Idiots in Service
By way of Joyce Brindley
This week, all our office phones went dead and I had to contact the telephone
repair people. They promised to be out between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
When I asked if them if they could give me a smaller window, the pleasant
gentleman asked, "Would you like us to call you before we come?" I replied
that I didn't see how he would be able to do that, since our phones weren't
working. He also requested that we report future outages by email (Does YOUR
email work without a telephone line?).
IDIOTS AT WORK: I was signing the receipt for my credit card purchase
when the clerk noticed I had never signed my name on the back of the credit
card. She informed me that she could not complete the transaction unless
the card was signed. When I asked why, she explained that it was necessary
to compare the signature I had just signed on the receipt. So I signed the
credit card in front of her. She carefully compared the signature to the
one I had just signed on the receipt. As luck would have it, they matched.
IDIOTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: I live in a semi-rural area. We recently
had a new neighbor call the local township administrative office to request
the removal of the Deer Crossing sign on our road. The reason: cars were
hitting too many deer and he didn't want them to cross there anymore.
IDIOTS IN FOOD SERVICE: My daughter went to a local Taco Bell and
ordered a taco. She asked the person behind the counter for "minimal lettuce."
He said he was sorry, but they only had iceberg.
IDIOT SIGHTING #1: I was at the airport, checking in at the gate when
an airport employee asked, "Has anyone put anything in your baggage without
your knowledge?" To which I replied, if it was without my knowledge, how
would I know?" He smiled knowingly and nodded, "That's why we ask."
IDIOT SIGHTING #2: The stoplight on the corner buzzes when it's safe
to cross the street. I was crossing with an intellectually challenged coworker
of mine when she asked if I knew what the buzzer was for. I explained that
it signals blind people when the light is red. Appalled, she responded, "What
on earth are blind people doing driving?"
IDIOT SIGHTING #3: At a goodbye luncheon for an old and dear coworker
who was leaving the company due to "downsizing," our manager commented
cheerfully, "This is fun. We should do this more often." Not a word was spoken.
We all just looked at each other with that deer-in-the-headlights stare.
IDIOT SIGHTING #4: I work with an individual who plugged her power
strip back into itself and for the life of her couldn't understand why her
system would not turn on.
IDIOT SIGHTING #5: When my husband and I arrived at an automobile
dealership to pick up our car, we were told the keys had been locked in it.
We went to the service department and found a mechanic working feverishly
to unlock the driver's side door. As I watched from the passenger side, I
instinctively tried the door handle and discovered that it was unlocked.
Hey," I announced to the technician, "It's open!" To which he replied, "I
know - I already got that side."

