As part of my job, I have to call specific people on fairly urgent matters. I will call, identify my company, and ask for the specific people. "Hi, this is Company, is John Smith there?"
The next step should be fairly simple for the people on the other end. The answer should either be, "Speaking," or "I will go get him/He is not in." Easy, huh? You'd think so, as any reasonably sane or intelligent person would respond that way. Maybe even a "May I tell him who's calling?" if they want to give the person my name. Fine! But noooooo. You'd be surpised by how often this doesn't happen.
I can't tell you how often I'll ask for someone, and we'll keep the "John Smith" example, and someone of the same sex replies "Yeah?" or "Yeah." "Hi, it's Company calling, is John Smith there?" Man replies, "Yeah." Pause. "Hi John, I'm calling about blah blah blah." What comes next? "Oh, hold on, I'll go get him."
WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?!?!?!
"Hi, it's Company calling. Is John Smith there?" Woman replies, "Oh, are you calling about so-and-so?" Or something similiar. She will then go on talking. Not a reasonable "Can I tell him what you're calling about" but they are taking the call and not putting on who I am asking for. Asses, all of them. Stupid freakin' asses.
WHO THE FUCK DOES THIS?!?!
I need to speak to the person I'm calling for in particular. That's why I ask for them by name. Who the hell doesn't just go get the person? I know if I'm answering the phone and they ask for someone else in the house, I will go and get that person! I won't start up a conversation and I certainly won't pretend to be that person! Holy crap, I really don't get this.
If this didn't happen so freakin' often, I wouldn't be venting about this, but it happens EVERY... FUCKING... DAY! That's a hell of a lot of people who are lacking the most basic skills of proper social interaction, and I'm the one who's living alone? Spouses are the worst for this, but it's certainly not just restricted to them.
When you answer the phone and it's not for you, your only job is to go get that person or take a message. Nothing else.
Damn, it pisses me off.
posted
by Tabby at 6/15/2005 06:44:00 p.m.
