Tag Archives: phone calls

Hang-ups

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It looks like it was time for me to receive the biannual unwanted solicitous phone call from the children’s hospital radio station thing fund-raisers.

See, generally speaking, I intensely dislike making and receiving phone calls. I don’t know why, but it’s been like this my whole life.

So if I get a phone call that’s someone trying to get me to buy something, be it charity donations or some dodgy mortgage seminar, I don’t take to it kindly, and try to at least make it entertaining for myself.

So, there I was, relaxing on the couch, watching edited highlights of UK Big Brother on YouTube, when I got a phone call. It went like this:

Caller: Hi, I’m calling in behalf of [children’s hospital radio station thing]. Have you heard of us?
Me: Yes.

The caller was probably probably following a script that expected my answer to have been no, because then she said:

Caller: It’s a non-profit children’s hospital radio station.
Me: Yep, that’s right.

She paused, which made me think no one had responded like this before.

Caller: Well, we’re currently selling tickets for a musical in August. All proceeds will go directly to helping the children. Are you interested in buying a ticket?

I paused and then said:

Me: No.

It was a long, drawn-out, slightly suspicious sounding no. Or at least that’s what I was aiming for.

Caller: Ok, well is it all right if I phone you back in August closer to the date to see if you’ve changed your mind?

What? Does she think I will have grown a tolerance for annoying phone calls and have a newly acquired appreciation for amateur dramatics?

Me: No.
Caller: Um, ok, then. Goodbye.
Me: [In the happinest sunshine voice I could muster] Bye!!!!!11one <3 <3

I’m so glad that other charities don’t use this approach.

Phone hex

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Update 1: The results of the NZ Herald Digipoll survery were in the Herald today. The Maori Party was predicted to get three seats, but this was based upon the assumption they’d keep their electorate members, because they polled lower than the 5% they’d need to get votes the other way. If I get surveyed again, I think I’ll pick another party.

Update 2: Still no sign of a response from my local MP regarding the “vote for Rodney” phone call.

I seem to be getting a lot of sales or political phone calls lately. Last night I had a phone call that went like this:

Me: Hello?
Caller: Hello, is that Mrs Gallagher?
Me: Uh, do you want to speak to my mother?
Caller: Oh, yes please.
Me: She actually doesn’t live with me.
Caller: Oh, Miss Gallagher?
Me: Um, yeah?

He was fund-raising for some children’s hospital radio station thing. They were putting on a production of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” and he wanted me to buy a ticket to it either for myself or for a sick kiddie.

Well, when I was a non-sick kiddie, the aforementioned Mrs Gallagher read that book to my brother and I, and I found it very upsetting when the lion died. If I was a sick kiddie, seeing a play of it would not make me feel better or indeed “help take away the pain of their daily lives,” as the phone guy claimed it would.