Calling On You
What happened:
Minding my own business, after business hours, browsing (and usually buying) at the local Barnes & Noble on a Tuesday night… My PERSONAL cell phone rings, but I don’t recognize the number, so I let it go to voice mail.
The message is the third time a certain individual from a certain organization that I worked for has called me in the evening, in a panic, requesting me to call him back ASAP to solve a problem he has failed to adequately prepare for at this particular moment in time. (Important note for clarification: my official role in this situation was NOT a 24×7 customer service/technical support representative).
I call back (from my BUSINESS cell phone that I’ve asked this person to use instead of my personal number twice previously) within about three minutes of his call. I begin to calmly explain the proper protocol for support issues yet AGAIN to this person, but still ask the nature of the problem in the hopes of offering some amount of assistance.
Apparently, this thirty second explanation upon returning this call is taking too long because I get cut off mid-sentence with “Yeah, well, I really need to get back, I don’t have time to get into all of this right now.” Or something to that effect…
Undaunted (or possibly a glutton for punishment) I quickly inquire “Well did you receive, and have chance to take a look at all of the training information I emailed to you after our conversation last week?”
<…deafening silence…>
“Within those resources I provided you are the answers to the majority of the basic introductory questions you’re having now.” I tell him. “You know, a quick peruse through that information will save you time and frustration having to make phone calls in the moment” I urge. To which he finally and pointedly replies: “Yeah, I got the information, but I don’t have any extra time to spend on that stuff, I go to school full time and work, and am just too busy.” Then he abruptly hangs up…
I’m left hanging, asking myself what the hell just happened here? I’m thinking I must be in the middle of some kind of fucking nightmare right now because no matter what I say, or how many times I offer up assistance, or how nice, or responsive, or professional, or thorough I am… it’s a no-win situation with this person. Nothing gets through, nothing is good enough, nothing changes, and nothing improves no matter how hard I try.
Zombie-like due to disbelief, I immediately commence to committing this diatribe into the annals of the talk shiFt-osphere you’re reading right here…
What SHOULD have happened:
1. Do your homework, give your dilemma due-diligence, and put some time and effort into solving your own (easily resolvable) problem before contacting the wrong person (who has already gone to great lengths to help you previously), at the wrong time.
2. Realize what an insensitive and self-centered tool you are for not doing #1.
3. Don’t fucking call me. Ever. Again.
Agree or disagree; just no apathy.
Stay tuned-in…
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