Why is the concept of politeness so totally beyond some people??!
As some of you know, I work part-time at a temple. Yesterday I was asked to call a woman who had expressed an interest in joining. As soon as I said where I was calling from, she was like "What do you want?" - very surly.
Me: "You expressed an interest in joining. I wanted to know if you'd like to receive some information."
Her: "Look, why don't you stop promoting your synagogue?"
Me: "Huh? You asked us to contact you."
Her: "Are you the same woman who's called me 5 times this week?"
Me: "No, nobody has tried to contact you yet this week." (It's Monday, lady!!)
Her: "Well I'm sick of hearing from you." This was followed by a stream of profanity and her hanging up on me.
I know her anger wasn't directed at me, and we certainly don't need rude congregants, but it still pissed me off. (a) I wasn't some telemarketer making an unsolicited call - she ASKED to be contacted. (b) I personally had never spoken to her before that moment.
When I receive unwanted calls, either solicited or not, I always politely ask them to put me on their do-not-call list... even if it's the 15th time they've called and I'm in the middle of dinner. Why can't others do the same?
