By KARRI LIN
karri@newsroom.byu.edu
You know how the phone always rings when you are in the midst of a disaster? It's like those telecommunication people know you are in a hurry to get things done and they would just like to help you out by increasing your stress level.
A couple of days ago, just when I was about to storm out of my apartment for an appointment i was late for, the phone rang. I dashed for the phone and thought 'this better be an important phone call, telling me something about how the Middle East just declared peace.'
But no. A long silence followed after I picked up the phone. I impatiently repeated, 'Hello?'
If I was smart, I should have hung up the phone at this point, because only those annoying telecommunication people call you from a speaker phone. I mean, how impersonal is that? I sure don't feel like 'a valued future customer' if I'm receiving a phone call from a telecommunication worker who is filing her nails, reading the 'Cosmopolitan' and randomly punching numbers all at the same time.
After the third 'Hello' from me, a monotone voice finally came through and started a five-minute, non-stop, trite commercial for a long-distance carrier.
I must admit I applaud them for their well-trained skills to deliver the advertising lines in one very big breath. It's like the end of some car commercials with the five-second rapid-fire requirements and vital information you really need to know but can't understand.
At the first notice of a pause, I squeezed in a 'No, thanks' in reply to 'this best deal of the year.' However, she did not give up and proceeded to ask me if I am the decision maker of this household. I felt the anger building up. How dare she question my authority and decision based on my voice.
Then she went off again talking in secret code and trying to break my cool. So I yelled into the phone that I had to do something more interesting than listening to her. Oh, I don't know. Watch the paint dry. Wait in line to take a final. Get stuck in traffic on I-15 on a Friday night. Any of the above.
I thought, 'there has got to be a first time to everything.' Now I am proud to announce that I have joined IHUPC, the 'I Hung Up on People Club.' You know what? I feel surprisingly good. I have been Miss Polite on the phone for way too long. Now I am liberated and I am not afraid to use the 'off' button on my phone. Just try me, AT&T. I dare you.