Recently I’ve started a job as a tele-marketer selling cheap tickets to stand-up comedy shows featuring reputable big-name comedians.
There’s nothing dodgy or underhand about our deal and we don’t sucker customers with hidden costs; it’s all laid out in simple words and the cost is low anyway.

Something I’ve noticed since starting the job is that, on the whole, people who I’m sure are decent enough human beings are reduced to rude, arrogant, pricks when dealing with tele-marketers.

Tonight, during my four hour shift, I must have called about 400 people. Of those, 4 expressed interest, 1 actually bought some tickets, and the rest told me, in varying manners, to fuck off.

Most people tell you, in a sharp, indignant voice that they are ‘not interested’ before slamming the phone down.
You don’t need to slam the phone; we don’t call you maliciously because we know you’re watching ‘who wants to be a millionaire?’ or having your dinner, we just call you because it’s our job.

Other people – probably 4 in 10 – seem to get some sort of joy out of being arrogant, rude, fuckwits.
They try to argue with us, insult us, or just plain tell us to fuck off.

What I want to know is where these people get off doing this?
I mean, you wouldn’t walk up to a stock-broker and say, “nice share portfolio, arsehole!” or go to a trial and shout out, “worst cross-examination ever, cocksucker!”.

So why the hell do people think it’s ok to abuse tele-marketers?

We’re just doing a job, trying to earn a crust.
If someone walked into your office tomorrow and started harassing you, you wouldn’t accept it and, I’m sure that if I returned some of the static people give me they would get even more indignant than they already are.

Also, be warned, when you mouth off to a tele-marketer remember that they have you name, phone number, and address and can be very vengeful when the mood takes them.

Just be nice, people.