Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

How do you handle phone solicitors in a kindly manner?  It's a dilemma, especially when I don't feel kindly, but exasperated.  But I don't want to kill the messenger.  Yet I definitely don't want to listen to a spiel.  What to do?  Yes, I have call waiting but it often doesn't identify enough for me to know it's a business.  It may say private caller, out of area, all kinds of misdirections.  Right now I'm dealing with my brother's estate and so unfamiliar numbers are the norm.

I have stock phrases I say quickly and then hang up:  "I'm sorry but I'm unable to give at this time", "I'm sorry but I can't talk right now", "This is not a good time.  Good luck", and "No, she's not in right now".  This last is a lie, but a kind one.  Metaphysically, I'm not in, because I don't choose to be.

Why bother over such a little issue?  Because it happens every day, and learning not to allow a reactive flareup of anger is good training.  So is showing compassion for the poor saps who have to make these calls.  They'd do something else if they could, and at least they are struggling to support themselves.  It's the little things.

Of course, I'll continue to attempt to screen my calls, but you've got to kind of admire the sheer deviousness of these phone IDs.  Entreprenership at it's capitalistic finest.  And the quick hang up still works beautifully, if you are fresh out of compassion or equanimity.

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