A few years ago it seemed most service reps were speaking to me from another continent, as they were eating marshmallows. So James’ alternatives are all an upgrade!
Having the NATO alphabet memorized was one of the benefits of my time in the army. So useful when I’m on the phone and have to read off a string of random letters and numbers.
At one time I could recite it backwards, while drunk. But that was 40 years ago, and I don’t drink alcohol anymore.
I'm a late Boomer, sometimes referred to as Generation Jones. As a kid, we all ran to the phone whenever it rang. It was never for us, but it was an opportunity to interact with the adult world. When I became an adult, we got answering machines, and then caller ID. Today, I never answer the phone unless I a) recognize the number, AND b) was expecting the call. And even then, sometimes I let it go to voice mail. So I can feel for the Zeds and Alphas.
According to institutional legend, when The Field Museum in Chicago first got office phones, one of the older curators did not take kindly to the interruptions. If his phone rang when he was in the middle of something, he would pick it up, say "Busy!," and then immediately hang up again.
Fossicker! A new word for me! What? Yeah, that Lileks guy likely became aware of that aforementioned term a few days before the opening kickoff of Super Bowl 1. Coprolite?
I realize the language goes through its changes and "value/worth assignment" but there may be some words worth fighting for, such as awesome.
CSR: That's awesome.
C: Awesome? When is the last time you've been in "awe"? Or truly awed by something?
Then again, we don't necessarily want to confuse or distract our CSR's from the goal of fixing the fool situation. Soon our AI overlords will have it all under control and a CSR will be as antiquated as a printed encyclopedia. Then I'll stand in awe, if I'm not horizontal and pushing up the daisies.
Bill Engvall said 'awesome' described something that left one in awe and wonder, like winning the lottery. Twice. Or, getting a call from the IRS, telling you they owe YOU $20,000.
A few years ago it seemed most service reps were speaking to me from another continent, as they were eating marshmallows. So James’ alternatives are all an upgrade!
Like Charlie Brown's mother but with a foreign accent.
LOLing out loud, as the kids say. Thanks for that, James.
Speaking of foreign workers, I think I’ve found a reliable way to identify message senders for whom English is not their first language.
In response to “how are you today?“ I reply “never better.“
Non-English speakers inevitably respond with something like “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Isn't the Standard Minnesota n reply, 'not bad?'
"Not TOO bad," to be precise.
Having the NATO alphabet memorized was one of the benefits of my time in the army. So useful when I’m on the phone and have to read off a string of random letters and numbers.
At one time I could recite it backwards, while drunk. But that was 40 years ago, and I don’t drink alcohol anymore.
My email starts with KMP. K, as in knowledge, M as in mnemonic, P as in pneumonia, because English is stupid.
"Number nine, number nine, number nine ..." Whee!
When the CSR asks how I am I reply,
“Adequate.” I just get the job done nothing spectacular.
Representative 2 was probably AI.
The one that gets me is "perfect." Way overused in the service industry.
I'm a late Boomer, sometimes referred to as Generation Jones. As a kid, we all ran to the phone whenever it rang. It was never for us, but it was an opportunity to interact with the adult world. When I became an adult, we got answering machines, and then caller ID. Today, I never answer the phone unless I a) recognize the number, AND b) was expecting the call. And even then, sometimes I let it go to voice mail. So I can feel for the Zeds and Alphas.
According to institutional legend, when The Field Museum in Chicago first got office phones, one of the older curators did not take kindly to the interruptions. If his phone rang when he was in the middle of something, he would pick it up, say "Busy!," and then immediately hang up again.
Fossicker! A new word for me! What? Yeah, that Lileks guy likely became aware of that aforementioned term a few days before the opening kickoff of Super Bowl 1. Coprolite?
Affirmative... Just a second... awesome!... I prefer I got ya, hang on a minuet and Okay.
Can the balloon juice sister and don't fake the enthusiasm.
I realize the language goes through its changes and "value/worth assignment" but there may be some words worth fighting for, such as awesome.
CSR: That's awesome.
C: Awesome? When is the last time you've been in "awe"? Or truly awed by something?
Then again, we don't necessarily want to confuse or distract our CSR's from the goal of fixing the fool situation. Soon our AI overlords will have it all under control and a CSR will be as antiquated as a printed encyclopedia. Then I'll stand in awe, if I'm not horizontal and pushing up the daisies.
Bill Engvall said 'awesome' described something that left one in awe and wonder, like winning the lottery. Twice. Or, getting a call from the IRS, telling you they owe YOU $20,000.
I suppose the "Affirmative" entity is the rep who renders me the least numb.