It's official - I'm a grumpy old git
Published 25 Aug 2011 09:30
It's official I am now a GOG (grumpy old git) - my employer has dispensed with my services because I am too old.
If I were my employer there are many reasons why I would dispense with my services - too bolshie, too argumentative, too set in my ways.
The list could fill this column but being too old would not be one of them, but alas in the words of my hero Victor Mildew "I don't believe it" - but there you are, I will just have to take up the pipe and slippers.
I would like to return to a topic that I have written of in the past - telesales.
Picture the scene - tea time in a peaceful household, an appropriate time to invade a person's privacy as most people regardless of work or shift pattern are at home if only to watch the news and find out what additional gloom and doom awaits us all as a result of the financial difficulty that we find ourselves in because of the crisis in capitalism.
The phone rings, thinking that it may be a loved one or indeed a friend with some good news for us we pick it up.
"Hello" says the person on the other end "What is the make of your television and could I also enquire what model it is", when I am in a jocular mood I may respond with "Aye it's a Grundig but it's no' working just now as I've lost the key and canny wind it up unlike you my friend".
When I am not in such a responsive mood (most of the time) I usually respond with "none of your business".
This response has in the past invoked further queries like "what do you do for living?"
To which the response is "that's nane o yer business either" - this retort a few months ago earned me a brickies farewell from an Asian sounding gentleman who told me to "eff of" before terminating the call Now my problem is this - I do not know nor have I ever heard from anyone who has ever responded civilly to any of these pseudo surveys.
I have never met anyone who has ever purchased any of the goods or services which are thrust upon us on a daily basis.
How is this business financed?
Where does the revenue come from if everyone to greater or lesser degree is like me and does not buy anything?
I have a very serene wife of over 45 years who can become a virago when subjected to these phone call terrorists, because that is what they are, they are like terrorists, unrelenting.
The preferred caller scheme is only effective up to a point and changing your number is not an option as new numbers are not issued and you are allocated a number which has been previously used.
Even if you change and go ex-directory you will still be targeted as if you were the original holder of that number.
Never mind the rioters and looters - we need protection now to free us from these technical terrorists who invade our homes seemingly with impunity.
We need legislation which would prevent companies from trading in this way.
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