Dear dimwit on the phone

So you are under the assumption that Kolchak just hung up on the person or didn't write back then?
They were just showing what was asked of them. For all you know, they got their answer, and it was done very professionally. That doesn't mean they can't post her to show what a moronic statement it is.
Why are you so against letting people vent/poke fun at the general public? That's what this thread is about!!

 

Yeah, that sucks that you've got a sick kid. But A) what the hell was he doing with you while you were on assignment B) unless he's on his deathbed it's still no fucking excuse to write eight damn quoteless inches on a volleyball match that you told our photog was a much bigger match than the one I was sending him to shoot and C) it shouldn't take more than two hours after the match for you to file the glorified brief.

 

He didn't hang up. It was a message. Sure, he may have returned the phone call, but I'm going to go out on a limb and guess he didn't, because he thought the person was a dimwit and didn't deserve his time (the same reason he posted on this thread).

The statement wasn't moronic. He didn't know what MLB Network was. If that makes him a moron, a lot of non sports fans I know are morons.

And, that statement, that it was moronic, is what's wrong with this thread. Gleefully basking in the fact that some people don't know as much as you do.

 

I can't help but think back to the woman who called last year asking what channel the network carrying the Podunk State game was on. I suggested she call her service provider.

Reply: "Oh would they know?"
Me: "Yes, they know what channels they carry."

 

Is this why the readers seem so amazed to hear back from somebody?

I reply to every e-mail and return all calls with a number, including more than one where I've been yelled at. I can't always answer the questions, and I acknowledge sometimes they just want to vent (frequently to the wrong person).

But it just seems polite.

 

I've made a strong effort in the last year in this area. I think readers really appreciate.

 

Most of the people who left message didn't bother to leave a call back number. Guess they thought I doubled as the psychic hotline. Or didn't really want a call back, just wanted to blow off steam.

 

Emails always get responded to, phone calls if they leave a number.

But even after "making nice" with them, I still will come on here if the story is worthy of sharing.

 

On the MLB Network thing, I suspect it's because we've used MLB, NFL and NBA for so long to refer to the organizations that, when readers see it anywhere, they think that's what it refers to.

So in TV listings, I've always put the letter "N" after MLB, NFL and NBA to make it clear it refers to the network.

Not saying that will stop all the calls but it might help avoid confusion.

 

Actually, the channel is NBATV, not NBA Network.

 

Bingo.

 

Yes, did that as well.

Related question... how deep do you go in your sports TV listings? Seems more and more cable systems and satellite providers offer a tier of channels that carry a ton of live events. This tier is usually offered at a price. I have no idea what percentage of readers/viewers elect to purchase it.

So do you only list events available on the "basic" cable or satellite package (whatever that is in your area)? Or do you list all the stuff available on the extra channels like NFL Network, NHL Network, SPEED, Fox College Sports, Fox Soccer Channel and on and on? (That list would get to be fairly lengthy.)