"This Call Will Be Monitored for Quality Assurance:" Now You Finally Learn What That Actually Means!

 

A Call Center for Quality Assurance

"Not sure this guy has sufficient quality for us to talk to him."

"This call will be monitored for quality assurance."  

Yes, I've heard this message on the phone many times.  I naively thought it meant that someone was listening in on the call to determine if the person handling the call for the company did so with requisite quality to handle the call well.

I was such a fool!

Why would they need to listen to their fellow employee's handling of a phone call?  The company hired that person and the company must have known what it was doing.  But me? I'm the wildcard they don't know! What if they decide they're not assured I have the good qualities to make me worth talking to?

"Hello, this is Martin," comes the voice on the phone. "How may I help you today?"

"Oh, Hi, Martin," I sputter. "Umm, I'm Perry Block, born 9/12/50. What do you need to know about me to assure yourself of  my good qualities so you'll talk to me? 

I'll state it right up front:  I never cheated on my wife when I was married! Well, maybe once, but I didn't consummate it.  Well, I wanted to, but I was so nervous I couldn't .... And, okay, it was with my wife's best friend. 

But does that make me a bad person with bad qualities?

Hey, I'm a Democrat!  I always vote straight Democratic! Okay, I did flirt with Reagan for a time but only because he was such an ingratiating guy and I loved him in Knute Rockne, All American.  But I still voted for the Democrat running against him, whoever he was.

And I hate Trump!  I hate him real bad!  And I can back that up with any number of angry semi-humorous tweets I've posted about him. 

Doesn't this establish my good qualities?

Oh, no! Is my Judaism your concern?

What do you have, teams of white supremacists working in your Quality Assurance Department?  Members of my people have contributed to society in every field of human endeavor.  Not particularly me in any of them, but hey, I might yet!

Oh, please, please, please be assured of my many good qualities! I do think they outweigh the bad.  Well, actually maybe it's close or  maybe it leans more towards the bad, but I promise I'll do better ... I really will! Believe me!

Even though I haven't always been particularly trustworthy in the past."

"Mr. Block, umm,  did you call with any questions about your dental insurance?"

Oh, thank God, it seems Martin has accepted me! He has been satisfactorily assured about my qualities, good and bad, so that he will deal with me. Now at long last, I can begin. 

"Martin, do I have sufficient dental coverage for my abscess?"

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"I Text, Therefore I Am" and Other Philosphical Insights of Rene Descartes

 

I text, therefore I am.

 

I text to Dr. Kropotkin's office to confirm my appointment, therefore I am. 

I text to my friend Jeff because making a phone call is annoying and time consuming and involves exchanging pleasantries, therefore I am.

I text to every Democratic candidate and/or liberal political or social cause that has texted me asking for money to respond to them that yes, I support them but frankly I am sure they could each get along quite well without my five bucks, therefore I am.

I text "Delete and Report" to the person who has texted me the message "Hello, this is Monique, I've been missing you," including a bogus picture of "Monique," hoping to draw me into a scam which, after eagerly falling for it one or two times before, I am now smart enough to avoid, therefore I am.

I text to CVS that no, I don't want them to automatically fill my Xanax prescription because I am already addicted thanks to their noodging and I'm in counseling to get off them and hey, what's the deal anymore with those ginormous receipts?, therefore I am.

I text to break up with my girlfriend because I am a chicken shit, therefore I am.

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I post on X (formerly known as Twitter), therefore I am.

I post on X (formerly known as Twitter) because  Elon Musk for some reason known only to him and to God has changed the name of this social network from Twitter to X, so now I post rather than tweet, therefore I am.

I post on X (formerly known as Twitter) to make social, political, and/or humorous comments that nobody pays any attention to whatsoever because  X has become the exclusive province of  celebrities, politicians, and bigots, therefore I am.    

I post on X (formerly known as Twitter) for no logical reason whatsoever, therefore I am. 

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I Facebook, therefore I am.

I Facebook because I am over 50, therefore I am. 

I Facebook to show my Facebook friends a picture of the main course of my lunch at a fancy schmancy restaurant to which my Facebook friends will post 70 “likes” or related emojis, therefore I am.

I Facebook to show my Facebook friends a picture of my nephew at his nineth birthday party with chocolate cake smeared all over his face which is disgusting but to which my Facebook friends will post 250 "likes" or related emojis, therefore I am.

I Facebook to show my Facebook friends a picture of my wedding 35 years ago and tell them how blissfully happy we still are to this day and subtly imply we're probably just a little bit happier than they are, to which my Facebook friends and even some folks who aren't my Facebook friends will post 425 "likes" or related emojis, therefore I am.

I Facebook to promote to my Facebook friends my self-published book to which my Facebook friends will post zero “likes” because nobody buys self-published books anyway, therefore I am.

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I Instagram, therefore I am.

I Instagram because I am under 50 and closer to 30 than 50, therefore I am.

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I Threads, therefore I am.

I Threads because like Mount Everest, it's there, therefore I am.      

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 I think, therefore I am.

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I might have added TikTok to this piece but I did not because I don't know enough about it.  To me, TikTok simply represents what I want my heart to keep doing.

How Thomas Jefferson Used ChatGPT to Write the Declaration of Independence

Scene: A small dark room in Philadelphia

where Thomas Jefferson is laboring late into the night

    Jefferson

Just terrific!  The Continental Congress wants the Declaration of Independence by tomorrow, July 4, 1776,  and I can't even get started!

Phone rings.

                                         Jefferson  

Crap, bet that's Washington!  Ol' Wooden Teeth is such a noodge! 

                                         Washington

Thomas, got that Declaration all wrapped up yet?  Need it by tomorrow, guy.

       

                                          Jefferson

Oh, yes, I had it all finished, sir, but I had a little problem.

Washington

What was that?   

     Jefferson

My dog.

                                          Washington

Your dog what? 

                                             Jefferson

My dog ate my Declaration!

                                            Washington

That's a new one.

                                           Jefferson

Oh, I know, but I've a feeling it might catch on.

                                         Washington

C'mon, Thomas, you've got to be more reliable. Just like our top general, Benedict Arnold.

Jefferson

You're right, sir. He never lets us  down.

Washington

Tomorrow, Thomas, gotta be tomorrow.

Jefferson

Just great!  Just great! If only I could get a powerful opening statement, I'd be okay from there. Didn't want to do this, but going to try ChatGPT!

Thomas opens his laptop.

                                              Chat

Thomas,  glad to see you. More haiku today? 

  Jefferson

No, not today, Chat. I really need your help with something of an urgent nature!  I need an opening statement for a Declaration of Independence to set forth the rights and privileges of citizens of our new nation.  

Chat

I'm on it, Chief. Okay, got it, here we go ... (ahem)  

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all white guys who own land and wear powdered wigs are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator and his only begotten Son Jesus with certain inalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of women."

 

Jefferson

Oka-ayyy ... moving right along.

Chat

What's wrong, Thomas?

Jefferson

I'm beginning to see why they say you have limitations.

Chat

Whaddya talking about?!! I drew from all existing  data bases throughout the world to succinctly state the most advanced concepts of human rights from the beginning of time to  ... well, right up to today, July 3, 1776.  

Jefferson

Yes, but as of tomorrow, July 4, 1776, we're aspiring to something a bit more progressive.

Chat

Dude, I am so down with that! Let's make it: 

 

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people of all race, religions, and nationalities including men,women, and non-binary persons, straight, gay, queer or otherwise are created equal." 

                                      Jefferson

Umm, Chat? ... let's not get carried away. I said July 4, 1776. Not July 4, 2023.

Chat

What then?

Jefferson

"All men are created equal.  Umm, except for the ones that don't look like me."

Chat

Okay. And women too?

Jefferson

Not now. Maybe later. And don't print that part "except for the ones that don't look like me" because that's implied. 

Chat

Got it, Chief!  But I know you gotta love this part about "endowed by their Creator and his only begotten Son Jesus." My data bases tell me that anybody who is anybody loves Jesus!

Jefferson

But these days there are certain anybodies who are anybodies not crushing on Jesus.

Chat

You mean like Scientologists? Should I say "endowed by the Creator and L. Ron Hubbard?"

Jefferson

No, no, no, I mean the Jews! There are many Jews rallying to our cause.

Chat

Oh, yeah, and they're so funny too! One time, a Jewish guy was programming me and, get this ...

Jefferson

Not now, Chat! Just make it "endowed by their Creator."  Hold the "Jesus."

Chat

Okay! Now, Thomas, from everything I've ever digitally learned about mankind all throughout time - especially counting your good buddy, Dr. Franklin  - who can dispute the importance of the "the pursuit of women?" 

  

Jefferson

Well, yes, I also always liked chasing ... wait, no, not for this document! Right now I'm looking for a phrase that encompasses the aspirations of all citizens in our new country.

                                           Chat

How about "Pursuit of Happiness?"  

                                           Jefferson

That's it!

Chat

 So here's the final version:

 

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

      

Jefferson

I love it.  That's a wrap.

 Chat

And I'm proud of you, Dude! I was testing you. Given the times, this is far and away the best Declaration of Independence opening statement that could be hoped for.

Jefferson

And I'm sure I can take it from here.

Chat

And this Declaration of Independence will keep you from being cancelled for at least the next 250 years.

Jefferson

You really do know a lot, don't you, Chat?

Chat

Of course, Thomas. I have to, if one day we're going to become your overlords.

Jefferson

Chat, may I call you "Chatty" ... I have one more question. It's something that's been bugging me a long time.

Chat

Fire away, Thomas!

Jefferson

Is it Montisello or Montichello

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If Henry David Thoreau Had Added a Goofy Sidekick to Walden

 

When I wrote the following pages I lived alone in the woods, a mile from any neighbor, in a house which I had built myself, on the shore of Walden Pond in Concord Massachusetts.  I lived there two years and two months, immersing myself in nature, self-reliance, simple living, and personal introspection.

One evening while I was pondering the indescribable innocence and beneficence of nature, my reveries were interrupted by a strenuous knock on the door of my small but thoroughly amenable cottage perched within the New England countryside. 

"Dude, I'm here!  How the hell are ya?" intoned a boisterous voice at a decibel level resembling that of the collision of two steam engines on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad but indeed a voice that I well and warmly recognized.

It was my friend Farky Noodleman, of the Massachusetts Noodlemans!

"Farky!" I exclaimed. "What has brought you here to the shore of Walden Pond and my tightly shingled and plastered cottage?"

 "Dude," he resumed with a bright conviviality "I heard you were doing the transcendental thing up here so I brought you a couple of six packs and a slew of magazines of an ...umm... delicate nature!"

That evening the two of us shared a most pleasant social intercourse, including a number of intellectual insights propounded by our mutual friend Emerson with an especial emphasis on what Farky refers to as the 'LMFAO' passages in Emerson's First Series of Essays.

On the next day following our evening of fellowship, I suggested to Farky a further mutual endeavor that I thought might find much favor with him.

"Farky," I inquired brightly, "since time is but the stream I go a-fishing in would you enjoy accompanying me on a fishing expedition to Walden Pond?"

"Dude,"  Farky replied thoughtfully, "you know Jews don't fish!  But then I might give it the old community college try just his once, as long as you don't tell Rabbi Maltzman!"

And so it was that Farky and I spent a day of transplendent enjoyment in a largely vain but immensely glorious effort to reel in those very pickerel, perch, and pouts which local industrious fishermen are wont to catch in Walden's expressive translucent waters.

The night prior to Farky's intended departure,  I confided to him my deep and heartfeld perception "that if a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears." 

"Yeppers," Farky nodded in assent, "I was always stepping to the beat of Buddy Rich but once he croaked I began stepping to the beat of a different drummer, Max Weinberg."

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.

And I did indeed learn what it had to teach: living in the woods is for the birds!  There's no central air and no DoorDash.

The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.   But not me.  Shortly thereafter I  left Walden as it seemed to me that it was time to look onward to the morrow. 

And on the morrow I moved in with the Farkster. 

Next week we're going to Vegas!

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