Mr. and Mrs...
I got a call during lunch today. It started out, “Hello. Is Mr. and Mrs...”
I hung up. The fastest way to get me to hang up on you is to call my home (calls to my home forward to my cell phone), and ask for “Mr. and Mrs.”
I’m not sure why that bothers me so much. I suppose that I feel it’s disrespectful of same-sex households like mine, although my intolerance is more of a reflex, and less about thought.
Perhaps it’s because heterosexuality has been shoved down my throat all my life. I’m willing to “live and let live”. It’s the other side that can’t seem to do that. They are ok with our families as long as we remain where they feel we belong; closeted. And if a gay couple is recognized in public by showing ANY emotion towards each other, they risk personal injury (or death). I’ve had some experience with this. Think I’m over reacting on this?
Every single week, I read at least one article about some couple who was beaten to a pulp because they made the mistake of exchanging a kiss in public, or holding hands in public. This results in an exchange of insults, or beatings, and occasionally, death. I’m sick of it, but I suppose there’s nothing I can do about it. But I can do something about it if you shove that in my face when you call my home!
Occasionally, I will answer, “Yes, this is the Lady of the House. How may I help you?” They usually promptly hang up at that point.
Or, on a bad day, I’ll answer, “No, I’m not the Lady of the House. I LIKE MEN!! Get it?!!??” I usually promptly hang up (quite vigorously) at that point.
Telemarketers, or anyone else calling for that matter, really have to get their act together and find verbiage that is just a bit more inclusive of the reality we live in today. This isn’t the 1950’s you know. WE DO EXIST!
Does anyone else feel this way, or am I just over reacting a bit?
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Mr. and Mrs....
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://billandkent.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/2146
3 Comments
Leave a comment
Re: the Mr and Mrs thing, I like to reply, "How dare you presume I'm heterosexual!" Then I hang up... :-) ~ann
Good morning Matthew! :)
Well, I actually do have a sense of humor about it most of the time. It's just that, I hate when people who don't know me feel that they have a license to basically walk right into my dwelling and give me a sales pitch, without an invite. To me, it's exactly the same as if my neighbor just barged right through my front door and started trying to sell me something while I was trying to have a nice quiet dinner. It's insulting.
So, while I do try to be civil about it, there are times that I find myself telling them, one way or the other, that they should not ever call me again.
My friends have a direct line into my home. With caller ID and call blocking (a premium charge of course from my telephone company), I can pretty much control who calls me. But, why should I have too? I suppose in this age of caller ID and phone lists that are bought and sold to different companies, it comes with the territory. Personal privacy takes a hit for it.
And on the "do not call" lists, we are on it, but once in awhile, we still get some calls.
Charities are exempt because in this country, religious organizations basically walk all over us with protections granted by our government, all the while, claiming their tax exempt status as long as they are not politically involved. Of course, apparently, they can still preach from the pulpit that everyone in their flock should go to the polls and vote against same sex marriage. Sounds like a political statement to me.
Political organizations are exempt for the same reason that members of Congress can simply give themselves pay raises as they wish with absolutely nothing telling them (other than their conscience, which is in very short supply with that group) that they can't. And at the same time that they give themselves pay raises, they probably never think about the poor schmuck (not their problem) who has to live on the minimum wage that hasn't been raised in years.
By the way, I do like your response, "my spouse's name is Jeffrey...we live in Massachusetts. Update your records. Now, what can I do for you?"
Very nice. :-)
Bill, honey - you need to have a sense of humor when dealing with these calls. It's fun to listen to the caller's reaction.
I usually say "my spouse's name is Jeffrey...we live in Massachusetts. Update your records. Now, what can I do for you?"
But we rarely get these calls now, since we signed up for both the state and federal "do not call" lists. Of course, charities and political organizations are exempted from these law... hmm... wonder why?