Another day, another gripe.
Driving. It's a privilege. Some shouldn't have it. Or at least not until after they take a road etiquette class. Things that are acceptable and those that are not. Why is it when you put some people behind the wheel, they suddenly turn into Sloth from the Goonies, or Cruella Deville? Either they lose all common sense, or want to shoot you for going the speed limit.
For instance, I was cruising into work and I was going with the flow of traffic...which on this particular stretch of road tends to be like 15 miles over the limit. So, I was going on my merry way, and there's a guy in a "mid-life crisis look at me" car on my ass. How are my fumes tasting today, buddy? So, he remains on my ass until the car in the right lane passes me just enough for him to squish over and speed by me, then cut me off. And then I see him put his arms in the air and motion feverishly to the right...as in YOU NEED TO BE IN THE RIGHT LANE, YOU SLOW BITCH! Then he speeds up and lays rubber. All to get to the red light awaiting at the end of the road. I ended up right next to him at the light. Haha! That always makes me laugh. Why do people HAVE to drive so quickly, cutting people off on their way, just to get to a red light? They can't just calm down and stay behind you, considering they will be stopping shortly anyways? If I were going slow (at least my definition of slow), I would have gotten over to the right lane. But there was a van in my way, so I just stayed where I was, thinking that going 15 over would be sufficient. I guess 15 over is the new 10 under?
Another scenario: the right lane is ending. What do you do?! You are given adequate notice that the lane will be ending in a quarter of a mile...then the little arrows pop up to let you know you need to get over. It's not a subtle "get over in the next 13 feet or die!" notice. Or if there's construction, they put up the lovely, large, blinking arrows signaling that you need to get over...before you hit this sign! I see those signs, I get over. Others feel the need to remain in that lane as long as they possibly can before merging over. This is not the Italian Job or Gone in 60 Seconds, people. Get over! So they wait until the last 20 feet and then decide to cut you off and almost run into you in the process. Then they look at you like you're the ass because they waited until the last possible moment to get over, and then they almost cause a wreck.
People also do this when they are merging onto the highway. I get over if I can so the lane is open for them to merge. But sometimes, this can't always be the case. Sometimes I can't get over. So I either speed up to leave space behind me, or slow down so they can merge in front of me. But some people don't get the hint and like to stay even with you, and pretend you're blocking them on purpose. Here's a note: you don't have the right away, jackass! I don't owe you anything.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
I wasn't done speaking
We all do it! Interrupt! And even though we know it's annoying when we do it, it's even more annoying when someone else does it.
Case in point:
I was on the phone with customer service. Irritating enough. On hold, passed to someone else, then again, on hold, then passed....ok, I'm already annoyed. Can I please speak with someone that knows what they're doing.
Ok, finally a human voice. But, a foreign human voice. Sounds like Ahmed or Jabib, possibly. "Hello, can I help you?" YES! I'm calling to follow up on a previously opened case. "Ok, what's the case number?" And I start to say it 6053... then he interrupts with an "OK" in the middle, leaving me to wonder if he's heard what I said. Do I stop or keep going? So I keep going. 873..."Hold on... 6053 WHAT? Start over again please." Because now that he's interrupted my flow, he's all confused about where I was going. If he had just been silent, and not said "ok" then he would have gotten the case number and I wouldn't have had to repeat myself 3 times, trying all the while not to sound pissed off.
And in the spirit of foreign customer service, look at this little blurb I received in an e-mail. It made me laugh, because well, sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying.
Copy and pasted from my actual e-mail:
Case in point:
I was on the phone with customer service. Irritating enough. On hold, passed to someone else, then again, on hold, then passed....ok, I'm already annoyed. Can I please speak with someone that knows what they're doing.
Ok, finally a human voice. But, a foreign human voice. Sounds like Ahmed or Jabib, possibly. "Hello, can I help you?" YES! I'm calling to follow up on a previously opened case. "Ok, what's the case number?" And I start to say it 6053... then he interrupts with an "OK" in the middle, leaving me to wonder if he's heard what I said. Do I stop or keep going? So I keep going. 873..."Hold on... 6053 WHAT? Start over again please." Because now that he's interrupted my flow, he's all confused about where I was going. If he had just been silent, and not said "ok" then he would have gotten the case number and I wouldn't have had to repeat myself 3 times, trying all the while not to sound pissed off.
And in the spirit of foreign customer service, look at this little blurb I received in an e-mail. It made me laugh, because well, sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying.
Copy and pasted from my actual e-mail:
We have recived the above part at our ware house which was not belongs to the above RMA.Hence request you to kindly provide us an update on the request that the part belongs to which RMA?
WHAT??? Luckily, I possess a somewhat intelligent brain and managed to understand what it said, but seriously??? If you're going to work for America, please try to get our language right. Spell check and grammar check are the best inventions ever. Give them a try, please!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Let me help you! No, thanks. PLEASE?
I really try to respect people and their jobs. I really do. But when you have people that are "commission" oriented, that means RELENTLESS. It gets annoying really quickly.
Example: For some reason, a co-worker of mine decided to give my number (work phone number, thank God!) because he was looking for referrals for people that may be seeking financial advice. So, he called a few weeks ago. I was polite and told him that I'm ok at the moment but I have his information should I require his services. Enough said.
Today, he calls back! "Hi Julie, it's Dave!" Like I'm supposed to know who the hell Dave is. Uh, ok? Oh, I spoke to you a few weeks back about helping you with some financial assistance. Oh. THAT Dave. Hi, Dave. Already, I know what he's getting at, but of course, he insists on exchanging niceties. I'm fine, Dave. Thanks for asking. He wanted to follow up from our last conversation, where I thought I made it clear, I'm fine for now! But apparently, in "Sales" speak, that means, call me back and bug me at my place of work. Sure, I can just start blabbing to you about my finances over the phone. So, have you thought about anything I said from last time; are you perhaps interested in my services? Gee, yes, Dave, that's all I could think about the past few weeks. When oh when can I get a call from an annoying person trying to get my business? Apparently, if I wasn't interested 2 weeks ago, I will be now! Oh goodie! So, how are your investments doing? Have you given any thought to perhaps sitting down with me and going over your choices and getting sound financial advice? NO!!! Of course, I tell him much more politely. No, thank you. I'm good for right now and my brother is a financial analyst, so if I have any investment questions, I usually just go to him, you know, for free! So your brother gives you financial advice? YES! For free! Get it? And also, I don't really feel comfortable disclosing my personal finances with just anybody. Well, why don't you want to talk? It only takes a hour and a half of your time. Listen to me, DAVE! NO, I don't! Well, why not? I just flatly tell the truth. Well, Dave, I just don't want to! There I said it! That seems to make him giggle like I was making a joke. No, really, I just don't want to talk about it! My investments are doing fine as far as I know...they are growing, so that's a good sign, right? Even a 3rd grader could tell you that. I can't even touch them until I'm 65 or something like that, so why would I be interested in swapping it all around now? I told him I'd call him if I would like to use his services. Haha. Yeah, I will.
And also, another few co-workers have gotten into the financial planning and life insurance game to make a few extra bucks on the side. Cool, good for you! That makes me, a fellow co-worker conveniently located in close proximity for a good amount of time everyday, a TARGET! Hey, would you be interested in sitting down with me and going over your finances? I can tell you what insurances you need and where to invest your money, etc. NOPE! I'm good. I don't want YOU, someone I work with, to have their nose in my financial business. Oh, of course not. I can find someone else to go over it with you. Um, do you still get commission on that? Probably or I doubt you would give up a potential client so freely. And they keep bugging me about it. They even go so far as to CALL ME OVER THE WEEKEND to see if once again, I might have changed my mind. Nope. I'm good. And never forget the opportunity to offer me a job with your company. Or any friend I might have that wants to sell life insurance. And I really hate to be mean with these people, considering I work with them, but it's really hard. They're like cockroaches. They never die! If I want something from you, I will come to you. There! Is that too hard for you to understand? Apparently. And I have a really hard time saying no and/or being somewhat stern to people. So when I finally get irritated enough to do so, they find it funny. NO! I'm not interested in your services, or selling what you are. I don't want to talk to you about it! I'm sure I'll get another call in a few weeks about another opportunity. OR perhaps, I'll change my mind, and suddenly say, yes, I want you to help me.
Example: For some reason, a co-worker of mine decided to give my number (work phone number, thank God!) because he was looking for referrals for people that may be seeking financial advice. So, he called a few weeks ago. I was polite and told him that I'm ok at the moment but I have his information should I require his services. Enough said.
Today, he calls back! "Hi Julie, it's Dave!" Like I'm supposed to know who the hell Dave is. Uh, ok? Oh, I spoke to you a few weeks back about helping you with some financial assistance. Oh. THAT Dave. Hi, Dave. Already, I know what he's getting at, but of course, he insists on exchanging niceties. I'm fine, Dave. Thanks for asking. He wanted to follow up from our last conversation, where I thought I made it clear, I'm fine for now! But apparently, in "Sales" speak, that means, call me back and bug me at my place of work. Sure, I can just start blabbing to you about my finances over the phone. So, have you thought about anything I said from last time; are you perhaps interested in my services? Gee, yes, Dave, that's all I could think about the past few weeks. When oh when can I get a call from an annoying person trying to get my business? Apparently, if I wasn't interested 2 weeks ago, I will be now! Oh goodie! So, how are your investments doing? Have you given any thought to perhaps sitting down with me and going over your choices and getting sound financial advice? NO!!! Of course, I tell him much more politely. No, thank you. I'm good for right now and my brother is a financial analyst, so if I have any investment questions, I usually just go to him, you know, for free! So your brother gives you financial advice? YES! For free! Get it? And also, I don't really feel comfortable disclosing my personal finances with just anybody. Well, why don't you want to talk? It only takes a hour and a half of your time. Listen to me, DAVE! NO, I don't! Well, why not? I just flatly tell the truth. Well, Dave, I just don't want to! There I said it! That seems to make him giggle like I was making a joke. No, really, I just don't want to talk about it! My investments are doing fine as far as I know...they are growing, so that's a good sign, right? Even a 3rd grader could tell you that. I can't even touch them until I'm 65 or something like that, so why would I be interested in swapping it all around now? I told him I'd call him if I would like to use his services. Haha. Yeah, I will.
And also, another few co-workers have gotten into the financial planning and life insurance game to make a few extra bucks on the side. Cool, good for you! That makes me, a fellow co-worker conveniently located in close proximity for a good amount of time everyday, a TARGET! Hey, would you be interested in sitting down with me and going over your finances? I can tell you what insurances you need and where to invest your money, etc. NOPE! I'm good. I don't want YOU, someone I work with, to have their nose in my financial business. Oh, of course not. I can find someone else to go over it with you. Um, do you still get commission on that? Probably or I doubt you would give up a potential client so freely. And they keep bugging me about it. They even go so far as to CALL ME OVER THE WEEKEND to see if once again, I might have changed my mind. Nope. I'm good. And never forget the opportunity to offer me a job with your company. Or any friend I might have that wants to sell life insurance. And I really hate to be mean with these people, considering I work with them, but it's really hard. They're like cockroaches. They never die! If I want something from you, I will come to you. There! Is that too hard for you to understand? Apparently. And I have a really hard time saying no and/or being somewhat stern to people. So when I finally get irritated enough to do so, they find it funny. NO! I'm not interested in your services, or selling what you are. I don't want to talk to you about it! I'm sure I'll get another call in a few weeks about another opportunity. OR perhaps, I'll change my mind, and suddenly say, yes, I want you to help me.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Those Grumps!
I don't particularly care for grumpy people. Not that I don't have my moments. But when you're in the customer service industry, perhaps you should not be grumpy with, oh, say your customers! I know. It's a job, you don't want to be there, we get it...just don't make the other people you work with miserable.
So, you had a fight with your significant other. It sucks and it seems to be replaying in your head like TiVo. But, that doesn't give you just cause to answer the phone in a seemingly monotone manner, complete with heavy sighs if someone asks you to do your job (gasp!). I can practically see you rolling your eyes. I'm sorry...I didn't mean to call and interrupt YOUR day. Meanwhile, my air conditioning is down and I'm melting in the 110 degree heat. You're in your nice little air-conditioned office being a huge downer. Help me...that's what you get paid for, no?
I have a cartoon posted in my cubicle. It has a guy on the phone in a customer service department. It says "No sir, I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at the random act of fate that directed your call to my extension." I thought it was funny. Because being in the customer service industry, well, you are IN customer service. For the customers. And those customers can certainly be dicks! They also consider customer service to be their personal "bitch and moan" hotline. Like I personally went into their account and assessed a late fee? Dude, I'm just the middle man...don't yell at me!
AT the opposite end of the spectrum, those sugary sweet customer service reps can be just annoying. I call into my credit card company, not in the best mood, because they overcharged my account and now I'm in the hole and have a nice little set of fees to go with it. And I hear (in some sort of unrecognizable southern accent) "Helllooooo! Thank you for calling customer service. This is Becky. Can I help you please?" Her voice is so chipper, your ear is practically dripping with honeysuckle. Yes you can help me. Are you near a window? Jump out! I can just see a jolly lady with her blond hair in a beehive, Rosy pink blush circles on her cheeks, and a pin of a puppy on her lapel. She probably knits at night when she gets home while tending to her cute little mini-bunny named Cotton.
So, you had a fight with your significant other. It sucks and it seems to be replaying in your head like TiVo. But, that doesn't give you just cause to answer the phone in a seemingly monotone manner, complete with heavy sighs if someone asks you to do your job (gasp!). I can practically see you rolling your eyes. I'm sorry...I didn't mean to call and interrupt YOUR day. Meanwhile, my air conditioning is down and I'm melting in the 110 degree heat. You're in your nice little air-conditioned office being a huge downer. Help me...that's what you get paid for, no?
I have a cartoon posted in my cubicle. It has a guy on the phone in a customer service department. It says "No sir, I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at the random act of fate that directed your call to my extension." I thought it was funny. Because being in the customer service industry, well, you are IN customer service. For the customers. And those customers can certainly be dicks! They also consider customer service to be their personal "bitch and moan" hotline. Like I personally went into their account and assessed a late fee? Dude, I'm just the middle man...don't yell at me!
AT the opposite end of the spectrum, those sugary sweet customer service reps can be just annoying. I call into my credit card company, not in the best mood, because they overcharged my account and now I'm in the hole and have a nice little set of fees to go with it. And I hear (in some sort of unrecognizable southern accent) "Helllooooo! Thank you for calling customer service. This is Becky. Can I help you please?" Her voice is so chipper, your ear is practically dripping with honeysuckle. Yes you can help me. Are you near a window? Jump out! I can just see a jolly lady with her blond hair in a beehive, Rosy pink blush circles on her cheeks, and a pin of a puppy on her lapel. She probably knits at night when she gets home while tending to her cute little mini-bunny named Cotton.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Blog one, day one
I thought I'd cleverly title this blog like an entry into a journal. No, I'm not sailing around the world or leading some journey into religious discovery. I just thought it would be a fitting title for my first "blog" after my introduction. But I suppose, this is also another sort of introduction. Introducing....me, myself, and I.
I just wanted to expand on my blog title, and web address :(http://cannothelpbutrant.blogspot.com/)
1. Cheese and rice. My default setting for not saying "Jesus Christ." Which is odd, because I'm not religious, and I certainly don't take offense to people saying the Lord's name in vain, but I still respect others. Hence why I capitalized Lord and Jesus Christ...in addition to the fact I am somewhat of a grammar freak and feel the need to utilize my skills when I can. It is a proper name, and therefore, should be capitalized. See? Respect and Grammar can coincide. Call me a Nazi...I don't care. See, Nazi is capitalized too. Ok, I'm done with that for the moment. I could truly go on and on. That's not the point. The point is...cheese and rice. Subsequently used for the humor in saying it in lieu of "Jesus Christ" and the look some ill-informed people get when I shout "oh, cheese and rice!" after something that has made me somewhat stirred up.
2. I am not an angry person. Tightly-wound at times, perhaps. Regardless, I have a tendency to become ticked off at any given moment. Such is life I suppose. But, instead of holding in my discontent, apparently I blog. I need other people to hear all about it! And I also just find humor in everyday situations. If I share my thoughts, maybe someone will get a laugh out of it. Or not. I don't care. Either way, the idiosyncrasies of life tend to piss me off, and then make me laugh. That is the point of aptly titling my website "Cannot help but rant." So, you see, the main topic of this blog will be ranting. I cannot help it. It's therapeutic for me. Do with it what you will.
Until next entry, have a super-fantastic day! Ciao!
I just wanted to expand on my blog title, and web address :(http://cannothelpbutrant.blogspot.com/)
1. Cheese and rice. My default setting for not saying "Jesus Christ." Which is odd, because I'm not religious, and I certainly don't take offense to people saying the Lord's name in vain, but I still respect others. Hence why I capitalized Lord and Jesus Christ...in addition to the fact I am somewhat of a grammar freak and feel the need to utilize my skills when I can. It is a proper name, and therefore, should be capitalized. See? Respect and Grammar can coincide. Call me a Nazi...I don't care. See, Nazi is capitalized too. Ok, I'm done with that for the moment. I could truly go on and on. That's not the point. The point is...cheese and rice. Subsequently used for the humor in saying it in lieu of "Jesus Christ" and the look some ill-informed people get when I shout "oh, cheese and rice!" after something that has made me somewhat stirred up.
2. I am not an angry person. Tightly-wound at times, perhaps. Regardless, I have a tendency to become ticked off at any given moment. Such is life I suppose. But, instead of holding in my discontent, apparently I blog. I need other people to hear all about it! And I also just find humor in everyday situations. If I share my thoughts, maybe someone will get a laugh out of it. Or not. I don't care. Either way, the idiosyncrasies of life tend to piss me off, and then make me laugh. That is the point of aptly titling my website "Cannot help but rant." So, you see, the main topic of this blog will be ranting. I cannot help it. It's therapeutic for me. Do with it what you will.
Until next entry, have a super-fantastic day! Ciao!
Confessions
I don't always follow through on things I start. Take blogging for instance. I think I have a few blogs that I started with the intention of oh, actually blogging. I started out strong. Then, like a dusty box of old photos, I left them alone and unattended. Oh well. This blog too, shall start with good intentions. And the fact that for some reason, not only at work (god, I hope my boss isn't reading this...), but at other "down" times of the day, I'm bored out of my mind. I try to do things to keep me busy (you know, that pesky thing called work), but after a while I either get 1. stir crazy 2. dazed and confused 3. suffer from good old fashion boredom. I wish I could offer the cure to cancer or a new fangled idea about the political hardship our country faces, but alas, all I can offer is my boredom turned into light-hearted, comedic blogs. They say laughter is the best medicine, so perhaps this blog will turn into something good! Mostly though, it's for my own rant and rave sessions (of which I have many!), and an outlet to do something somewhat creative with my energy and boredom. Writing is something I like to do, and I'd like to think I'm pretty good at it. Don't rain on my parade here...if you disagree, just don't tell me! So, onward with my blog full of good intentions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
