Things I find a tad exasperating v.3

[Adami]

Yay! Finally I have my special day!!!

Sorry. You seem too happy about it. The day no longer applies to you.

[XJDenton]

Holiday 22: If you want to celebrate it, its not for you. If you don't, it is.

[wolfking]

I treat my cats as children.  My wife and I tried for a decade to have children.  As well as in vitro 3 times.  We were heartbroken.  The cats have filled a void in our lives.

I'm not judging that in the slightest mate and pleased it managed to fill a hole for you guys.  But I know you both are not the kind to barrack for a parents of pets day to compensate.

[pg1067]

Phone answering systems where they want you to talk to the robot.   

[El Barto]

Phone answering systems where they want you to talk to the robot.   

Some bigger companies have now made it impossible to speak to a real person. It used to be that if you just shouted "REAL PERSON" at it a few times it'd give up and patch you through, but not anymore. The problem is that the automated systems are fine for the easy stuff, but anything abnormal comes up and they're useless. In the last two months I've run into unsolvable problems with UPS and Walmart with no way to communicate with anybody. 

In the past I always bemoaned calling somewhere and getting a person who's barely English competent. Now I'm thrilled if I can even speak to somebody in Bangladeshi.

[King Postwhore]

I'm not judging that in the slightest mate and pleased it managed to fill a hole for you guys.  But I know you both are not the kind to barrack for a parents of pets day to compensate.

Don't even worry. I get your side. I just love my kitties like children because they fill a void. 

[King Postwhore]

Phone answering systems where they want you to talk to the robot.   

And you have to call back multiple times bec5you can't navigate the automation. 

[pg1067]

I called an insurance agent's office because the agent had sent me an email to give her a call.  It asked why I was calling, and I'm like, "uhhh...because you told me to call you."  I ended up in their voice mail system somehow.  Fortunately, somebody there must have been paying attention because they called me.

In the old days, I used to just spam the "0" button to get past the endless phone menus.

[romdrums]

One that I'm starting to encounter is an in-bound call where you answer the phone and the robot says, "please wait while we dial the number," and the the person on the other end says, "Hello?" like they didn't just make the call. 

[King Postwhore]

I'm so triggered. Lol

[Stadler]

One that I'm starting to encounter is an in-bound call where you answer the phone and the robot says, "please wait while we dial the number," and the the person on the other end says, "Hello?" like they didn't just make the call. 

I usually don't get that far.  One, I rarely answer those and if I do, I hang up before I get to the human.

[lonestar]

I've been getting this weird robocall where they call me, immediately hang up after one ring, then leave a 50s message about loan reconciliation. Fucking annoying.

[TAC]

I've been getting this weird robocall where they call me, immediately hang up after one ring, then leave a 50s message about loan reconciliation. Fucking annoying.

Sometimes it doesn't even ring. Just bang..I have a voicemail. I actually prefer that. Nothing worse than being interrupted in what I'm doing by some random phone call coming from New Jersey.

[Adami]

Sometimes it doesn't even ring. Just bang..I have a voicemail. I actually prefer that. Nothing worse than being interrupted in what I'm doing by some random phone call coming from New Jersey.

Yea, Jersey ruins everything.




I also prefer it this way. I can just see the first few words of the voicemail transcribed and delete it.

[lonestar]

Sometimes it doesn't even ring. Just bang..I have a voicemail. I actually prefer that. Nothing worse than being interrupted in what I'm doing by some random phone call coming from New Jersey.

Yup, and since my delivery guys have to call me to access my building, I have to answer all calls. Fucking annoying

[Stadler]

I've been getting this weird robocall where they call me, immediately hang up after one ring, then leave a 50s message about loan reconciliation. Fucking annoying.

WHOA!!!! I'm getting those too!!!!  I thought it was just me (I've been dealing with refinancing one of my cars and a student loan I have; I figured it was advanced algorithms or something).

[Stadler]

Yea, Jersey ruins everything.




I also prefer it this way. I can just see the first few words of the voicemail transcribed and delete it.

One thing that ISN'T exasperating?  The ability to have voicemails transcribed to text.  One of the better inventions of the 21st century.

[cramx3]

Sometimes it doesn't even ring. Just bang..I have a voicemail. I actually prefer that. Nothing worse than being interrupted in what I'm doing by some random phone call coming from New Jersey.

Ah that explains it, you've been ignoring my calls!

A serious thing I find exasperating, voice mails AT ALL.  We are past that phase in life to leave voice mails IMO.  My voice mail box has been full for the last ten years for a reason.  If you need to leave a message, text me. GTFO with leaving a voice message these days.

[hefdaddy42]

Ah that explains it, you've been ignoring my calls!

A serious thing I find exasperating, voice mails AT ALL.  We are past that phase in life to leave voice mails IMO.  My voice mail box has been full for the last ten years for a reason.  If you need to leave a message, text me. GTFO with leaving a voice message these days.

VMs exist for parents who call and don't get you.

I have tried to explain to my Mom that she doesn't need to leave me a VM.  I will see that she called, and I will call her back.  Doesn't matter.

[Stadler]

VMs exist for parents who call and don't get you.

I have tried to explain to my Mom that she doesn't need to leave me a VM.  I will see that she called, and I will call her back.  Doesn't matter.

THIS.  My dad passed in June of 2022, and whereas before that I would have to clear out VMs probably once a month, I haven't cleared them ONCE by necessity since then.  NOT ONCE. 

[TAC]

THIS.  My dad passed in June of 2022, and whereas before that I would have to clear out VMs probably once a month, I haven't cleared them ONCE by necessity since then.  NOT ONCE.

I have two voicemails from my father that I will never erase. In fact, I emailed them to myself and saved them as files on my computer.

It's been a year and a half, and I still cannot bring myself to listen to them.

[lonestar]

Ok, literally just had a new variation of the robocall...call came in, caller ID said "Primary Care" so I thought it was Kaiser who usually ID as Kaiser Primary Care I think...I answered since I got some test coming up, and it's a fucking auto loan promo.


Fuckers.

[King Postwhore]

Ah that explains it, you've been ignoring my calls!

A serious thing I find exasperating, voice mails AT ALL.  We are past that phase in life to leave voice mails IMO.  My voice mail box has been full for the last ten years for a reason.  If you need to leave a message, text me. GTFO with leaving a voice message these days.

My issue with those who have a full VM or don't set it up is when I'm reaching out to set up an interview.  I find it extremely unprofessional to text someone about a job.

[cramx3]

My issue with those who have a full VM or don't set it up is when I'm reaching out to set up an interview.  I find it extremely unprofessional to text someone about a job.

You don't email?  I can see that though.  I haven't really dealt with the job search to know if it's normal to get actual calls or just email/message responses.  I did finally update my linked in / resume though 

[pg1067]

VMs exist for parents who call and don't get you.

I have tried to explain to my Mom that she doesn't need to leave me a VM.  I will see that she called, and I will call her back.  Doesn't matter.

I got into a very minor argument with a work colleague/friend about that a month or so ago.  He called when I was away from my desk, but he didn't leave a VM or send me an email or Teams message saying, "call me when you have a minute."  I saw that he had called, but because he didn't leave a VM or otherwise follow up, I ignored it.  A couple days later, he asked if I had seen that he had called and, when I acknowledged I had, he asked why I didn't call him back.  I explained, and he said something like, "so, it's your practice not to return calls unless the caller leaves a message."  I said, yes.  He seemed very surprised about that.


As for robocalls, I very rarely pick up a call from a number I don't recognize.  If I do answer a robocall, it either starts before I pick up or there's a delay that makes it obvious what it is.

[hefdaddy42]

I got into a very minor argument with a work colleague/friend about that a month or so ago.  He called when I was away from my desk, but he didn't leave a VM or send me an email or Teams message saying, "call me when you have a minute."  I saw that he had called, but because he didn't leave a VM or otherwise follow up, I ignored it.  A couple days later, he asked if I had seen that he had called and, when I acknowledged I had, he asked why I didn't call him back.  I explained, and he said something like, "so, it's your practice not to return calls unless the caller leaves a message."  I said, yes.  He seemed very surprised about that.

I would be surprised as well.  I would assume that a colleague who called wasn't calling just to shoot the shit, so I would call them back.

[Stadler]

I would be surprised as well.  I would assume that a colleague who called wasn't calling just to shoot the shit, so I would call them back.

A little bit in defense of Paul here, though for slightly different reasons, I had a boss that would get 100's of emails and voicemails a day.   Some - his boss, his direct staff - he would answer as a matter of course. Others... if the email was vague, or poorly worded, or incomplete, he would ignore until the second prompting, on the assumption that "if it's not important enough for you to make the communication clear, it's not important enough for me to response proactively".  He was senior in the organization, so there's that, but there's some wisdom to that.

If someone just calls without a VM, or sends a Teams like "Hi Bill!" with nothing else, there's only about 10 people in my organization, plus/minus, that are getting a response from me proactively. 

[Adami]

I feel like if I got a missed call from anyone at work, I'd at least send a text to check in.

[cramx3]

A little bit in defense of Paul here, though for slightly different reasons, I had a boss that would get 100's of emails and voicemails a day.   Some - his boss, his direct staff - he would answer as a matter of course. Others... if the email was vague, or poorly worded, or incomplete, he would ignore until the second prompting, on the assumption that "if it's not important enough for you to make the communication clear, it's not important enough for me to response proactively".  He was senior in the organization, so there's that, but there's some wisdom to that.

If someone just calls without a VM, or sends a Teams like "Hi Bill!" with nothing else, there's only about 10 people in my organization, plus/minus, that are getting a response from me proactively. 

I also, find it exasperating, while at work and someone mentions "HI marc" and nothing else.  STOP.  We are at work, we know you aren't here to chit chat and you need something, spit it out.  I also dont usually respond to those messages until they follow up with their request (but that also depends on how busy I am and who is reaching out). 

Also, work or personal, if I see a missed call, I'll either call or message back.  I dont think I need a VM or follow up message to respond.  But that goes in line with my thoughts on VM not being needed anymore.  A smart phone shows a missed call and from who and when.  THat's enough info for me to get back to someone.

[King Postwhore]

You don't email?  I can see that though.  I haven't really dealt with the job search to know if it's normal to get actual calls or just email/message responses.  I did finally update my linked in / resume though 

I do but half the time they don't check their emails.  Just a manual labor job.

[hefdaddy42]

A smart phone shows a missed call and from who and when.  THat's enough info for me to get back to someone.

Yep, that's what I keep telling my Mom.  To no avail.

[pg1067]

I would be surprised as well.  I would assume that a colleague who called wasn't calling just to shoot the shit, so I would call them back.

My practice is that, if I call someone and get VM, if I want a return call, I'll either leave a VM or send a Teams or email message asking for a call (or explaining what I want).  If I don't do any of those things, it means either that I'll follow up or that it's not important enough for a follow up.  Often, the calls are to find out a piece of information that I can look up on my own but the person I'm calling will know off the top of his/her head, so I don't ask for a call back because, by the time it happens, I'll have looked up the info I need.

[Lonk]

I'm one of the 10 people that has a Google phone, and great thing is that it recognizes spam calls and lets me know. Though I wouldn't pick up a number I don't recognize anyways unless I'm expecting a call.

Regarding VM and calling back. At my job, most of my communication takes place through email or 2-way radios. If I get a phone call it means is something important/urgent and I tend to call back if I missed a call.

[faizoff]

I also, find it exasperating, while at work and someone mentions "HI marc" and nothing else.  STOP.  We are at work, we know you aren't here to chit chat and you need something, spit it out.  I also dont usually respond to those messages until they follow up with their request (but that also depends on how busy I am and who is reaching out). 

Also, work or personal, if I see a missed call, I'll either call or message back.  I dont think I need a VM or follow up message to respond.  But that goes in line with my thoughts on VM not being needed anymore.  A smart phone shows a missed call and from who and when.  THat's enough info for me to get back to someone.

I was going to mention this exact thing today in here. I always get messages on teams 'Hi'.


I just ignore them.

[Chino]

When you get a sausage, egg & cheese breakfast sandwich, and the sausage is only like half the diameter of the roll/bagel.