I said I wasn’t going to post much while I was marking, but this is too weird to pass up.
ME: Hello?
TELEMARKETER: Hi, ma’am. My name is Sam and I assume you’re the owner of this telephone number?
ME: Well, technically I rent it from Telstra. (I get a bit stroppy when I’m marking.)
TELEMARKETER: Well, that’s not important, ma’am, because I’m calling to tell you we’re giving you a brand-new mobile phone.
ME: Ah. Well, either there are fifteen companies making this kind of call, or I’ve received hundreds of calls from you despite asking for them to be discontinued. But I don’t have a mobile phone and I don’t want a mobile phone, thank you.
TELEMARKETER: You receive all those calls because you’re a big celebrity in Australia, ma’am.
ME: Right. Well, I’m still not interested in a mobile phone.
TELEMARKETER: You have a very lovely voice, ma’am.
ME: Sorry?
TELEMARKETER: What’s your name, ma’am?
ME: Why would you need to know my name when I’m not interested in your service?
TELEMARKETER: I’m just asking your name, ma’am.
ME: And I’m just asking why you want it.
TELEMARKETER: How old are you, ma’am?
ME: Why on earth would you need to know how old I am?
TELEMARKETER: You look to be maybe 24 or 22, ma’am.
ME: And how on earth do you know what I look like?
TELEMARKETER: I’m just imagining it, ma’am, because you have a lovely voice.
ME: I beg your pardon?
TELEMARKETER: What’s your name, ma’am?
ME: I’m not telling you my name.
TELEMARKETER: I just want to be friends, ma’am. Has anyone told you you have a really lovely smile?
ME: Okay, I’m either going to have to hang up now, or ask to speak to your supervisor.
TELEMARKETER: Okay, I’ll hang up now, ma’am. Bye!
Okay, maybe this is what I get for engaging with telemarketers in the first place.
But part of me really hopes that that call was recorded for training purposes.