lih@cunixc.cc.columbia.edu (Andrew Lih) (08/09/89)
> Date: Tue, 8 Aug 89 08:34:47 EDT From: "Robert E. Seastrom" > <RS%AI.AI.MIT.EDU@mintaka.lcs.mit.edu> Subject: BOC Strike - One Good > Side-Effect > I had occasion to call Delaware Directory Assistance yesterday. > Before I got a ringback, a recording came on that said "Due to work > stoppage, there may be a delay in servicing your call. Thank you for > your patience". Well, I sat there on a ring for about a minute and a > half and then this lady answered the phone and asked if she could help > me. I wasn't sure what number I wanted at the Delaware Department of > Motor Vehicles, so we went back and forth for about 30 seconds trying > to decide which number I wanted. She seemed genuinely concerned and a > lot more helpful than the standard, run-of-the-mill directory > assistance operator. Maybe we should just flush the current employees > and let the supervisors man the phones. It took a little extra time, > but the operator's pleasantness made the wait worthwhile. I could not disagree with you more! I called Pennsylvania's Directory Assistance and after waiting a minute or so, asked for University of Penn's General Info number. The operator fumbled around for about 30 seconds and then finally gave me a recorded message that told me a 202 number, which is in Washington DC! I could not even get through on New Jersey's Directory Assistance. The sooner the strike is over the better! Andrew Lih lih@cunixc.cc.columbia.edu Columbia University [Moderator's Note: Whether you are calling Penn State or the state pen, operator assistance has been very slow because of the strike. But this one is *nothing* compared to the first one I remember, in 1950, when *everything* outside Chicago went through an operator. Long distance calling was virtually suspended for a few days, prompting Mother to hasten the automation process all the faster. Just think, in a few years 95 percent of all operator functions will be automated. Calling card calls are already. *Then* watch how long management takes to settle! If we could search the DA database now, we (and Mom) would have it made. PT]