(no subject)

You know how people complain that every time they try to get product support, all their calls for help end up going to someone in India? Ever wonder what it's like for the people on the other end of that line?

"Of course the customers shout at you," he responded to one of the novices.

"And you can't shout back at them?" the young woman asked. "That's not fair."

"No worries, mate," he replied. "Women start crying when they get abused and ask men to take the call instead. I'd tell them that it's not you they're shouting at, but at your alias, Samantha. Why get upset about someone abusing Samantha? She doesn't exist."

Dalip made it sound easy and logical, but even he had found it hard to stay consistently reasonable. At the place he'd worked he had not been able to tell customers the location of the call centre. "One day, I don't know what got into me. The customer asked me where I was and I said, 'Chandigarh.' 'Where's that?' he asked. 'It's near Tennessee, but you need to take a right before you come to Tennessee,' I told him. The supervisor was listening in and I got my first red flag. Three red flags and you're out."

Call me, link from this post by vernacular_body.

I apologised for disconnecting him, explained that Technical would be calling him soon, and Steven seemed satisfied. But he had a few questions. "Which country are you in?" Since BT didn't have a secrecy policy about the location, I told Steven I was in India. "That's so very strange," he said, sounding delighted. "You see, I'm going to be coming to India, but not right away. My next life is going to be in the United States, because I have some work there." It was a quarter to three in the morning by now, with people putting their headsets away and shuffling off the floor, and my relief at having reached Steven was giving way to a greater relief - the knowledge that I was done. "After that, it's going to be Israel and Palestine," Steven continued. "Then I'll be born in India. We'll probably meet." I wondered if Steven had very brief life spans in mind. "Will you know me?" he asked. "Certainly," I replied. Steven laughed and I wondered if he was having me on. "Yes, of course you'll recognise me," he said cheerily. "Just keep your portal open."