What I’m reading: Inishfallen Fare Thee Well by Sean O’Casey
What’s on the iPod: The Sweetest Thing by U2
It’s Friday, and it’s time for my semi-regular brain dump of all those things that just singe my eyes and fry my brain cells. I’m talking about the things that make my head explode – the usual round-up of odd, strange, and just plain bad from advice to news. Here’s what has me in a snit this week:
Blanket statements. I tend not to trust people or sources who use phrases like “always” and “never”, but it goes a bit deeper here. Blanket statements include “This is the only way to do it”; “If you do this, you’re wasting your time/money” (as in someone suggesting on a forum recently that a person with a lousy resume would waste money paying someone to fix it); “As you get older, you’ll not be able to do that, so do it now.” None of these statements are based in fact – they’re based in opinion.
False statements. My least favorite: “There’s no better work out there.” Can you hear my teeth gnashing? That’s because it’s an excuse for not trying. It’s the modern version of writer’s block – I can’t, so I have an excuse. Nonsense. You can’t because you won’t, so you have nothing.
Forums with lousy advice. There’s one in particular that I’ve been visiting that just unleashes my inner beast. I see people advising others to take content farm jobs because “they’re stable” (no, you’re in a stable being treated like an animal – big difference).
Forums that profess more than they deliver. Really, if you call yourself a group of professionals, don’t ask basic questions like “Where do I put the comma?” Look it up and save yourself a ton of embarrassment. And responders – don’t. Just let the question die and the writer find his or her own way.
What’s got you in a fluff lately?
12 responses to “Things That Make My Head Explode Redux”
Now I know why I don't hang out in forums. 🙂
What typically sets me off is lousy customer service-wherever I encounter it. Unfortunately, that seems to occur in too many places. Some of the worst-the phone companies, insurance carriers (personal prejudice as I find most on the phone have no idea how to read a benefit plan), and most technical support lines.
Cathy, all anyone has to do to capture tons of business is provide decent customer service. Why? Because it's like you said – bad customer service occurs in too many places. Frankly, I get a pleasant surprise every time someone treats me like a valued customer! LOL
Along the same lines with Cathy's customer service comment, it annoys me to no end when companies can't set a price and stick with it. They want customers and subscribers to think they're getting a great deal when they're probably paying more than the guy down the street.
The worst offenders are cable and satellite providers, phone companies, cell phone providers, and internet providers. It's only getting worse with the intermingling of those services.
I also hate hidden fees. My cable company stated a price for my new cable plan, noting taxes and fees would be extra. They slapped on an "HD technology fee" of $8.95 a month, and I don't have HD! They said it's because the DVR they installed is an HD DVR. Why? Because they no longer have non-HD DVRs. Slick ploy to upcharge people for services we can't use? Or bait-and-switch?
See, that one combines customer service and sneaky pricing.
Fortunately, I've been to busy to let wanna-bes work my last nerve! 😉
Just for balance, had a great cs experience with progressive insurance re windshield that needs replacing.
And I try to give it on my site… what I often experience is CS agents who want to help but their employers don't let them.
You're lucky, Devon. Me, I'm trying to build a presence so I can market some of my courses to these people. 🙂
Paula, not a fan of the hidden fee, either. Try renting a car! My "estimated grand total" doubled the minute I showed up to rent it. They're all like that. The fees are ridiculous.
Leave it to you to be that bright spot, Anne. 🙂 It's great when we are treated decently, isn't it? The guys from AAA were amazing – they even drove us home, which wasn't part of the contract. We're fans now.
The handyman arrived exactly on time, worked swiftly and quietly, cleaned up after himself and the final bill was only a couple dollars more than his estimate – because the supplies (including three window panes that had to be custom cut to fit my freaky old windows cost about $15 more than he'd expected). He even squeezed in a minor repair that I discovered needed doing the day before he was here.
That's good customer service.
I'm amazed when people just don't give a *&%! about other people. Take, for example, my neighbor, who leaves her two big dogs outside all night. They bark constantly. We've told her they keep us up at night, and she basically said, sucks for you. Seriously!?! I just don't understand that attitude, and I see it more and more from people today.
Ashley, call the cops. That's disturbing the peace. You have a right to enjoy your home peacefully. I might tell her one more time that you'd appreciate it if she could keep them either quiet or indoors during the night. If she gives you grief, say "Look, I'm asking nicely and do not want to involve the authorities. I appreciate that you have animals, but I have a right to be able to sleep at night."
Maybe the threat of a cop knocking on her door will cure it.
We've been calling the cops for more than a year, and she's paid two disturbing-the-peace fines already 🙁 She's really a piece of work.
Perhaps call ASPCA or the dog catcher? Either one may have better methods. Poor dog is obviously not happy. Blame the owner for that.