in the late 90s I put a block on long distance numbers cause of roommates … and I used to use the operator to get around it
until the neighbor lady knew how to do that too and stiffed me for 90 bucks worth of calls … but that’s when the 18oo collect numbers and calling cards became popular and eventually unlimited long distance
But relatives in the penal system have operator assistance calls and I had to talk to someone about blocking them …
Other than the (very) occasional dialing of “0” while at a hotel (which puts you through to the front desk, not a telco operator), I think that the last time I actually did so was in 1995.
We were in Ireland, on vacation, and learned on the news that a hurricane (as I look it up on Wikipedia, very likely Hurricane Erin) was about to make landfall in eastern Florida, near my father-in-law’s house. We were staying at a bed-and-breakfast out in the Irish countryside, and this was several years before we had cell phones (much less phones with international roaming). We used the phone in the B&B to reach an international operator, to help us place a credit-card call to my father-in-law, to check in on him.
In the 80’s was a dial “0” operator for Southern Bell then a dial “00” for AT&T. I was in Hialeah then N miami and WPalm. It was my first full time job right out of HS. the benefits were incredible, wish I had taken advantage. I do have a pension lol was vested and quit after 10 years.
We assisted callers make local, long distance and international calla. They needed our help to call collect, person to person, third party charge calls, collected coins at pay phones, interrupted teens hogging the phone, attempted to reach countries that needed a special operator or to call a mobile phone or reach a party at sea.
We spent time giving a friendly voice to the old folks in Miami Beach, inmates, migrants and homeless. the old tricks - Prince arthur in a can, and more.
Hey operator said an inmate, ya know why they cll me rooster? Cause I keep all the hens happy you !@# !@#…
Felt like we were on the front lines of humanity, interacted with all kinds of people from all over the world. It got so I hated talking on the phone, but my listening skills are superb.
wha-at?
While inside the US, April 2012. We were visiting New York, and I needed some help with a long-distance card I’d bought to call friends in Connecticut.
In Thailand but talking to a US operator, can’t date it but definitely this century and in the Bangkok home we lived in from 2003-16.
In Thailand and talking to a Thai operator, last year. I called internationally so seldom that I kept having to ask one how to direct dial out of the country.
To the best of my recollection, never.
About a month ago. Some of the older office buildings here have elevators that predate the revolution and I got stuck between floors. I typically don’t use them in favor of the stairs but I was carrying some papers and thought I would chance it.
Fortunately, the guy in the lobby was awake…:eek: