So heres my weekly question:
What is the deal with someone calling you either early in the morning or late at night, awakening you from you slumber, and politely asking “I’m sorry, did I wake you?”
Here’s what I researched and found:
This is an inane human habit/nature in attaining the upper hand/taking-the-command, subconscious act which basically translates like this:
The guy (or girl) knows you have been awakened (we all have our sleep voices which are distinctly different from any other tone). Yet the person will ask “Did I wake you?” This is their subconscious way of attaining the higher ground in the conversation. Your response: “No, no I was just lazing around” or “No, no I was lying down” or some other defensive statement to try and subconsciously gain some footing because you have been caught in your most vulnerable state (come on let’s face it you are not able to do much in your sleep except; sleep!).
Well to not get involved in this subconscious battle; in truth playing my role to be at par (or slightly an upper footing) with such calls, I have my own response to such calls.
Here’s how my call would go:
Caller: “I’m sorry, did I wake you?”
Me: “Yes. Is it something important?”
And that pretty much sets the tone for the conversation to come to a quick conclusion by the caller politely acknowledging and apologizing (usually) and me telling them I will call them back.
Why should I have to lie about my state of consciousness when in truth I was asleep and yes your call did wake me up and yes you have right to feel bad and I, for one, am not the person to take that right away!
Haha this is great. very true for most people and the strange thing is that you are definately in the right to ensure the caller feels terrible, unless they are calling at a reasonable time. The question then is, what is a reasonable time if old farts pass out early?
ReplyDeleteif an old fart (and i open the forum to wonder who the old fart being referred to here is . . .) has passed out early then regardless of time of call (which is all relative). . .the position to acquire would be to apologize for disturbing and return the call later. . .
ReplyDeleteAnother good read boss, although apparantly somebody started your day off on a bad footing (or put a bad end to it :)...) but nevertheless the portrayal of the whole thing in a matter of fact-ual way did make it intersting to read and one's mind does wonder off........:)
ReplyDeleteAll in all, totally agreed on that right thing you mentioned back there.
It's an interesting point- I loathe being woken up by the sound of my phone ringing, and yet I always feel obliged not only to answer but to reassure the other person that they haven't disturbed me. Even if it happens to be 7 a.m. and I cannot for the life of me figure out why it couldn't have waited at least until the start of business hours!
ReplyDelete