Reading this great post at one of my favorite blogs -- Hair Raising Hell -- reminded me of one of my own pet peeves. Let me elaborate:
Ring Ring
"Good Afternoon, this is Mary A."
"Hi Mary! How are you?"
"Doing well, thanks! How are you?"
"I'm Good."
"Great. How can I help you?"
"Do you know who this is?"
Sigh.
The "guess who I am" game. At work.
Do you think this is charming? It's not.
If you're calling me at home and ask "Do you know who this is?", I will generally hang up. Because I once got an obscene phone call that started with "Do you know who this is?". So that question kinda freaks me out anyway.
But if you're calling me at work I will give you the benefit of the doubt.
I don't know who you are, OK?
I have no fucking clue.
I know you aren't my mother. My mother has been smoking for 63 years. Her voice is rather distinct. Plus, she's too much of a lady to jerk me around like that. And she ALWAYS identifies herself. I know it's you, Mom, but I appreciate you having enough courtesy to identify yourself anyway.
When I call her, I always identify myself. She has 2 daughters. We probably sound similar on the phone.
When you call me -- at home, at work, or on the cell -- please identify yourself. Please.
Also, as long as we're on the subject: if your name is Mary, Mark, Mike, Dave, Joe, Kathy, Lori, Tom, Rick, Jose, Manuel, Cynthia, or Debbie, and if we don't speak on the phone very often, do me a favor and gimme your last name too. I have lots of Marys, Marks, Mikes, Daves, Joes, Kathys, Loris, Toms, Ricks, Joses, Manuels, Cynthias and Debbies who might call me at work for whatever reason. I love talking to each of them. Truly. But I prefer knowing which one I'm chatting with.
And one more thing: sign your texts. I don't know your number by sight (except for Vic & Gabe). I have a cheap phone. Just gimme some quick initials, 'kay?
Thanks.
Love,
Mary A
Do you know who this is? Still waiting for you to call me.
ReplyDeletePeople actually DO that? And think it's funny? Damn. People are messed up.
ReplyDeleteWhatever happened to basic courtesy and telephone etiquette, especially for business callers?
ReplyDeleteAnd here's a tip, if you have a fancy smart phone, you can add a signature to your texts and you don't even have to sign them after that. It's automatic.
It's all so true!
ReplyDeleteThe thing that I hate the most about the "do you know who this is?" game is that it potentially puts the person answering the phone in a position where they will be EMBARRASSED, because if they don't know "who this is" they will then be FORCED to admit it. What happened to phone etiquette?
In my case if I don't identify myself most people will mistake me for the wrong gender, and they seem pretty embarrassed at that mistake even though it's an easy one to make.
Oh, my gosh, and DUH, I forgot: Thank you for the shout out!
ReplyDeleteLuv ya, blog sister!