20 foot of stupid
The life of a fireplace selling artist is an exciting one. The best part is the sheer number of bizzaro people I come in contact with every day.
I've learned that if you are a contractor it is actually illegal to ask for anything in feet, you must say foot. "I need 20 foot of pipe." You must also work the "F" word into the conversation if at all possible. "I need 20 foot of that f-ing double wall pipe."
A woman called today and asked if we sold gas inserts. I replied that we did, and she asked " Do you sell specific models, or...". Or what??!! What does that mean? "No mam, our models are all rather vague."
Comments
The life of an oil rigger is pretty interesting too. So often down here someone yells or says something at you that you just can't understand. I may understand the specific words that they are saying, but putting them altogether is this intricate and arcane puzzle. I know that they're trying to be funny, and are "busting my balls" but I just don't understand what they're saying.
I began to watch it happen to other people, and without fail a rude or obsene gesture was all it took to satisfy the completion of this moment.
This creates a difficult dicotomy for myself, as I finally have found the arcane key to fitting in and eliminating the awkwardness of saying, "I really don't understand what you're saying" but at the same time I don't really feel comfortable with the signs of make believe self pleasure, or the "go F yourself sign". What do you think? Do I do the gesture for closure and peace, or do I stay true, and really try and understand what they are saying before I respond?
Does this make any sense at all?
Posted by: dave | January 3, 2003 04:47 PM
Maybe you could just shake a wrench in their direction in a sort "why, I otta...." gesture and
while shaking your head and smiling knowingly.
Posted by: joe | January 3, 2003 06:34 PM