress as well as a writer! Too bad you couldn't see his reaction.
ReplyDelete