Indian Tech. Support Guy... your name is NOT "Jason"!!!

[jread]

Why do they tell you that?

"Wel'com' to Dell Tech. Su'pport. Dis is is Jason, how may I help y'ou sir?"

You lying bastard :rant: You know your name is Rasheemablabblabad... why are you making shit up? Go fuck yourself :angry:

[mgb]

You really can't blame Rasheem.

Blame Dell.

[Heather Harrison]

That's right. The Indian tech support guy is just looking for a job. It is the stupid American companies, with their evil CEOs, who send the work over there, and then try to fool their customers by giving their employees false names, who are the real scumbags here.

Heather Harrison

[Claverhouse]

You really can't blame Rasheem.

Blame Dell.
Yup. People here or abroad make the decisions of employment based on what is the best offer they can get.

And apart from the fact that in India at least, these support jobs go to university graduates ( and support is a good job compared to other opportunities there ) they are compelled to adopt Western personas and fake Western interests by their bosses.

As to whether the imbecility of transferring jobs to the cheap 3rd world will be profitable in future to either the companies or the economy of the Western country concerned ( if only because people get pissed off trying to understand the information offered )...


Claverhouse :ph34r:

[Hypnos]

The Indian tech supports do a double-take over the phone when I tell them my desi name ... this after hearing my Southern accent drone on about my hardware problem.

Then they get all snippy for some reason.

[SensEye]

IIRC, we have an Indian tech support guy on the forum. Can't recall his name or whether he has been active lately though. He could probably explain corporate policy.

[jread]

Whew... made that post right in the heat of being pissed off. I realize it's not his fault... I just think it's ridiculous. Do they (the ones in charge) think that's going to fool anyone?

[Dman]

Yup. People here or abroad make the decisions of employment based on what is the best offer they can get.

And apart from the fact that in India at least, these support jobs go to university graduates ( and support is a good job compared to other opportunities there ) they are compelled to adopt Western personas and fake Western interests by their bosses.

As to whether the imbecility of transferring jobs to the cheap 3rd world will be profitable in future to either the companies or the economy of the Western country concerned ( if only because people get pissed off trying to understand the information offered )...


Claverhouse :ph34r:

Is the implication that US companies should never contract outside the country, simply because they aren't american?

[coffeezombie]

Do all the people who complain about outsourcing also never buy non-American cars or non-American electronics? I don't think so.

[Claverhouse]

Is the implication that US companies should never contract outside the country, simply because they aren't american?
Never ? Dunno: but it is healthier for American firms to employ American workers. Especially since those workers won't be able to afford American products if they haven't any long-term prospects of work in America. And if the 'cheap' countries in the Far East eventually have better economies than America, and ( once they've got a stranglehold on production of things like electronics and IT ) they eventually put up the prices that have to be paid.

Slashdot had a long discussion on this. For some reason they concentrated on the losing of IT jobs.


Do all the people who complain about outsourcing also never buy non-American cars or non-American electronics? I don't think so.
That has nothing to do with it. If a foreign company makes a better product people will rightly buy it ( unless they are swayed by advertising and market forces to get something inferior ) --- I vaguely remember a phrase about 'acres of German Steel' in a carpark: although I've no idea whether German cars are better or worse than any others. But if something is branded American, one should have a fair assurance that it was made in America by Americans; and the same goes for any other country.



Claverhouse :ph34r:

[mgb]

Do all the people who complain about outsourcing also never buy non-American cars or non-American electronics? I don't think so.

But that's not what outsourcing is. Those jobs never belonged in the country in the first place. The point is that you have a choice on what to buy, in outsourcing you don't know (for example) who is going to pick up the phone when you have an inquiry. You can't really blame that on the consumer.

[coffeezombie]

That has nothing to do with it. If a foreign company makes a better product people will rightly buy it ( unless they are swayed by advertising and market forces to get something inferior ) --- I vaguely remember a phrase about 'acres of German Steel' in a carpark: although I've no idea whether German cars are better or worse than any others. But if something is branded American, one should have a fair assurance that it was made in America by Americans; and the same goes for any other country.


I'm not sure who brands it "American." Many products come from multiple places anyway. I drive a Mini but my engine is from Brazil and my transmission is from Belgium. Does that mean I don't drive a "British" car even though the car is assembled in Oxford?

Basically, I think it's comparable to say that if a company can go somewhere else to get a product made somewhere else with the same quality but cheaper it's no different than people who are willing to buy foreign products. I find the "moral issue" to be nearly identical. That's not to say I am necessarily in full favor of companies doing that.

[Serotonin]

Outsourced telemarketers. :rant:
One phoned me at 10:00 during my Saturday morning sleep in.

"Hello this is Prasad from Optus Telecommunications how are you today we have a fantastic offer if you you get free SMS if....".

Dude, have you ever heard of pausing between sentences?
:(
Poor Prasad, he's probably struggling. I should go easy on him.

[Architectonic]

At least he used his real name.

[mgb]

Outsourced telemarketers. :rant:
One phoned me at 10:00 during my Saturday morning sleep in.

"Hello this is Prasad from Optus Telecommunications how are you today we have a fantastic offer if you you get free SMS if....".

Dude, have you ever heard of pausing between sentences?
:(
Poor Prasad, he's probably struggling. I should go easy on him.

One strategy for telemarketing is talking through the objections. Usually the sign of a desperate telemarketer. I would hammer Prasad, if not hang up on him. He had the sales training. If he didn't have the training you don't want to buy what he is selling anyways.

The struggling crap is just a ploy to get you to feel sorry for him and buy something. I wouldn't be surprised if his name is actually Jason. haa haa

[mgb]

I'm not sure who brands it "American." Many products come from multiple places anyway. I drive a Mini but my engine is from Brazil and my transmission is from Belgium. Does that mean I don't drive a "British" car even though the car is assembled in Oxford?

Basically, I think it's comparable to say that if a company can go somewhere else to get a product made somewhere else with the same quality but cheaper it's no different than people who are willing to buy foreign products. I find the "moral issue" to be nearly identical. That's not to say I am necessarily in full favor of companies doing that.

But the moral issue is just it. The quality of treatment is much different. There are wage expectations and labour standards that aren't equalled everywhere on earth.

You can bet that "Jason" answering phones in Mumbai isn't being paid the same or working in the same conditions as Rasheem in Nebraska. They are however doing the same job. The difference is pay is probably also not relative to the cost of living difference.

So not only is outsourcing bad for the country the jobs are taken from, but since the move is done only as a cost saving measure, it is also bad for the country the jobs go to. It's bad because the jobs aren't permanent. Once the wages climb to high the company that outsourced the jobs is just going to move to a cheaper place.

[melancholeric]

So not only is outsourcing bad for the country the jobs are taken from, but since the move is done only as a cost saving measure, it is also bad for the country the jobs go to. It's bad because the jobs aren't permanent. Once the wages climb to high the company that outsourced the jobs is just going to move to a cheaper place.
And thus, the continuing competition of the cheapest labor between nations goes on and on. Considering the global unemployment rates ( often referred to as 'employment reserves' ), there's no end in sight.

Ii've heard this has actually caused global deflation and overproduction of some products ( like food ), but I forget the details.

[YardGnome]

I think it's more of a pronunciation thing. For example I have an Asian friend whose name is difficult to pronounce because the English language lacks the syllables to pronounce it. So instead of having everyone botch his name every time they try to pronounce it he has choosen an easier to pronounce English name that he goes by. I think it is to save them the embarrasement of having people botch their name all the time...

Or maybe it is corperate policy... I don't know, I'm always contradicting myself, I just know that if I was in some country where my name could not be pronounced because the native language lacked the sounds to reproduce my name I'd be sick of hearing my name get mangled every time someone speaks to me...

[indie]

Maybe sometimes, YardGnome, but not always. A lot of those "tech support" workers overseas have been carefully trained to minimize their accents.

Speaking of outsourcing, Roger & Me was on television Sunday, and I thought it was very interesting and funny (minus that part where the woman smashed a bunny's head in with a baseball bat, tied the animal to a tree and skinned it. That was just sick and wrong.)

But anyway, if you haven't seen it, Roger & Me is basically about how in the mid 80's, GM closed several of its US plants and moved them to Mexico. . . one of the plants closed was in Michael Moore's hometown of Flint, MI. After the plant closed there, the place kinda went to hell . . . and that's what the movie talks about.

It's difficult to talk about outsorcing without mentioning corporate ethics and corporate social responsibility. But that's another thread entirely . . . :)

[Dman]

It's bad because the jobs aren't permanent. Once the wages climb to high the company that outsourced the jobs is just going to move to a cheaper place.

(stirs the pot)

yes, but in the meantime that local economy had been stimulated and created a higher standard of living, including schools that have produced more higher educated citizens, hospitals with access to better health care, etc...

[mgb]

(stirs the pot)

yes, but in the meantime that local economy had been stimulated and created a higher standard of living, including schools that have produced more higher educated citizens, hospitals with access to better health care, etc...

Only to have it decimated when the company moves away. And when they do move and they will, the new generation has forgotten how to do things the old way. So you are left with a generation of high demand children expecting to have the best education, the best toys...and eventually they move away once they have been educated so they can quench their appetites for the nicer things.

Give a man a fish he'll eat for a day...

And it's not like just one company moves in. In Jamaica for example, it's cheaper to buy imported food than food grown on the island (because of cheaper labour practices elsewhere). So now all the farms have been run into the ground. When people decided that Jamaica isn't the place to go anymore, the tourism trade feeding the islands economy will go down. When that happens the price of goods will rise because it's more expensive to ship less food there. When it finally is viable to own a farm there, everyone will have forgotten how to farm, or lost their farm. Then the people become dependent on a global economy for everything.

[Geoff]

Here in the UK many of these tech support people are from the wilds of Scotland. Which are often even more difficult to understand. If I just have to deal with one more incomprehensible Glaswegian accent I swear I shall go completely *censored*.

It is even worse for Mrs Geoff, who is hearing impaired, and Canadian, so a glaswegian call centre (which usually have bad quality lines.. maybe too many lines connected?) is something entirely useless to her.

-Geoff

[Claverhouse]

Here in the UK many of these tech support people are from the wilds of Scotland. Which are often even more difficult to understand. If I just have to deal with one more incomprehensible Glaswegian accent I swear I shall go completely *censored*.

It is even worse for Mrs Geoff, who is hearing impaired, and Canadian, so a glaswegian call centre (which usually have bad quality lines.. maybe too many lines connected?) is something entirely useless to her.

-Geoff
I've never had any difficulty understanding Glasgie: Mancunian or raw Midlands, though... depressing.


Claverhouse :ph34r:

[int]

<thread cleaned />

[s0978]

aw, man, I was reading that! :cry:

[Star]

<thread cleaned />
:thumbdow:

It was in the Flamethrower..

[Edmond Zedo]

I'm not sure who brands it "American." Many products come from multiple places anyway. I drive a Mini but my engine is from Brazil and my transmission is from Belgium. Does that mean I don't drive a "British" car even though the car is assembled in Oxford?

You drive a German car. BMW owns Mini.

[Geoff]

You drive a German car. BMW owns Mini.

Ahh that is an interesting point. Who defines what nation a car is.

Made in England, Owned by a German parent company, using parts from all over and then shipped to the US and 'cleaned' for the US market?

More like a global car..

-Geoff

[Thermo]

Since mgbradsh complained to the admins, I am forced to revise my initial argument.


You really can't blame Rasheem.

Blame Dell.

http://forums.intpcentral.com/showt...generalizations <-- link no longer works

"I really don't see the point in making generalizations, which was the entire thrust of my post in case you missed that...which according to your disclaimer is exactly what you were doing. You are trying to put all women in some sort of descriptive box when you generalize which isn't right.

It's like saying that all African Americans are good athletes or all Asians are smart or that all Anglo Saxons have blonde hair and blue eyes. It's stupid to say those things because they aren't true in every case and the cost that comes with it is exclusion of people that don't conform to your standards.

You may be stating that you believe in equality but you are failing to see the trees for the forest. People come in many different shapes, sizes, colors, genders, whatever, why try and fit everyone into some neat little box? When you generalize you are slapping people in the face."

These two positions are hypocritical. You took the stance with me that I am sexist and racist for making generalizations about women to compliment them. Yet a week or so later you make a blatantly racist post. How do you explain the inconsistency in your arguments?

Ironically, how do you explain your blanket disregard for generalizations and at the same time hold the position you are an INTP?

[melancholeric]

I hate to get into this because this is apparently about nothing else but your personal problem with mgbr.

Thermo, it was removed once. Why do you think it won't be removed this time?

And a link to an url "http://forums.intpcentral.com/showt...generalizations" is not going to work. That's the exact url of your link.

And I fail to see what is so blatantly racist in his post. He seems to be saying that Dell (and other corporations) make their foreign workers use English names when speaking to customers. (From the corporate POV, perfectly sensible policy; it's much easier for the English speaking customer to call him "Jason" than "Rashejigolemakito".) Jread's opening post seemed far more "blatantly racist" to me. Even that wasn't "racist", he was ranting about the tech support guy who lies about his name. Neither of them seemed to make generalizations based on race.

[Thermo]

I hate to get into this because this is apparently about nothing else but your personal problem with mgbr.

First, In the thread I linked, mgbradsh claimed I was a racist/sexist and repeatedly resorted to swearing without having any previous contact with me on this board that I am aware of. You might want to ask him what his personal problem is with me. Second, I don't think I have to justify why I chose to follow a conversation to its conclusion.



And I fail to see what is so blatantly racist in his post. He seems to be saying that Dell (and other corporations) make their foreign workers use English names when speaking to customers. (From the corporate POV, perfectly sensible policy; it's much easier for the English speaking customer to call him "Jason" than "Rashejigolemakito".) Jread's opening post seemed far more "blatantly racist" to me. Even that wasn't "racist", he was ranting about the tech support guy who lies about his name. Neither of them seemed to make generalizations based on race.

1.) mgbradsh's main point in the other thread was that any generalization is sexist or racist.
2.) mgbradsh agrees with Jread's initial post and assumes that someone Indian has to be named Rashem or Prasad and must be in India milking away US jobs. Do all Indians live in India? Do all of them have foreign names?
3.) mgbradsh obviously believes in Personality Typing which is another way of generalizing people based on a number of critieria.

If he really believes #1, why does he feel #2 is ok and why is here here since #1 and #3 are imcompatible?

[mgb]

Actually, I didn't complain to the admins. Turns out they can read.

Your other points are hardly worth addressing.

[melancholeric]

As for following the conversation, maybe you should have done that in the original thread. Or use private messages instead of derailing a thread that had nothing to do with this. ( In all probability, the admins are going to remove this as soon as they see this. )

I'm not going to say anything about #1 here, mgbr can explain his point himself if he wants to.

2. "Rashem" or "Prasad" were probably used as examples. Is it a racist generalization to say that Indian names are different from English names? Second, outsourcing happens. Nothing racist about that. If you have a problem with that, blame Dell (used as an example). Or rather, blame IMF, WB, WTO, etc...

3. Is it a generalization to think that there are 16 personality types and that INTP and, say, ESFP are fundamentally different? I don't think he has said anything to the effect of "all ENTJs are like this", which is what I'd call a generalization. Whereas you said "women are good listeners". News flash, some women are good listeners, some are not. But then so are some men. ( This was used as an example of what I'd consider a generalization. I don't have any interest in debating that in this thread, or anywhere else for that matter. It's a non-issue to me. )

Saying that there are similarities and differences between personality types is very different than saying the same about race. Unless you include names (due to language, not race) and appearance.

I'm kinda busy right now...

[Thermo]

Actually, I didn't complain to the admins. Turns out they can read.

This is the one thread out of the dozen or more including your posts in the previous thread calling me an idiot and racist that more clearly violate the rules and they happened to chose just this one?


Your other points are hardly worth addressing.

Why did you bother posting? If it is so trivial, why not spend those seven words to refute my argument? I don't think you have a response, since this is the second time you have evaded the argument.

[mgb]

This is the one thread out of the dozen or more including your posts in the previous thread calling me an idiot and racist that more clearly violate the rules and they happened to chose just this one?



Why did you bother posting? If it is so trivial, why not spend those seven words to refute my argument? I don't think you have a response, since this is the second time you have evaded the argument.

Umm, mostly just to say that I didn't complain to the admins. Come to any conclusions you'd like about what that means though. And I do have a response, it's just better that I don't use it.

[melancholeric]

This is funny. mgbr called you a "fucking idiot"*, and you assume that he complained to the admins. Yes, that's exactly what I'd do too...

I'm tempted to put the rofl smiley here, but my smiley per month quota is full.

( *I'm biting my tongue here, and it actually hurts. )

[Thermo]

As for following the conversation, maybe you should have done that in the original thread. Or use private messages instead of derailing a thread that had nothing to do with this. ( In all probability, the admins are going to remove this as soon as they see this.)

I'm not going to say anything about #1 here, mgbr can explain his point himself if he wants to.

2. "Rashem" or "Prasad" were probably used as examples. Is it a racist generalization to say that Indian names are different from English names? Second, outsourcing happens. Nothing racist about that. If you have a problem with that, blame Dell (used as an example). Or rather, blame IMF, WB, WTO, etc...

3. Is it a generalization to think that there are 16 personality types and that INTP and, say, ESFP are fundamentally different? I don't think he has said anything to the effect of "all ENTJs are like this", which is what I'd call a generalization. Whereas you said "women are good listeners". News flash, some women are good listeners, some are not. But then so are some men. ( This was used as an example of what I'd consider a generalization. I don't have any interest in debating that in this thread, or anywhere else for that matter. It's a non-issue to me. )

Saying that there are similarities and differences between personality types is very different than saying the same about race. Unless you include names (due to language, not race) and appearance.

I'm kinda busy right now...

Why bother posting a response asking questions and then say you don't care? If you don't care, don't post. I can't answer your questions, because I don't hold that position, mgbradsh does.

[melancholeric]

I asked two questions.
1. Is it a racist generalization to say that Indian names are different from English names? You seemed to imply that it is.
2. Is it a generalization to think that there are 16 personality types and that INTP and, say, ESFP are fundamentally different? You seemed to think that this is somehow similar to generalizations about sex or race.

Care to answer these?

I post, not because I care, but I want to have as 1337 high post count as mgbr or songbird.

[Thermo]

I asked two questions.
1. Is it a racist generalization to say that Indian names are different from English names? You seemed to imply that it is.
2. Is it a generalization to think that there are 16 personality types and that INTP and, say, ESFP are fundamentally different? You seemed to think that this is somehow similar to generalizations about sex or race.

Care to answer these?

You are confusing mgbradsh's assertion that all generalizations are sexist/racism with my arguments refuting that position. In essence, you are agreeing with me that his position is incorrect and hypocritical. This is why I will reiterate that you should direct those questions to him.



I post, not because I care, but I want to have as 1337 high post count as mgbr or songbird.

When you stop posting I will believe it.

[melancholeric]

Don't feel like answering?

You implied that mgbr made racist (or any other) generalizations. I must have missed that. Unless you think that it is a racist generalization to say that Indians have different names than Americans.

Or you think it's a generalization to think that there are 16 personality types and that INTP and, say, ESFP are fundamentally different.

Once again, you claimed that these are the "generalizations" he has made. I asked you (twice) if you consider them "generalizations", and you don't seem to answer.

And do you think I care what you believe about my motives?




My tongue is bleeding by now. A pain treshold exercise.

[jread]

Oh fuck can someone just lock this thread? It is beyond salvation at this point.

[Thermo]

Don't feel like answering?

I already did in my previous post. I don't see a need to repeat myself.



And do you think I care what you believe about my motives?

What you are saying and what you are doing are two separate things. I am not reading into your motives, just your actions.

[mgb]

Here's an actual link to the feminism gone to far thread for anyone (echo...echo..) that might be interested.

http://www.intpcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2863

I recommend starting a post 54. But you can read the entire thing if you find it interesting.

In it you can find that I never called Thermo sexist or racist. I may have implied sexism, but gave enough room to explain it. But I never implied racism at all, Thermo actually brought the idea of racism into an argument about feminism/sexism all by himself.

And for the record, I didn't call Thermo an idiot (biting tongue) until he called me a hypocrite. I would have been glad to continue the debate without any name calling.

And that was pretty much the entire lead up to this whole thread. Which is actually becoming quite funny, given its time constraints.

[melancholeric]

You didn't answer, you dodged the question by implying (falsely) that I agree with you. Apparently your vocabulary doesn't include words like "yes" or "no".

You accused him of making racist (and other) generalizations. Those two things were closest to "generalization" that he's apparently made so far. Maybe we just have different definitions of the words "racist" and "generalization", and that's why I am asking you, not mgbr.

So once again,
1. Is it a racist generalization to say that Indian names are different from English names?
2. Is it a generalization to think that there are 16 personality types and that INTP and, say, ESFP are fundamentally different? And before you answer this, go reread my whole post (#34) about this.

Yes or no is enough.

If I stop posting, I'll never have higher post count.






And my tongue is screaming for local anesthesia.

[Division56]

The next person to keep this up will get warned, and their posts will be deleted.

If you want to do this, do it in PMs.

[Pedro_The_Lion]

I like outsourcing it does several good things:

1: gives the neediest person the job
2: increases pressure on the average U.S. citizen to get more skills and empathize with the poor (through loss of job)
3: creates a lot of angry people that get pissed off at abuses by rich companies which will lead to laws that curb the abuse of the poor or wanton displays of violence which will eventually (if pressure remains constant) increase equity between the rich and poor.

[Dman]

Ahh that is an interesting point. Who defines what nation a car is.

Made in England, Owned by a German parent company, using parts from all over and then shipped to the US and 'cleaned' for the US market?

More like a global car..

-Geoff

I'd say wherever the revenues from the sale of the car go. In the case of the Mini, that would be BMW (Germany), eh?

[sbw]

That's right. The Indian tech support guy is just looking for a job. It is the stupid American companies, with their evil CEOs, who send the work over there, and then try to fool their customers by giving their employees false names, who are the real scumbags here.

Heather Harrison

Oh lord, here we go again...those "evil" CEOs of those "stupid" american companies, trying to lower their costs so that they can stay in business and continue selling cheap computers to you and me; and in spite of being "evil" and "stupid," they are creating higher-paying jobs for every pseudo-jason in india (and pakistan, and indonesia, and china, and...), resulting in a higher quality of life for pseudo-jason and pseudo-jason's non-pseudo-family. Amazing that they would want to do such a nice thing for pseudo-jason, since they're "evil" and all.

ENTIRELY SEPARATE ARGUMENT (moving from the capitalism-isn't-actually-evil kick, since it's not): Dunno about you, but I LIKE being able to buy a computer for 400 bucks. If you actually disagree that there is an intrinsic correlation between "how much a company pays their employees" and "how cheaply they can afford to sell their shit" then I look forward to your rebuttal.

Scott

[mgb]

But aren't prices artificially low for things like computers? I know you like paying $400 for a computer, we all do, but is that how much a computer "should" cost.

You can't really even call it supply and demand because people still bought computers when they cost over $1000. It seems like the price is artificially low because they are producing them at an artificially low cost.

[Dman]

If they can earn a profit by selling them at that price, then I would say the price is right, Bob.

[mgb]

If they can earn a profit by selling them at that price, then I would say the price is right, Bob.

OK, that was pretty good.

[Architectonic]

I like outsourcing it does several good things:

1: gives the neediest person the job
2: increases pressure on the average U.S. citizen to get more skills and empathize with the poor (through loss of job)
3: creates a lot of angry people that get pissed off at abuses by rich companies which will lead to laws that curb the abuse of the poor or wanton displays of violence which will eventually (if pressure remains constant) increase equity between the rich and poor.

4. It gives people a real taste of things to come. Certain skilled jobs will go the way of the cave-man.

[sbw]

But aren't prices artificially low for things like computers? I know you like paying $400 for a computer, we all do, but is that how much a computer "should" cost.

You can't really even call it supply and demand because people still bought computers when they cost over $1000. It seems like the price is artificially low because they are producing them at an artificially low cost.

The prices are low because many different producers are competing with one another. In addition to technological advancements (making PC's smaller and cheaper-to-produce), there are probably many more computer makers vying for a slice of the same pie. So I wouldn't call it "artificially low price" so much as disparate producers competing with one another in order to fulfill consumer demand.

Scott

[Claverhouse]

PLACE-HOLDER FOR CLASSIC STATUS

[jax0m]

What pisses me off is not the friggen Indians at the call-center but the fact that their English skills aren't good enough to understand what I'm talking about without my having to repeat myself.

Also, my last name is Singh and one time the guy got my name and started trying to speak to me in Hindi. It goes without saying that it didn't work out.

[Madrigal]

There is a lot of outsourcing of call centers to Argentina, and people are told to say that they are in the States. They are also told to say that when someone asks where they are from, they should say 'Spain', because it'll get them more respect to be European than Latin American. Employees aren't to blame for all of that. People hire them. And then record their phone conversations with clients. They're just trying to earn a living.

[vacant space]

Rasheem is prob. just an ordinary bloke in some shitty customer service role he doesn't particularly like that underestimates his intelligence but it's job he needs to support his studies.

I'm sure he doesn't enjoy moonlighting as 'Jason', but is only following company policy by adopting an American sounding name and accent. It's true that many Indian customer service reps undergo American accent classes, adopt names and locations to make you the customer feel more 'at home', b/c in general Western cultures are frustrated at seeing foreigners 'stealing' their country's jobs.

You can blame Dell for sending the jobs away..but they do it to remain economically competitive to ensure your patronage. Otherwise, they'll have to price their wares higher. Then, you can blame yourself for being a bargain whore for reinforcing structures that allow such dishonest tactics to be played out.

But then..I cannot really blame you for being a bargain whore b/c your employment offers little job security and you need to save wherever you can to get more bang from your buck.

The blame runs in circles, so give a little empathy to 'Rasheem', he's just one of us.

[eyebyte_atWork]

The tech guy probably hates talking to a bunch of dumbasses all day who hate him - just a thought. (wait a minute - thats me actually - jeez)

The world is changing to a global economy people - you can roll with the punches or die trying to fight them. Change is eventually good

[mgb]

Ahh good times. People dragging up old threads. I sure don't miss Thermo. I wonder how INTJ Central is doing these days.

[Claverhouse]

Change is eventually good
People in Hiroshima probably disagreed.


Claverhouse http://intpcentral.com/forums/images/smilies/ninja.gif

[eyebyte_atWork]

People in Hiroshima probably disagreed.


Claverhouse http://intpcentral.com/forums/images/smilies/ninja.gif


touche.

ok - I will refine that statement .... peaceful change that can lead to a more globally equilibrium state.

[Madrigal]

I'm sure he doesn't enjoy moonlighting as 'Jason', but is only following company policy by adopting an American sounding name and accent. It's true that many Indian customer service reps undergo American accent classes, adopt names and locations to make you the customer feel more 'at home', b/c in general Western cultures are frustrated at seeing foreigners 'stealing' their country's jobs.

Very true. I know a few people that work at the call centers here for large american companies, and they have accent neutralization courses, where any hint of a 'british accent' they may have picked up at institutes is erased. Of course they can't make it native-sounding, though.

And yes, they have to take all the shit customers have due to the product defects and the company policies, when they have neither designed that product nor those policies. So lets give them a break.

I knew a girl, she was the sweetest person in the world, and she'd arrive home from work and cry over all the shit she had to take from angry customers.

Plus:

-- They have really short breaks and their calls are timed - they get shit from their managers if they spend too much time with one customer. It's total slave labour.
-- People that do this job are in fact trying to pay their studies most of the time. They juggle work and uni and have little time left for themselves.
-- They also work on weekends and holidays, and some of them get ridiculous shifts from 10 pm to 4 am, to suit time schedules abroad.

So next time any of you want to irrationally dump your frustrations on one of these guys, maybe you should think about who you voted for in the last elections, and what you do about the fact that your government allows large companies to fire thousands of employees so they can pay some third-worlder 200 dollars a month.

[Madrigal]

http://www.intpcentral.com/uploads/Dilbert1.jpg

[SensEye]

touche.

ok - I will refine that statement .... peaceful change that can lead to a more globally equilibrium state.Don't be so quick to condem. Obviously those in and around ground zero got a shit deal, but a quick decisive end to the war may have cost a lot fewer Japanese lives in the long run than a protracted conventional war lasting for years would have.

As well, losing the war and being barred from creating a large expensive military machine allowed Japan to invest their energies in building a high tech wealthy society with a very high standard of living.

Even violent change can be good, although probably less preferable than peaceful change in most cases.

[eyebyte_atWork]

Don't be so quick to condem. Obviously those in and around ground zero got a shit deal, but a quick decisive end to the war may have cost a lot fewer Japanese lives in the long run than a protracted conventional war lasting for years would have.

As well, losing the war and being barred from creating a large expensive military machine allowed Japan to invest their energies in building a high tech wealthy society with a very high standard of living.

Even violent change can be good, although probably less preferable than peaceful change in most cases.


Well put.

[Crazy]

Telemarketers are just people who are trying to pay thier bills. I'm never mean to them. In order to make sure they don't try and shove stuff down my throat, I usually tell them I'm not interested. If I'm really in a mood not to argue, I'll tell them I already got a call from them earlier in the week.

[Claverhouse]

Don't be so quick to condem. Obviously those in and around ground zero got a shit deal, but a quick decisive end to the war may have cost a lot fewer Japanese lives in the long run than a protracted conventional war lasting for years would have.

As well, losing the war and being barred from creating a large expensive military machine allowed Japan to invest their energies in building a high tech wealthy society with a very high standard of living.

Even violent change can be good, although probably less preferable than peaceful change in most cases.
And what of changing your abode from your home village to Andersonville ?


Claverhouse http://intpcentral.com/forums/images/smilies/ninja.gif


And the Japs were already negotiating for peace.

[mgb]

Telemarketers are just people who are trying to pay thier bills. I'm never mean to them. In order to make sure they don't try and shove stuff down my throat, I usually tell them I'm not interested. If I'm really in a mood not to argue, I'll tell them I already got a call from them earlier in the week.

Depends. Having worked in a telemarketing environment, some of them are complete assholes and are going to try and charge you for stuff anyways. I can't imagine that changes anywhere.

When they call now I just usally say No Thanks and hang up.

[coffeezombie]

And the Japs were already negotiating for peace.
I didn't realize that this was the "offensive words for Asians" thread. I'll have to be careful what I click on next time.

[Claverhouse]

'Japs' is offensive ? I can assure you I don't mind when people call us 'Brits (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_words_for_British)', although not one in a hundred English people ever use 'Britons', unless there's a Scot present.

Or 'Limey'.

Or 'Dirty Poms'

There, there, don't cry.


Claverhouse http://intpcentral.com/forums/images/smilies/ninja.gif


We've just about cured ourselves of saying 'Frogs'...

[coffeezombie]

'Japs' is offensive ? I can assure you I don't mind when people call us 'Brits (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_words_for_British)', although not one in a hundred English people ever use 'Britons', unless there's a Scot present.

Or 'Limey'.

Or 'Dirty Poms'

There, there, don't cry.


Claverhouse http://intpcentral.com/forums/images/smilies/ninja.gif


We've just about cured ourselves of saying 'Frogs'...

I don't get the poms thing. Americans like the British.

I was just pointing out in a half amusing way that "Jap" is offensive in this country and that coincidentally there is a thread about "offensive terms" for Asians already. Of course, the way it got offensive here is due to the racism during World War II against the Japanese who lived in the US. Therefore it probably never became offensive in Britain.

I imagine if we go to war against Britain again, Brit will become just as offensive.

[Claverhouse]

I think we called them 'Nips' during that conflict: although both the American and British prisoners ( we always ignore the Chinese prisoners... ) no doubt called them other things.

Didn't know it was offensive in North America; but most things seem to be.


Claverhouse http://intpcentral.com/forums/images/smilies/ninja.gif

[distraction tactics]

I had a half-Japanese, half-Canadian friend back in high school who was affectionately called 'Jap', much to the chagrin of the school admin.

Interestingly, a 'nip' around here is a Salisbury House hamburger.

[imfrellinggay]

Why do they tell you that?

"Wel'com' to Dell Tech. Su'pport. Dis is is Jason, how may I help y'ou sir?"

You lying bastard :rant: You know your name is Rasheemablabblabad... why are you making shit up? Go fuck yourself :angry:

Thats funny! I once got a Microsoft tech support woman who said her name was Michelle. I don't know Hindi names or anything, but I highly doubt Michelle is one of them.

[Edmond Zedo]

I think we called them 'Nips' during that conflict[/img]
Yeah, that's short for Nippon, which has something to do with Japan.

[dubbeltop]

yup dell is smart why pay 1000 to american call boy if you can pay 200 to indian one.