I received a very concerning phone call at work today. It went like this:
Me: Officeworks ***********. Junaberry speaking.
Man: Hi, I'm hoping you can help me.
Me: Sure, what can I do for you?
Man: I need some advice about something.
Me: What was it concerning?
Man: See, my friend just got back from Thailand.
Me: ...
Man: And she did this thing I kind of want to do as well. Except it could be embarrassing for me and I don't know if I should do it.
Me: Um...
Man: Do you think you can help me out here?
Me: Um... Yeah, okay.
Man: Should I just tell you what it is?
Me: Yeah, okay.
Man: There's this nightclub in Thailand. And if you go to the bathroom, they take you out back and tie you up naked. Do you see my problem? It could be embarrassing for me.
Me: Um...
Man: So, I need your advice. Should I do it?
Me: Well, you're going overseas. Which means you won't know anyone over there so, even if it is embarrassing, it's not like anyone you know will see you do it.
Man: So, you're saying I should do it?
Me: I'm saying you should stay safe and reasonable.
Man: So, I should do it?
Me: I'm saying you should stay safe and reasonable.
Man: That's very good advice. Thank you.
Me: You're welcome. Have a nice day.
Bear in mind, this was a middle aged sounding man. Incredibly polite. He was speaking as if he was asking me whether we stocked Bic Clics (unfortunately, only the ultra colour pack of three, not the single black or blue ones). It was astonishing and nearly made my day. As I was taking the phone call, I started gesticulating wildly at two of my coworkers standing in close proximity.
"What? What?" they kept asking. I could do nothing but shake my head in astonishment. When I told them what the phone call was about and what my response was, they said I was like Dr. Phil. I told my manager later who said it was likely a prank call or a disturbed person and that I should have told them we have caller ID and that, if they call again, we'll call the police.
In retrospect, this would have probably been a good idea. You know, to not take a slightly (actually, very) creepy phone call from a potentially disturbed person. At the time, however, I didn't know how to react because he was so damn polite. And when someone, especially a customer, is so damn polite to me, it is my knee jerk reaction to be super polite back to them. So, I humoured his request for advice. I wonder if there really is such a club in Thailand but I am scared to Google it.
Someone do it for me.
J
About Me
- Junaberry
- I'm a student from Australia who used to have a lot of time on her hands but doesn't have that much anymore. Now she has other stuff on her hands.
3 comments:
customers/random phone callers be cray...
today, I had one guy tell me to put his pin number in for him. he recited his pin number to me. I have since stolen all his money.
that is just straight up stupid. like how can anyone have survived long enough to even have a pin number/debit/credit card/bank account without dying from their own stupidity?
i've had like couples or families tell their partner their pin number in their own language (i remember an eastern european, potentially croatian or whatever, couple do this). i mean, i get that it's safer than to say it in english but i'd still be paranoid that someone who spoke that language would be loitering around...
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