Phone Conversations

When I call someone (especially a business) I normally respond to their hello and reply with a hello and then ask how they are doing today?  That normally results in a long pause before they finally respond that they were fine.  Each time that it happens, I always wonder why the long pause....like they are waving for someone to pick up the other extension in case it is an obscene phone call or bomb threat.   I just asked how their day was going, not what they were wearing.

Asking people how they are doing is just an etiquette thing and I don't expect to hear much beyond "fine", yet it was the way that I was raised and is common practice still around my area.  I always thought that it was common practice in this world to greet people in a friendly manner prior to conducting business.  I guess things have changed and I am once again the caveman who missed it.

I blame the email and texting world for this loss of etiquette and social interaction.  It seems like the current generation can only talk to machines and are losing the ability to communicate in a social way without reading a script.  Pretty sad really.

Yes it is sad but i like talking to some one standing in front of them and they e-mail to the person in the cube next to them and standing i can see both people. People want to hide in their little corners just had a property manager ask to deliver some paper work to his office for him i was parked in their lot i said sure no problem i go in and when he saw me he ducked around the corner. The lady at the front desk took the paper work.


semper fidelis

Hey Pete, didn't know you were one of Uncle Sam's misfits....glad to see another member here.

semper fidelis

O ya! 1971 1974 combat engineer( mos 1771)

Imagine what will happen in 10 - 20 years ? People will text each other when they're standing in front of each other ?

Peter Breen wrote:O ya!  1971  1974  combat engineer( mos 1771)

I stated with Utility Engineers, but spent 6 months as a Platoon Sgt for 2nd Engines at one point. You went before me by a bit (I went in the Fall of '86), so I salute you sir. Who would have thought that we would end up cleaning carpets?

dp1 wrote:Imagine what will happen in 10 - 20 years ? People will text each other when they're standing in front of each other ?

Hell, they do that now.

I do the same thing Rob....I hate when they pause and then say....ummmmm OKAY? like you're a serial killer. When they do that...I bring it and say, Im trying to be polite but we can get past nice if you want....usually when I deal with non customers though.