Are you polite to people who aren't real?
By Boingboing
@boiboing (13153)
Northampton, England
March 22, 2016 7:05am CST
I've just dialed in for yet another of the many telephone conference calls I make every day. After I get through, I have to enter a code and push various # and * keys at different times.
I KNOW that the voice which tells me what to do next is only a recording, I know that there isn't a real little person sitting inside the phone talking to me.
So the question is, why do I feel like I'm being rude when I interrupt her and start plugging in the numbers whilst she's still talking?
Am I the only one who does this? Do you also thank the ATM machine and the machine that dispense tickets?
10 people like this
12 responses
@Mike197602 (15512)
• United Kingdom
22 Mar 16
I'm probably one of very few UK people that doesn't have a phone of any sort.
No mobile and no landline.
I do silently thank the ATM for not chewing my card up...although I don't thank it as such as I still call them cashpoints
1 person likes this
@purplealabaster (22091)
• United States
22 Mar 16
How the heck do you survive without a phone?!
And here I thought I was bad for being back in the Stone Ages with my flip phone that does not even go on the Internet (well, technically it could go on the Internet, but I won't let it
).
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
23 Mar 16
@Mike197602 Sounds like heaven.
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15512)
• United Kingdom
23 Mar 16
@purplealabaster I do fine.
Haven't had one for way over 5 years.
I never speak to anyone and family know to email me
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168126)
• Boise, Idaho
23 Mar 16
It something inherit in our make up. I feel the same way. I have it ingrained in me from my grandmother's input early on in my life to be polite, manners, respect, etc. It's just there. Nothing I can do to change it. I do thank the ATM if I am in a good mood. LOL
@LdeL0318 (6400)
• Philippines
22 Mar 16
I also do that especially when I already know the next steps or the next numbers to press so I won't waste my time waiting for the voice prompt to finish.
@purplealabaster (22091)
• United States
22 Mar 16
Pushing the buttons during the recorded message doesn't bother me, but I have found myself saying "thank you" after the voice says "I am transferring you now".
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
22 Mar 16
No you aren't the only one and I don't care if I hurt the feelings of a recorded message!
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
22 Mar 16
maybe because it sounds real and is on the phone so your mind hears a real person even though you know it's not. I dont, but I only have those a couple times a month myself
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
22 Mar 16
No, I'm not always so annoyed to get the automated operator I can hardly be polite. Especially the more they misunderstand what I want the louder I get. I'm very glad no one can hear me be so rude to a machine.
@Lazyblogs (494)
• Chandigarh, India
22 Mar 16
Maybe you dont feel like being rude to anyone or anything . So their is no harm in being polite
