If you asked any of the people I talk to on a daily basis at work, they'd tell you that I ask a lot of stupid questions. Obviously they aren't stupid to me, as I wouldn't be asking the questions unless I absolutely needed to. The caller doesn't understand why I have to ask them, though, so I'm automatically categorized as an elementary school drop-out with pudding for brains. There are so many people who don't understand why I am required to ask such obvious questions, and if only I had the time and patience (or desire) to explain HIPAA laws to every person I spoke to, they'd know that the guy they're talking to isn't a royal idiot, but instead is trying his hardest not to violate a federal law.
You see, when gathering demographic information a caller who identified himself as John, I have to ask him if he spells his name J-O-H-N or J-O-N. It's not that I don't know how to spell his name, but that there are two common spellings, and I've got to make sure I'm accessing the correct patient file so I don't violate anyones confidentiality rights. The guy on the phone won't understand this of course, and will think this is the stupidest question in the history of questions. That is until I ask him to verify the spelling of his last name. Is that S-M-I-T-H?
Parents calling their pediatrician's office also think I'm an idiot. I ask for their whiny brats date of birth, and they only give me the month and the date, completely leaving off the year. Apparently it's a stupid question to ask them what year they were born in, because obviously I should just know that through some form of trans-phone-line osmosis. Perhaps I should just pick a year, any year, because treatment options don't often change because of a patients age, right? (Answer: WRONG)
Another example is when I ask for the address of a patient, most people for some reason don't realize that I need the entire thing. That includes street number and name (with spelling, if you're kind), apartment number (if you have one), city, state, AND zip code. Telling me, some random guy that for all you know is on the other side of the country, that your address is "154 Main Street" simply just doesn't cut the mustard. Thus, I'm forced to ask you what the city, state, and zip code is, turning one question into two. This may seem incredibly stupid to the person on the other end of the line, but there are probably a couple hundred thousand Main Streets in this country. Am I supposed to just magically pick the right one?
Even when it doesn't pertain to confidentiality, I still get the "you're stupid" attitude. A lot of people think I am the World's Biggest Asshole when I ask them what kind of doctor they are looking for, when they call their local hospital's physician referral department. I just don't understand the attitude over this one. I mean, it's not like we're back in the 1700's and there is only one kind of doctor: the kind that uses leeches, practices blood letting, and founded the Cross-Your-Fingers-And-Hope-It-Works technique. This is the 21st century, and we've got more different specialties of physicians than even a Münchhausen would need. Why should I know which one you need?
I wish there was an easy way to explain to people that I'm just trying to do my job. It think it's part of human nature to generally assume the worst when we encounter something we don't understand, just like it's always easier to remember a negative experience. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of people that I talk to that are pleasant and cooperative. It's just hard to remember that when 75% of the people you deal with fit in the "Condescending and Downright Mean" category.
Do any of you encounter people like this in your job?
Hope you all have a good weekend!
34 Comments:
Very funny!
No, I am an administrative assistant with a reception-like looking desk, no one ever comes in and treats me like I am worthless or stupid. And certainly not asshole co-worker, he doesn't think that just because he runs the website he is better than me or anyone else for that matter. Just cause more people around the University respect me more than him...well...we all get our comeuppance, right?
And for what it is worth, I am always polite to people unless they show true signs of rudeness or sheer idiocy.
OMG I just encounter these people in life! But often in work, too. I deal a lot with voice mail and people rattle off names and numbers so quickly that I sometimes have to listen three times to get them. I recently had someone leave a name and address (no telephone) asking for info to be mailed. The surname was MIMANDE. I forget how I tracked her down but she seemed to be saying MIM-ON-DEE and never having heard or seen that name, I could not figure it out. And people who are leaving info from their cell phones, grrrrr, should always repeat their number TWICE because often the phone signal is interrupted for a second and it's always when they are giving the number. Don't get me started.....ooops, you already did. Sorry!
I've had to 'play' stupid to cover up my boss's mistakes.
"Hi, this is John Doe's stupid secretary calling. Can you please ignore that proposal I just sent you. John, uh I mean I, made a big mistake on it. You understand, right? 'Cause I'm just a bird brained secretary."
I so totally get this post. I get frustrated easily and often have to hold my tongue while I work through issues with whomever's on the other side of the phone line.
Keep on keeping on!
Oh man that's frustrating! I got that sometimes when I used to work in a B&B, but not that often.
Now, it's not so much that my students treat me like I'm stupid. It's more that they treat me like I'm blind. Like I'm not 10 feet away from them and can therefore not see them doing homework for another class, texting, or sleeping. In COLLEGE. Or that I won't notice when their heretofore incoherent paper suddenly becomes erudite because they've copied and pasted entire sections from a random website...
TGIF, mate. :)
I encounter that in my job as a mom. My almost 12 year old doesn't think I understand ANYthing and is very condescending. So that's a thrill.
Whenever I have to call somewhere, cable, health insurance, doctors office, they always ask me to verify my FULL address, phone number, birth date, etc. Normally this is a bit bothersome, esp. when I get like three people in a voice jail chain who ask me for the same info.
But from this day forward, I will remember your story and give my info willingly. I bet they hate asking as much as I hate telling.
As a SAHM I'm with Tammy. Anything you say is met with eyerolls and huffs. Makes you wanna pinch thier heads off.
When dealing with anyone over the phone I always spell everything out and speak slowly, not because I think they are idiots but becuase it makes everything run so much smoother. I have a southern accent and some people can't understand what I am saying so I keep that in mind.
Let them get all huffy, you know you are doing your job correctly.
All the damn time. I work at a petstore, and because of it I'm automatically labeled as a dunce. I was once told that if I would just get a college education, then I would be able to do better for myself (this was said by one of my regular customers).
I have a bachlor's degree.
I'm not sure what that says about my intelligence, but hey...there ya go.
People crack me the hell up. They always assume that what I'm telling them is to just get them to buy more more more. It has nothing to do with the fact that they are *slowly* killing their animals with the wrong choices (what? you mean I can't give advil to my cat?). Gr.
This post could have been written by me. Blah. So stupid, people are.
You know.....your post just answered a question I had last night. I was talking to a 411 operator....she says "555-5555 is your number, I'll transfer you now, have a good day"...I said "thanks! You too!!!!" (and meant it)....she stopped for a second...laughed, and said "you're the first person who's said that to me all week, thanks!!!"
I thought her reaction was odd...but maybe it's not?
I think some people just feel violated to be quizzed like that. It's just so damn uncomfortable having to answer personal questions over the phone.
If you have the time, try explaining in a sentence why you are asking, it eases the caller's mind. Also: being nice, all smiles and personable works wonders.
I like cracking jokes with people, but sometimes that can be soooo wrooong.
You would think I don't and usually I don't because I am helping people find a job. But sometimes they have a gripe. I once had an acquaintance let me have it because she was treated poorly by a hiring company and then closed by asking me if I had any jobs for her. That's not exactly the same thing, though. Grit your teeth!
I have to ask the SAME exact questions at work, because I work for the support department of a health care production company. People answer me like I'm an idiot if I ask them to spell such regular names as Elizabeth or John. I have to tell them that I've seen about ten spellings for the most typical of names, and then sometimes they understand. Other times they don't care and continue talking to me as if I'm a two year old half-deaf kid, in very loud broken English.
I want to shove my fist into all their snotty faces.
On a side note, it's hilarious how many people in my office can't even spell HIPAA correctly.
I used to get that all the time when I was arranging medical conferences. It was a personal affront to the attendees when I'd call to double-check their names, travel arrangements, whatever. Excuse me for trying to make sure they got where they were supposed to be without trouble. How stupid of me to care that I was doing my job correctly.
At least now when my kids treat me like an idiot, I can send them to their rooms. Hang in there, BAG. Something better will come along.
I don't have a job currently, but before I quit to babysit my niece I worked in a children's store that bought and sold used items. It was very hard to try to tell people that their clothing was either too used and worn out, or that it just wasn't in style. You would think it would be obvious that anything older than 5 years is going to be either worn or outdated, especially where children are concerned. And man, the stuff that people didn't even WASH or clean off before they brought it in. People are gross. And stupid.
I have a very unusual first and last name (not Lucy, that's a pseudonym). Long story short, I was called back to a room in my doctors office one day mistakenly- there happened to be another patient that day with my same first name. They were asking me if I was "still on" all sorts of medications I had never heard of and all sorts of other weirdness before they figured out what had happened. See, you never can be too careful.
I gave my whiny brats unusual names too, just to cut down on mistaken identities.
I encounter these people all of the time...which is why I don't like people.
People suck. Generally speaking. Especially when you have to deal with them over the phone. HIPAA also kinda sucks donkey kong, if you ask me.
The good news? It's Friday!
I've never understood people's need to be rude and horrible to the very people that are there to help them. And yeah, I come across people like that even in MY job....old people can be awfully grumpy!
I work for a bank. I deal with the stupid on a daily basis.
I feel your pain. I recommend treatment plans and, very often, my clients tell me what they'd rather do. You know, because they went through endless school to earn the title doctor. The worst part is that I often act like I'm incorporating part of their plan into mine, because it's easier... and it won't kill their pet.
"Yes! Adding a spoonful of sugar WILL make the medicine go down. Well done you, Mrs. Jenkins!!"
And when I get an emergency call and ask what they problem is, they often tell me about ridiculous things like "Well, Fluffy has been holding his tail to the left... a lot." Mmkay.
I'm going with the old adage "mean people suck". Seriously, why can't people just be nice! I'm always nice to people on the phone (unless they're trying to sell me something).
Is it just me or does it seem like people in general are meaner and snottier on the phone? Less patience in general?
Dealing with people on a daily basis is one of the most challenging things. I had a parent calling yesterday just ranting and raging about him being in trouble. When I asked for her child's name, she only gave me the first name. After I got the last name, I asked for the child's teacher's name. She didn't know. How do you not know your child's teacher?! Since the name wasn't at all familiar, I searched in the data base. Turns out her son attends a different school. Nice. She'll always be fun to work with.
So, to answer your question. I don't feel stupid - but I judge others. And they often act stupid.
Kitty Moore: Thank you!
Moonspun: Then you fit into the category of "People Who Make My Day".
Sandy: Arg! The fast talkers annoy me so!
Employee No 3699: That would irritate me so much.
Janie: It's a lesson in patience, isn't it?
Jade: Crazy, isn't it?
Tammy Howard: How frustrating. But, I think I did that to my parents when I was a kid.
Jan: Indeed we do.
GeekByMarriage: Oh, I know. It's just hard to get talked down to all day, you know?
Nyx: I probably would have slapped the dude who said that.
Mrs Soup: People are REALLY stupid sometimes.
Nej: People very rarely tell me to have a nice day, or thank me for helping them. It's nice to hear it.
Christina: Believe me, I've tried explaining why, and that generally doesn't help. People are so paranoid these days.
Dsmcaron: A gripe is fine. Being an asshole to me is not.
Jaime: Isn't it? I see it mostly as "HIPPA".
Mumma Boo: Exactly. I shouldn't be made to feel like an idiot because I'm just trying to do my job.
Aunt Juicebox: That would be difficult.
Lucy Cooper: That helps, so long as you always offer spelling for them. =)
MysterG: I don't like people much, either.
Amber Page Writes: Indeed it does.
Mad Woman: Old people can be the worst!
Natalie: Oh, yes. This I know, my wife works for a bank, too.
One Sassy Girl: Very rarely is it an actual Emergency when a client states it is. A fever of 99? Oh NOES.
Suzy Voices: Because of my experiences with my job, I'm always nice to people I talk to. Stern, if they're not being helpful, but polite.
TechnoBabe: That is very true. People lose some of their inhibitions when they get to hide behind their telephone.
Beth: Yes. Exactly.
I don't actually ever have to speak with these wonderful and intelligent people (thank some supreme being, or at least the managers who hired me), but I do have to deal with some information that they have filled out. I have to look at their inability to write their own name or know their correct address, among many other things. If I had to speak with them I question if I would still have a job any longer.
Ha! Yes, I had an MD call me to tell me her pet has a fever. I then had to inform her the temp was within normal limits... she said, "huh, well I feel dumb."
I stayed silent.
I think, psychologically, it's called "displaced stupidity"
Oh, no, all the lawyers I work with are incredibly sweet and ever so helpful ;)
I hated working at a cafe because all the morning customers expected me to remember their names and drinks. Usually if I worked a couple of mornings in a row I'd remember, but then my work schedule changed, I was cramming for an exam, etc. I got back to working mornings a month later, a customer came up to me and said nothing... expecting me to remember her usual order from a month ago. Then the customer gave me a look like I was an idiot. Damn, woman I have more important things to remember than your effin' latte.
the people calling and not giving you complete addresses or birth years are the stupid ones...
wow! You truly are dealing with a slew of assholes here! I mean, seriously badass, when I make an appointment to get my cat groomed I have to give out all this information.
YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE ON THE PLANET RUDE CALLERS!
BLECH...hope it gets better, hon.
Post a Comment