Hi,
Economically, the web has been a wonderful opportunity for me to pursue my writing career long after I thought it might be over. I have to say that my appreciation runs long and deep.
However, it does not extend to many of the cyber companies who do business on the web and have hired folks from all over the world to answer their needs. DON'T GET ME WRONG. I'M NOT AGAINST HIRING HELP IN OTHER COUNTRIES. I AM AGAINST THE LANGUAGE BLOCK THAT SEEMS TO EXIST IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. I'm certainly not a linquist and am not apprised of all the problems second and third languages cause. And in my life friendships, I have been fortunate to know some FOREIGNERS who speak and understand extremely well. I have also known a few for whom POINTING would be a better option.
Unfortunately, many web companies seem to hire those for whom POINTING would be THE BEST OPTION. I'm sure they are bright, alert individuals but the second language is for them a HUGE BURDEN which often seems to come to rest on this Blogger's shoulders. I had a German friend one time tell me that although he had learned English in his teens, he still had to translate in his head the English to German and back to English. That's rough and he was a very intelligent gentleman. He was too intelligent to be hired by Cyber firms.
All of these folks hired into cyber jobs often seem to land in the positions of HELP which is obviously not a happy venue. If someone needs HELP, not understanding the accent of the person offering it is to say the least very "off putting". If one does not understand what is causing a problem, adding another problem of a language barrier, seems to this blogger to be A DAMN POOR SOLUTION!!!!!!!!!!! And of course, making oneself understood under those circumstances is usually a lost cause that takes on ludicrous proportions over the period of time that both the helper and helpee take to understand that THIS IS GOING NO WHERE!!!!!!!!!!
When the problem exists within a merchandising situation (AND I MUST SAY THAT MANY BIG COMPANIES HAVE WORKED HARD TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THERE) then THE LANGUAGE BARRIER BECOMES LESS COMICAL SINCE THERE MAY BE A GREAT DEAL OF LOSS AT STAKE.
This blogger recently encountered that situation with a publishing company who seem to feel that having anyone other than the administrators exceling in our native language is a definite budget oversight. The email letters have flown back and forth and as you know THIS BLOGGER WRITES FAIRLY CLEARLY AND DIRECTLY but after at least 15-20 emails, WONDERED IF ANYONE IN THE BUSINESS COULD READ!!!!!
The answers received often ignored the information sent and offered unwanted or unneeded answers to the problem. Now this blogger is also not a shy, retiring flower so when FRUSTRATED, THE RHETORIC BECOMES EVEN MORE DIRECT AND ALTHOUGH NOT INSULTING CERTAINLY APPRISING OF THE SITUATION THAT EXISTS.
When this correspondent reaches that FRUSTRATION LEVEL, THE E-MAILS CARRY COPIES TO SUPERVISORS AND CEOs. LOOK THEM UP ON THE WEB--THEY LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU--SO MUCH SO THEY HURRY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE!!!!!
You may feel badly bothering these busy and important men but you can always hope that if they hear from enough customers, they will REPLACE THE PERSONNEL MANAGER with someone who will hire folks with A GOOD COMMAND OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND ONLY A SLIGHT ACCENT SO THAT COMMUNICATION IS possible!!!!!!!!!
This blogger is aware that there are often HIGHLY PRIZED AND COMPETANT SOFTWARE COMPANIES who use this kind of HELP ON THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMS as a SELLING TOOL!!!!!!!!! HOW????????? Oh, come on!!!!!!!! Even if you think they're the greatest thing since PIZZA, how easy is it to FRUSTRATE FOLKS IF YOU REALLY TRY??????????? PRETTY EASY WHEN IT'S MATERIAL NEW TO THEIR INTELLECT!!!!!!!!! and once frustrated, HOW EASY IS IT TO SELL THEM COURSES IN SAID SOFTWARE??????
The phrase for that kind of ease used to BE DUCK SOUP!!!!! Not sure why but I guess Duck Soup was easier to make than most other soups. OKAY. THEY CHARGE A LOT FOR THE SOFTWARE THEN THE COMPANY CAN ASSURE THEMSELVES OF DOUBLING, TRIPLING, OR MONSTER MAGNIFYING THEIR PROFITS WITH COURSES THAT PARTICULARLY LARGE COMPANIES ARE GLAD TO FUND SINCE THEY CAN DEDUCT IT from TAXES AND USE THAT MONEY TO HIRE FOREIGN HELP!!!!!!!!!!
What a SUPER set-up a little UNSUPPORTED FRUSTRATION can engender. This blogger had a lovely conversation some months ago about a new program after calling "HELP ME PLEASE, I'M GOING BATTY". A very polite and ALMOST ARTICULATE LAD FROM INDIA COMPLIMENTED me ON MY SENSE OF HUMOR, THEN very politely fabricated a story about the problem I FACED, AND SAID IT COULDN'T BE RESOLVED AND THANKED ME FOR CALLING!!!!!!!!
ONCE THIS BLOGGER FOUND A RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM, calling that nice, polite, lying DOOBIE was not available since this is an anonymous, NON FACE UP SERVICE. Besides, would he have CARED TO KNOW how to resove it????????? DOUBTFUL. NOT HIS JOB. His job was to poltely GET RID OF THE CALLER WHO SHOULD FEEL THANKFUL FOR THE HELP.
A different instance of the NON FACE UP HELP available these days was done by a stand up English speaking American on the phone at a large national bank. Needing a simple transfer of funds, the caller after giving varying information was asked for a social security number. When refused, the questioner responded with what he called an account number which was the social security number. He had broken the law both by asking and by giving it over the telephone. When the caller complained to the local branch, the national bank office called about the complaint and the upshot: WE CAN'T HAVE CONTROL OVER ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ANSWER THE PHONE FOR US?????????????????? SAME ANSWER AS FOR THE MORTGAGE CRISIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sure, this world is going through a BIG TRANSISTION with TECHNOLOGY as this blogger has stated many times--IT IS A TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION. The problem seems to be that PEOPLE STILL EXIST. WE HAVEN'T REPLACED THEM WITH ROBOTS AS YET!!!!!!!!!! AND THOSE PEOPLE NEED HELP WITH THIS TECHNOLOGY AS WELL AS THE REVOLUTION!!!!!!!!!!
FRUSTRATION AT ANY LEVEL CANNOT BE CLASSIFIED AS HELP! Replacing genuine helpers with lack of understandable communication, JABBER WACKY, FAQs consuming hours to pursue, polite and genial liars, or any other ARTIFICIAL METHOD is FRUSTRATION PERSONIFIED AND SHOWS A LACK OF RESPECT AND CONCERN FOR CONSUMERS WHO ARE FUELING THE PROFIT MARGIN TECHNOLOGY IS STRADDLING!!!!!!!!!
SO, THIS BLOGGER IS STARTING ANOTHER MOVEMENT!!!!!!!!! Send your questions to the CEO of each software or other company and just MAYBE THAT ESTEEMED PERSONAGE WILL GET THE MESSAGE TO DO SOMETHING REALISTIC FOR HIS CUSTOMERS AND GET THEM OFF HIS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT DO YOU THINK? WILL IT WORK?????????????
CHEERS, CONNIE
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