Smooth Operator

Well, I've been working the phone lines for a day and a half. So far I haven't made my terminal explode or gone home crying, so I feel like a success. I'm not the most assertive person, so I've been wasting a lot of precious seconds apologizing to people about not being able to find the phone number they want, even when it's obviously their fault and not mine. Like the man who called up and wanted me to find his brother's phone number in Florida. No city, just somewhere in Florida. Or the people who call for their own doctor's phone number, but have no idea how to spell his or her name. Wake up, people. Shouldn't you have written that down somewhere? At least the doctor's name and the address.

My job would be a lot easier if people would talk slower and turn off the TV or radio. And if you're in the car, try rolling up the window before you call information, unless you like repeating yourself and having to spell everything out because I can't understand a thing you're saying. Another thing, operators get in trouble if they spend too much time on any one call, so don't take it personally if we hang up when you're right in the middle of saying thanks. Usually my finger is hovering over the call complete button as soon as I find the right number, just a second away from sending your call into oblivion. By the time my brain realizes my ears are hearing you start to say thanks or whatever, my finger has already darted down like a cobra on a furry little rat.