By Vince:
As you may have read on Judy’s posts, it seemed we spent most of the week on the telephone dealing with some form of “customer service” (or should I say a lack of it) trying to rectify one issue or another. It appears most of these services have been outsourced to countries or people where English is not their primary language. An apparent cost cutting measure which helps a company’s bottom line at the expense of the customer’s time and frustration level. If it’s an attempt to get one to give up before an issue is resolved, I have to say it’s working well! Judy and I have observed a decline in quality services with almost every company we contact and it’s getting worse at an exponential rate. I think it’s interesting how the push for diversity and inclusion took place right before we saw this influx of non primary English speaking people into the workforce. I wonder if the real motivation was cheaper labor and not equality? I have seen this type of thing happen over and over. I believe this tactic is called changing the optics in politics today. We use to call it manipulation, but the new term sounds better don’t you think? People are lead to focus on one thing when actually something very different is going on.
Last week I recommended a book about making life better. One chapter in that book is entitled “Counterproductivity”. As an example, it details how the lure of new technology is not really making things better but instead it can become a real time waster. In many cases, one thing is being traded for another and the user or customer is usually on the losing end. Humm, sounds like more manipulation doesn’t it?
Take the infatuation with cell phones for instance. I grew up with one phone in the house and it was more than enough for needed communication. I think the bill was $15 a month and life was so much simpler. Now, everyone has to be immediately available so they can spend hours talking about mindless topics. An even bigger concern is the distraction it causes to the important aspects of everyday life. Have you seen couples in a restaurant not talking to each other because one or both of them are on their cell phones? Even more troubling is the distraction it causes when driving a car. I am sure if the real statistics were available they would show the number of accidents attributed to cell phone use far exceeds those caused by someone being under the influence of some substance. But since businesses tied to cell phones make so much money, it apparently overshadows any concerns for safety of individuals.
The last few nights we have been watching documentaries about the fracking industry (well installation, pipeline installation, increased truck traffic and sand mines). There are many documentaries you can watch for free if you have an Amazon Prime account, but I am sure you can find them on Youtube also. Fracking peeked our interest because it definitely has a bearing on the location where we may relocate one day. I had an understanding of many of the concerns associated with fracking, but these documentaries do a very good job of bringing the issues to light. We do not want to live anywhere near where fracking takes place. There are maps posted on the internet that show where fracking is occuring and Google satellite maps can be used to see if there are wells in the vicinity of a piece of property. The Google images may be a bit old but it does help give a perspective of what’s happening in the area. While watching these documentaries, we also watched one about the attempt to put a wind farm (Cape Wind) off the coast of Massachusetts, in the vicinity of many opulent vacation homes. The ease at which companies can install fracking wells and mines in the backyard of an average individual vs attempting to install a wind farm in the vicinity of homes of individuals with an above average income is additional proof of how a few individuals can manipulate the many.
Now you know why I turned off the news and don’t listen to the rhetoric that is the flavor of the day. It’s my opinion, that most of what we hear is just an attempt to manipulate us. We are expected to fall in line with someone else’s plan for control so we can increase their power and their wealth at the expense of our wellbeing. One of Vince’s rules for a more enjoyable life is: Know what you want, pursue it and forget about what the talking heads are saying. You will be much happier in the long run!
montanaclarks says
I’ve always had such great customer service from Amazon–actually amazing. I had read Judy’s blogs about canceling AT&T and Amazon Prime. I ordered flowers from Amazon for my mother to be delivered of course by Mother’s Day. Imagine my dismay when I received an email saying the flowers wouldn’t be delivered until May 21. Good grief–what happened. As we were traveling from Arizona to Montana Wednesday and our cell service was going in and out I was live chatting with various Amazon reps who were clearly not in this country. They would not agree to cancel my order as “the flowers are in advanced shipping” but one rep promised and even sent me an email verifying her promise–“once the flowers have shipped I will refund your money.” As all this chatting about canceling the order/getting a refund, etc. is going on, my mom received her flowers!!!!!!! Good grief!! Makes you wonder!
vivoaks says
Amen!!! You’ve said exactly what I’ve been saying for years…. You just do it so much better than I could!
Toni Macomb says
Amen! I agree with all your comments! Spent over an hour helping a friend with ESPN plus last night. I’m calmer on the phone than he would be…and the final resolution? “I will have my supervisor call you back within 20 minutes.” Now 14 hours later. No call! And as far as the politics and “news” put out to us? I just ignore it! I can’t believe when friends get irate about one party or the other! The information disseminated is so biased that you have to realize nothing you hear it true!
Tony Bogusz says
You should view the late George Carlin’s bit on “Euphemisms” on YouTube. You will laugh cynically about how we humans (and especially politicians) find ways to cushion bad news by changing the language and increasing the number of syllables needed to describe something that is “bad”. It’s too bad he’s gone. He was a sharp,yet warped, student of the human condition. No one has ever come close to filling his shoes and keen observations.
Lisa says
Very well written, Vince. I agree. I think we are so steeped in propaganda from all sides that it is difficult to make a well-informed decision about anything. I think we are being manipulated by our feelings or fear or sense of responsibility in order to push through an all together different agenda–that’s why when some advertiser or politician tries to pull on my heartstrings, my defenses automatically go up. They do the same thing with all our popular “good” causes–using ecology, equality, animal rights, or immigration as a mechanism to further their own business or political goals.
Linda in NE says
We are being manipulated by government, big business, etc. every day. I’ve become very cynical about it all. Big business is just out for the money and our government is every bit as corrupt and manipulative as any. As for customer service? There’s no such animal any more. We disconnected our land line at the end of April, have a confirmation # and all, supposed to be totally disconnected on May 13. Do you suppose it will be or will we just get another bill & I’ll have to waste time arguing with them? Only time will tell.
Dottie says
So true, so true.
Elle says
Agreed 100%. I’m sad that I’m so cynical at just age 57. It’s going to be a long several decades in front of me!
cassews says
I’m still trying to get him off of the news for 3 hours in the am. Then on his way to work and while driving (he’s a line haul driver), he’s listening to the news… Come on its not changed any from 3 hours ago. Oh well maybe his head will turn into a news station … LOL
Oh well, thanks for the advice the other day Judy… but those words didn’t help any. He has to keep up with his parents on the current world events, what ?? ummm that hasn’t changed any either since the day before!!
Okay back to crocheting and looking at rocks… Hahahahaha
Susan says
Those of us of a certain age, who have a comparison to the present, will agree with you. I don’t listen to network anything. I just have Roku, and Prime and Netflix, etc. Enough news filters down to me from a variety of sources, that I know what is going on in the world, and I don’t like most of it, and can’t do a thing about it!
Young adults have no other kind life to look back on, and can’t imagine not being attached to media constantly. My younger friends don’t understand why my phone isn’t full of apps! LOL I have all I need, thanks. I’m all for calling a spade a spade (remember that one?) – it’s manipulation, but it’s nothing new. Good and thoughtful post today!
w jordan says
Just remember this you can ask for someone in America when you get someone from another country on the . Now they might disconnect you but call again until you get an American you will save time, money and aggravation trust me. Been there done that . I ask my daughter who is in customer service for one of the largest chemical companies in the world what to do . She said always ask for American or hangup try again. Saves your sanity and your precious time. It works just do it.
Pamela says
If more people would do this, the companies may rethink outsourcing their customer service.
JudyCinNC says
Amen … Pls say again what PFTR means! I forgot.
Vince says
Pontificating from the recliner 🙂
DonnainKS says
“Pontificating”??? I thought it was supposed to be “Perspective”. LOL Whichever, keep it up!!
Twyla Starr says
It is not just lack of technical assistance. Remember when you could go to a department store and a salesclerk would be right there to assist you? I have hiked across stores looking for someone to assist me. And then mostly they do not have a clue or do not care.