Monday, November 24, 2008

Ma'am

This is a note to all telemarketers.



If you're calling a home (particularly if it's for the 47th time), and the person answering says their name is Nathan, don't assume they are lying to you. Don't assume their parents were cruel for giving a girl a boy's name. If someone says their name is Nathan, they're probably a guy, even though everything in you says the voice on the other end of the line sounds just like a woman who's had one too many cigarettes.

Here's another tip. If you're ever presented with this strange situation, DON'T fall back on your telemarketer training and try to be polite. Calling this person "Ma'am" won't improve your chances of a sale. You'll also join the ranks of other telemarketers who alienate themselves, and you'll only make this person feel even more self conscious about the fact that he is still waiting for his voice to change.

***The situations in the preceding story may or may not be based on real events. The names also may or may not have been changed to protect the innocent.***

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't think you sound like a woman. Sure, you're no Vin Diesel, but I prefer tenors anyway. =)

Hane-nahMarie said...

ah ha! Have you heard Brian Regan's thing on the "Yes Sir. OKAY MA'AM!" oh my, that's what this makes me think of.