Dear dimwit on the phone

Caller: "Can I send you something for league sign-ups?"
Me: "Yes, let me give you our email address."
Caller: "I don't do email."

I can't overstate how tired I am of people who don't "do" email. I don't expect everyone to be totally up to date with the latest technology, but email is 20th Century. Can we at least all get on board with that? It blows my mind. If you have a library card, you have access to email.

 

I've had two people try to impress me in the past couple weeks by making an issue of the fact that they were calling long distance.

What? Was the Western Union machine busy?

 

Coupled in the betting with those that expect you to take dictation as they read the info to you over the phone. I'm giving you the space free as a public service, and that does not include my secretarial skills.

 

But like someone said, he wasn't on the clock. I'd have done the same thing if I was in his shoes.

 

Same here.

Put it another way. You meet someone who works at the local McDonald's at the supermarket. Do you complain about how they make their BigMacs to them, or do you call the manager?

If the woman cares about it that much, then they can make the call.

 

The person who works at McDonald's isn't a public figure. You are.

And we wonder why newspapers are freaking ding.

 

I agree with this. You're the face of the paper, a product that has a more human element - and hopefully more respect - than your local McDonald's.

My solution to this would have been: "You know, I'm not actually sure why. Here, let me give you our news editor's office number. Give him a call Monday and he'll be able to tell you why it hasn't run yet and to get it in the paper for you. Thanks for letting us know about that."

You're polite and get out of working.

 

I still think there is a difference between being a public figure and a public servant. Most readers assume we are the latter.

 

Yes, we are representing our media outlets, even when we're doing our grocery shopping or whatever else. If you're rude to someone, that's a bad reflection on you and the media outlet. MonsterLobster's approach is absolutely correct. You're only taking a few moments out of your day, you're helping a reader/viewer/listener, and you're giving a good impression of yourself and your media outlet.

It isn't hard. Honest.

 

And then she calls your boss and starts ranting

In the original example, the poster had asked if the reader had called the newspaper. And the reader responded with a further complaint, after being told the journalist had been on vacation. Instead of just saying, "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize that. How can I contact the newsroom?"

Giving out the newsroom number would have been fine. But the first solution posted was that the writer should take the complainer's number down and try to find out for them. That's nice if you want to go beyond the call of duty on your vacation. Not everyone wants to do so, especially with the way this business has been going.

Using a different example, since the McDonald's one flopped so badly. Say you're a doctor and you're in the grocery store. Person comes up to you and says, "Oh, you're a doctor. Well, I'm having this pain right here ..."

Unless the other person is dying right in front of them, the doc's going to tell them to call his office, or to go to the hospital. They may give out their office number and tell them to call tomorrow. They're not going to put down the head of lettuce and start examining the potential patient right then and there. Why? Because they're not getting paid for it. Their time is valuable and worth money.

 

I don't think a newspaper employee being brusque has anything to do with the imminent death of newspapers. That's more likely the fact that newspapers have been giving content away for free online for more than a decade.

Be polite to those who are polite to you, regardless of your profession.

By the way, I have never considered myself to be a public figure (except when I got recognized at the airport around Christmas this year). The thought that I might be makes me more thankful I live outside the coverage area.

 

Dear pretty decent Division I team blogger,

Don't get all pissy at me when I point out the falsities of a picture (taken by friend and former coworker) that you posted with no credit to on your blog, facebook and twitter account.
I am just giving you facts...sorry if that ruins your perfect little made-up story to go with the picture.

Once again...journalist the victor despite you and your little piss-ant army of blog readers.