this has mostly been getting my goat today...

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OK, today's nomination for the most annoying thing EVAH:

i work on a desk with 2 other people, both of whom are away at meetings quite a lot. so when i answer their phones (and oh, they ring often) i say "anne's phone" or "sharon's phone". i INVARIABLY get the response "oh, is sharon/anne there?"

NO YOU FOOL! IF THEY WERE THEY WOULD HAVE ANSWERED THEIR PHONE! WHY DO YOU THINK *I* PICKED IT UP!!!

i'm cracking up. help me.

― katie, Wednesday, 17 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

That used to happen me all the time. I find its pretty annoying when you can do anything the person who isn't there can. Or I find it very annoying when people act annoyed with you and wont leave messages cos the person they want isnt there.

― Ronan, Wednesday, 17 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

yeah. cos when i say "sorry, they're not at their desk, can i take a message?" the response is usually something along the lines of "where are they?" or "oh. when will they be back?". I DON'T KNOW!!! I DON'T FIX THE MEETINGS!! it's getting harder and harder to maintain my normally-impeccable telephone manner.

― katie, Wednesday, 17 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

They used to just stick all their phones on call forward to mine, the fuckers, without even telling me and I'd get all these calls about totally different things, christ I nearly freaked. I used to ring my mates and stay on for as long as possible to try and relieve stress. My powers of bullshitting were never so challenged,

― Ronan, Wednesday, 17 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Pretend to be the absentees and RUIN THEIR LIVES!

― DG, Wednesday, 17 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You kidding Katie? That's the most intellectual stimulation I ever GET @ work.

― Sarah, Wednesday, 17 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

hrnennnhmmmmm *mumbles incoherently*

― katie, Wednesday, 17 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Why don't you just let their phones ring? I mean, what are you, their secretary or something? People always come through my office to get to my bosses office even though he has another door. It's just further down the hall and people are lazy. If I'm feeling mean I'll lock my door so people slam into it instead of breezing through.

I also have to dress mannequins. Which is a pain in the ass since they don't give like nice fleshy humans. hmph.

― Samantha, Wednesday, 17 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

My aunt's name is Sharon and her daughter's name is Anne, how weird is that?

― ALly, Wednesday, 17 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Not very.

― RickyT, Wednesday, 17 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

samantha is correct. i am too good. henceforth i shall tell sharon and anne to get sodding voicemail.

― katie, Wednesday, 17 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

CHrist on a bike - have we just moved into Easily Irritated - suburb of Jobsworth. Either don't answer them (but then the irritation of the "constantly ringing phone" will do your head in) or live with it. Are you actually answering Anne's phone, or transfering it. In which case say the company name - because, who knows, you might be able to help the punter. If people are only ringing Anne's phone to ever get Anne and you can't help them, then don't answer the phone.

― Pete, Wednesday, 17 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

it was more the stupidity of the people who ask if someone is there when they are clearly not pete...

― katie, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

But how are other people to know whether Sharon or whoever is actually not there at all or whether they are just on the other side of the room or in the middle of talking to someone or have just gone to the loo or have a mouthful of food?

― toraneko, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

(argh, i'm getting too involved!) they usually are away as they have many meetings to attend. basically if someone' s at their desk the surely they would pick the phone up!

― katie, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm with you Katie, it is perhaps the most annoying question ever asked here so I've started being sarcastic and saying that they are there and didn't want to waste their valuable time talking to muppets with stupid questions, that tends to shut them up, of course I have a display phone and generally know who I'm talking to.......

― chris, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

basically if someone' s at their desk the surely they would pick the phone up

Oh dear.

― Tom, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Next time, when they ask "Is Sharon there?", say "Yes." Pause. Then they'll say, "Well, can I speak to her?" Your reply - "Well, I don't know, can you? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! (hangs up)"

― dave q, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ummm. Hasn't anyone in this bitch heard of secretaries? They probably assume you are their secretary. I just realized that, after my initial Sharon and Anne amusement.

― Ally, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

OH MY GOD i agree with dave q! :):):):)

ally, i should have pointed out that we don't *have* secretaries in our company (none of us are important enough!) i spotted a hoax call the other day because someone asked to speak to sharon's PA - as IF any such situation exists where i work! we can hardly afford normal employees, let alone PAs...

― katie, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Slight edit of Dave Q's idea:

Next time, when they ask "Is Sharon there?", say "Yes." Pause. Then they'll say, "Well, can I speak to her?" Your reply - "No, she's just been arrested"

or:

"No, she's VERY angry with you right now, and doesn't want to speak to you"

The possibilities are endless, no?

xoxo

― Norman Phay, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

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