Comments on: You don’t give a damn, so why ask me?

By: baz

baz — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:12:54 +0000

Hear, hear.
When I go to the supermarket I either get a sullen checkout person ( a smile would be ok!) or one of the “How’s etc” variety. I can handle the former..at least they are being themselves. For the later I fix an expressionless stare which always seem to throw them a bit. They probably think I am thick or deaf which is probably partly true. I always walk away with a smile on my face!

By: felix

felix — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:49:01 +0000

See what happens when I make it a little more subtle, Sarah? Right over your wee headsy.

Anyhoo, a suggestion: Next time a shop person annoys you, just say “I’d prefer we keep this a master/servant relationship, thank you.”

They won’t bother you again.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:26:16 +0000

Just make it witty next time, Felix.

By: felix

felix — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 08:30:00 +0000

Sarah

Most of these jobs are the type where you say things exactly the way you’re paid to, exactly when you’re paid to, or else you don’t get paid to anymore.

And sorry about the awful sarcasm. I hope you don’t have to suffer it again.

By: Little Toot

Little Toot — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:49:47 +0000

I wonder if at times it’s also a generational phenomena. If a youngster is addressing a bunch of prattling younguns, a greeting of “Hi! How’s your week been so far?” may be seen as a friendly ‘bonding gesture’ and an opportunity to develop social skills, whereas for someone three times their age seeking a quiet interlude it’s a shallow intrusion.
Perhaps the answer is to look straight into his/her eyes and ask: “Do you REALLY want to know?”
Yes, a polite ‘good morning’ would suffice.

Thanks to BLiP for the info, I know folk who are in desperate need of it! I love MonoGlut’s suggestion but doubt that it would play out quite the same for a woman, and there’s always the risk of some bright spark calling your bluff!

Sigh.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:18:21 +0000

@Felix: Why is it OK for people annoy us just because they’re still at the bottom of the corporate ladder?

Another thing that ticks me off is people who use really unsubtle sarcasm!

By: JC

JC — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:42:21 +0000

When a telemarketer calls me – usually at dinner time – and asks “Hows your day been?” I reply, very slowly, in my deep, creepy husky voice “I’m fine, can I ask if you are wearing anything revealing?”

I think this is brilliant. Just off to practise a deep, creepy voice!

By: Monosodium Glutton

Monosodium Glutton — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:37:41 +0000

By: felix

felix — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 05:51:34 +0000

I feel so sorry for all you delicate little flowers – imagine having to deal with people who are paid minimum wage to say these horrible things to you.

I don’t know how you cope. My prayers are with you all.

By: JC

JC — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:53:11 +0000

I say “Just a minute please”, put the phone down and get on with whatever I was doing. When I go back about 10 minutes later sometimes they are still waiting! Not fair I know but neither is interrupting me when I am working.

That’s another annoying thing about telemarketers, isn’t it? The total unawareness that you’ve got work to do, a business to run – and listening to them for half an hour isn’t going to aid production. I find that if I ask them to send information by mail (or even email) the chances of ever receiving anything are very remote. If they can’t nail you down on the phone, they don’t want to know.