15 + 19 points
Talk to a Telemarketer by Libris Craft
August 28th, 2012 12:28 PM
This was either the second, or third task that I signed up for, and it sat forlornly in my list of tasks for months. I don't have a land-line phone, and I'd registered my phone on the do-not-call list years ago. Telemarketers are few and far between. However, the idea of making an effort to make a connection to a stranger doing a thankless job appealed to me. So I signed up.
And my phone ringing became much more exciting. I would answer numbers I didn't recognize hoping to have my moment. One called, about a month in, but I was driving, and couldn't talk. Another time, it was a robot. I considered talking to the robot, but I couldn't seem to make a connection.
Finally, on Thursday, my phone rang. I was in bed (I'd been sick all day, and refused to get out of bed to answer the phone, so I moved it to my nightstand,) curled up with a favorite book. The worst of the illness was past, and I had a cup of tea.
I didn't even look, to see who it was, I just answered it. I started to smile, as the young man on the other end of phone began to tell me about the wonderful travel deals he wanted to offer me. I let him finish his introduction, and then I asked how he was doing. He seemed very surprised that I asked. He said he was doing fine, and asked me how I was. I told him about my book, and my tea, and that he had caught me at a good time. He told me some more about the travel deal, and I asked him what else was going on in his life. He told me it was really strange that I was asking that, and I confessed that it was part of a "real life scavenger hunt" (my second favorite explanation for SF0 after "art project"). So we talked.
Kalab lives in Springfield, Missouri. He grew up in a small town nearby, and as soon as he finishes his general education requirements, he plans to transfer into a program in Ethobotany. He told me he was fascinated in the interactions over time between people, plants, and the environment. He has a kind-of girlfriend, who he is not sure if he wants to date, or if he wants to date at all.
We had a lovely conversation, and while I didn't buy his travel deal, I think our conversation might have been the highlight of his evening.
And my phone ringing became much more exciting. I would answer numbers I didn't recognize hoping to have my moment. One called, about a month in, but I was driving, and couldn't talk. Another time, it was a robot. I considered talking to the robot, but I couldn't seem to make a connection.
Finally, on Thursday, my phone rang. I was in bed (I'd been sick all day, and refused to get out of bed to answer the phone, so I moved it to my nightstand,) curled up with a favorite book. The worst of the illness was past, and I had a cup of tea.
I didn't even look, to see who it was, I just answered it. I started to smile, as the young man on the other end of phone began to tell me about the wonderful travel deals he wanted to offer me. I let him finish his introduction, and then I asked how he was doing. He seemed very surprised that I asked. He said he was doing fine, and asked me how I was. I told him about my book, and my tea, and that he had caught me at a good time. He told me some more about the travel deal, and I asked him what else was going on in his life. He told me it was really strange that I was asking that, and I confessed that it was part of a "real life scavenger hunt" (my second favorite explanation for SF0 after "art project"). So we talked.
Kalab lives in Springfield, Missouri. He grew up in a small town nearby, and as soon as he finishes his general education requirements, he plans to transfer into a program in Ethobotany. He told me he was fascinated in the interactions over time between people, plants, and the environment. He has a kind-of girlfriend, who he is not sure if he wants to date, or if he wants to date at all.
We had a lovely conversation, and while I didn't buy his travel deal, I think our conversation might have been the highlight of his evening.
4 vote(s)
Terms
(none yet)2 comment(s)
posted by Amoeba Man on August 29th, 2012 4:54 AM
Mine too!
And good work on the task. I'd do this if I ever got a call from a telemarketer. But I only get robots. Also, good to hear that this young fella has plans to go into environmental science. We need people like that- even if they are telemarketers :)
It's absolutely great that you did this, you probably made someone's day. (Or at least given him a very interesting experience.)
By the way, "art project" is usually also my super summary explanation for anything weird.