They (the very mysterious and elusive they) say that we make a decision about people in the first 30 seconds of seeing them. (Ok, so they really probably are experts, and have the studies to say so. (Cue dramatic voice) This time). But what about on the phone? I've spoken to people where I'm pretty sure they were lucky to graduate high school - they just weren't very smart sounding. Snap judgement? Oh yeah. Accurate? Usually. Once in a while it's a new person who's just learning their job, but usually? Yeah.
I spend a lot of time on hold for tech support with our cell phones at work. I make snap judgements about the people I talk to all the time. On the other hand, I'm sure they make judgements about me too! I can tell the minute they think I'm going to be a bitch - which sometimes I am - their voices get harder, and they get less co-operative. But if I'm nice - polite, keep my voice pleasant, and be encouraging (not encouraging, but show my willingness to do what they need done (tech support remember) and tell them thank you for their help, and I appreciate their hard work) - they will do their best to get my problem solved. Somehow, I think the not-so-nice people tend to be the predominate calls. And, after all, what does it hurt to tell someone that they've done a great job & thank you for helping?
The moral of the story is, I guess, to just be nice. And at least try to use your brain.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
A Short Story. Or, What to Write About When You Can't Think of Anything
Long ago, I used to tell the best little kid stories. They'd be mash-ups of whatever I could think of. 101 Dalmations and Goldilocks? I could spin it! Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast? Ok, give me a minute to think.
Somewhere, I lost the child-like wonder that I had and replaced it with cynicism. And while it serves me well, and I'm rarely surprised, I miss that innocence and imagination. That not knowing where the story was going to turn back on itself, loop around, and careen off into the distance.
As an adult I rarely get to tell stories. I don't often use my imagination. I'm not sure if I could tell a little kid story at all anymore. I miss that. I remember telling my younger brother stories on the way home from long trips - and my parents turning down the radio so they could listen too. I wrote a story in 6th grade that my teacher read aloud, and then asked if he could keep it.
I love to read stories that take me unexpected places, and can't always find them. There's a lovely mix of fantasy and romance, and fairy tale, in Robin McKinley's books. Jim Hines writes interesting twists. Mercedes Lackey has some beautiful elements in her Elementals and 500 Kingdom series. I've read lots of others, and there's a few that are on my must-read-author list. But there aren't enough.
Maybe I should try again. Beware!
Somewhere, I lost the child-like wonder that I had and replaced it with cynicism. And while it serves me well, and I'm rarely surprised, I miss that innocence and imagination. That not knowing where the story was going to turn back on itself, loop around, and careen off into the distance.
As an adult I rarely get to tell stories. I don't often use my imagination. I'm not sure if I could tell a little kid story at all anymore. I miss that. I remember telling my younger brother stories on the way home from long trips - and my parents turning down the radio so they could listen too. I wrote a story in 6th grade that my teacher read aloud, and then asked if he could keep it.
I love to read stories that take me unexpected places, and can't always find them. There's a lovely mix of fantasy and romance, and fairy tale, in Robin McKinley's books. Jim Hines writes interesting twists. Mercedes Lackey has some beautiful elements in her Elementals and 500 Kingdom series. I've read lots of others, and there's a few that are on my must-read-author list. But there aren't enough.
Maybe I should try again. Beware!
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