Lil Honey Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 This is a rant about work, so I didn't know if I should put it here or in the rant forum. I'm hoping that it does more "good" here by helping someone recognize this in their own office and motivates them to change. (LOL . . . one can dream . . .) Of course, it's Monday, so that might explain everything . . . I got a call this morning as I was walking into work that was for my boss. (It was 7:45. The office doesn't open 'til 8:00. No problem, that's why I get in a bit early - to take care of some off-the-wall issue that might need attention.) The caller was talking to me on a speaker phone (I'm assuming) and I had to keep asking him for the first numbers when he would pause when giving me his phone number. He started sounding agitated with me, so I said, "Well. Your voice keeps cutting out each time you start talking, so I keep missing the first digits." Then, (I assuming) he picks up his phone (not sure why folks can't do this anyway) and says, "Is this better?" I was thinking, Yeah, it's better, but now it doesn't matter cuz I have all the information, which wouldn't have taken as long if you would have just used the phone that way to begin with. Sheesh. Can I continue my rant, since it still has to do with phones? Okay, my boss will call me on his cell phone and ask for messages. When I start to give the messages to him, he says, "Wait a minute, I have to pull over." So then I start giving him the info and he says, "Wait a minute, I have to get something to write with." Then I start to give him the info for the third time and he says, "Wait a minute, I have to get something to write on." Tell me WHY he can't do all of this and THEN call me. This is so frustrating and senseless. Thanks. I don't necessarily feel better, because I know it will happen again, LOL, but maybe I gave you something to chuckle about. Link to post Share on other sites
agnf666 Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 LOL! Speakers phones are a pain in th ass. You can never hear a person very well on those. At work We have these phones that has a speaker option. So, when I am trying to get intouch with somene in the building. I press there extension and I get them on speaker phone. I hate it!! Hopefully it will get better for yah. Have a good day! Link to post Share on other sites
Lil Honey Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 When speakerphones first came out, I was told that they were voice-activated and that the first sound that they "hear" doesn't go through, because the phone uses the first sound to activate the system. That was ages ago . . . when I was just a baby, of course . . . *snickering* Do you mean to tell me that the same technology is being used today? How backward is THAT? There. I just gave someone a million dollar idea . . . Link to post Share on other sites
greenhorn Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 We use lot of speaker phones here but we never had any sort of voice quality problem. Having said this it is considered improper to talk to someone on speaker phone without informing him/her. The way is to tell the person that I am putting you on speaker phone and then talk. Secondly speaker phones should not be normally used except for conference call and if there is anyone else who would be listening to the call then he/she should be identified as well. Well the only instance where I had voice quality problem using speaker phone was when the phone system was not analog but digital. Link to post Share on other sites
MWC_LifeBeginsAt40 Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 I know phrases go thru phases....but I really am tired of this: "having said that,...." "with that said...." drives me nuts! sorry Greenhorn. Link to post Share on other sites
greenhorn Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 According to my usage of English, these phrases have reasons to be there and can't be easily substituted, but it is good that you let me know of your preference. I will keep this in mind for future. Link to post Share on other sites
brashgal Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 According to my usage of English, these phrases have reasons to be there and can't be easily substituted, but it is good that you let me know of your preference. Actually here in the US Greenhorn, we usually leave those connecting phrases out - they are considered superfluous. We know you just 'said' that (well, more properly you wrote that), you don't have to tell us again... Link to post Share on other sites
quankanne Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 AAARRRRGGGHHHHH! I work with a priest who just loves his dang speakerphone, and it's like, "what? Father, repeat that, you sound like you're across the room from the phone and I didn't quite hear you!" And of course, you tend to shout in the phone because he's also having trouble following the conversation. It's just damned annoying. I do use my speakerphone system to dial calls, but pick up as soon as the phone starts ringing -- half the time I've got my eyes on the computer screen and for some strange reason it's "easier" to dial the number when I'm on speakerphone ... as aggravating as that is, the absolute worst thing I've encountered is call-waiting. I hate it I hate it I hate it. Especially when you're on a long-distance call and the person on the other line keeps interrupting the call just to answer it. It's gotten to where I just hang up, especially if it's my sister, because she'll talk to the other person for a good period of time while I'm still waiting! Link to post Share on other sites
glow2 Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 Originally posted by MWC_LifeBeginsAt40 I know phrases go thru phases....but I really am tired of this: "having said that,...." "with that said...." drives me nuts! sorry Greenhorn. Yeah...ESPECIALLY old, worn-out, soooo yesterday, phrases like this : Originally posted by MWC_LifeBeginsAt40 on April 15/2005 Been there done that! You said NOTHING wrong, greenhorn....just ignore the insults. Link to post Share on other sites
greenhorn Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 Let me explain a bit more Scenario 1. We use lot of speaker phones here but we never had any sort of voice quality problem. It is considered improper to talk to someone on speaker phone without informing him/her. Scenario 2. We use lot of speaker phones here but we never had any sort of voice quality problem. Having said this it is considered improper to talk to someone on speaker phone without informing him/her. Is there any difference or not ? For me (having normal English knowledge level) the first scenario, does not appear continous and has some thing like speed breaker and also conflicting in the sense that I am saying that I use lot of speaker phone but I feel it is improper. But the second scenario does give me the pointer that though normally I do talk on speaker phone but that is not something which I approve of. I would be happy if posters can appreciate the difference, and I would also let them ask to kindly excuse me that I was not born or brought up in America so my native language is not English.It just happened that by good fortune of mine that I got to write and speak this language though still not as chaste as I am expected. I don't consider your demand for proper English wrong but I would be highly grateful if you can please ignore my minor faults though I will strive to be more fitting to your standards. Thanks Glow and brashgal for understanding me. Link to post Share on other sites
MWC_LifeBeginsAt40 Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 I never used to say that, but that is the first phrase my new man used when we met, it just makes me think of him and I get that fuzzy warm feeling inside. But u'r right, it's dated. What else can we use instead? Sometimes we need to use speaker phones because there are two of us in the office who need to be in on the conversation, but never by myself would i use it. Link to post Share on other sites
greenhorn Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 Seems you are just getting awry, you are falling in love with language rather the man.... Link to post Share on other sites
MWC_LifeBeginsAt40 Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 Let me apologize Greenhorn, as it was not an insult as Glow stated. It was just a rant - I don't like the phrase as it makes the person appear that their word is final because they said it and it doesn't matter what anyone else says and there's no need to elaborate on the subject any further. I think it sounds arrogant. Again, I am not calling you arrogant, it's just my experience with the context in which the phrase has been communicated to me in the past. We use speaker phones only when there are two or more people in the office who need to be included in the conversation. To me that would be proper etiquette. Link to post Share on other sites
PatientOne Posted April 18, 2005 Share Posted April 18, 2005 I find the best way to deal with speaker phones is to hold my own phone at arm's length when I talk, which usually forces the other party to pick up their own handset. I dislike being on speaker too, as I never know who else is there listening. Link to post Share on other sites
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