# Some people just won't listen. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 14, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-just-wont-listen/274759 "2004-11-14T20:49:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![that\_darn\_cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/59ef9b/32.png) [@that\_darn\_cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/that_darn_cat)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-just-wont-listen/274759/21 "2004-11-15T14:21:06Z")
Back in the bad old days when I had a land line, I’d just put the handset in the freezer. Made me laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-just-wont-listen/274759/22 "2004-11-15T14:31:25Z")
Dude. That’s cold. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-just-wont-listen/274759/23 "2004-11-15T15:30:06Z")
My dad is German. His first name is Wolfgang, last name is (almost, but not quite) Din. My brother was lucky enough to be the one to answer the call that led to our favorite telemarketer butchering of this name, ever: Brother: “Hello?” Telemarketer: “Hello! May I speak to… Wong Dang Din?” Brother (stifling giggles): “There is no one here by that name.” Telemarketers’ calls are a pain in the ass, but every now and then, they lead to comedy GOLD. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-just-wont-listen/274759/24 "2004-11-15T16:38:24Z")
He’s deaf. He’s what? He’s DEAF. What? DEAF, DEAFFFF!!! ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-just-wont-listen/274759/25 "2004-11-15T17:05:58Z")
> [@Ghanima](#): > > He’s deaf. What??!? Speak up, I can’t hear you! ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-just-wont-listen/274759/26 "2004-11-15T19:26:11Z")
Yes, I understand that. That’s why I’m calling. Our new credit consolidation program can help him out of these debts. ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-just-wont-listen/274759/27 "2004-11-17T00:10:24Z")
He’s what? He’s deft? Well, then he shouldn’t have any problem picking up the phone then, surely? Shirley? Hello? ---
**Author:** ![Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horrifying_Howler_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2004, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-just-wont-listen/274759/28 "2004-11-17T00:52:37Z")
Peter: “Whoa whoa whoa wait a second? You’re telling me I flew all the way to Kentucky to get some of your fried chicken, and the Colonel isn’t even working today?” Employee: “He ain’t away, he dead.” Peter: “What?” Employee: I say he dead. Peter: “Is Mr. Sanders in?” Cashier: “What wrong with you? I say you he dead.” Peter: (Pause) “The Colonel.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-just-wont-listen/274759/29 "2004-11-18T16:30:02Z")
He’s Death? But I didn’t even eat the salmon mousse!! ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-just-wont-listen/274759/30 "2004-11-18T17:32:56Z")
> [@Master Wang-Ka](#): > > Nowadays, whenever I hear my own name over the phone in a horribly mispronounced Indian accent, I just hang up the phone. There’s something about my name that renders it utterly immune to proper pronunciation by Eastern tongues… I have the opposite problem. If I hear my name pronounced correctly, I immediately hang up the phone. My husband’s from India, and the people at the Indian call centers are the only people who can pronounce our last name now. (Of course, his family can, but we normally e-mail his family unless it’s an emergency - it’s a hell of a lot cheaper.) ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-just-wont-listen/274759/31 "2004-11-18T18:03:53Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > I have the opposite problem. If I hear my name pronounced correctly, I immediately hang up the phone. My husband’s from India, and the people at the Indian call centers are the only people who can pronounce our last name now. (Of course, his family can, but we normally e-mail his family unless it’s an emergency - it’s a hell of a lot cheaper.) BWAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! Oh dear God, that’s hilarious! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-just-wont-listen/274759/32 "2004-11-18T18:54:58Z")
A co-worker died 9/11/99 and we’re still getting callers who ask for him. I just say very indigantly “He died on 9/11.” ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-just-wont-listen/274759/33 "2004-11-18T18:57:26Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > A woman I work with has an 8-year-old son who likes to answer the phone, especially if it’s a telemarketer. Here’s a dialog she described, her son being absolutely deadpan: > > **Telemarketer** : Is Mrs. X there? > > **Son** : Yes. > > **TM** : May I speak with her? > > **Son** : No. > > **TM** : Why not? > > **Son** : Because I said so. BRILLIANT! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-people-just-wont-listen/274759.md?page=1)