Monday, July 06, 2009

in which FRB has some delayed-action hope, then outrage, then feels vindicated.

[old news, guys, but i just got around to finishing and posting this draft.]

well, this is interesting.
Mostly, I feared that single value ethics about abortion, on either side of the debate, would result in a coarsening of our respect for both women and for life.
obviously, this isn't the end. but i've seen a lot of knee-jerk reactions on this. but hopefully, steps [and articles] like this one are good news, hmm? i still have no solutions, but i also don't know where the outrage is getting us - i'd like to see if maybe we can approach this issue with a lot more sensitivity [yes, this is a personal decision that people should be able to make] and a lot less pre-judgment [no, people on the other side of the issue aren't necessarily evil].

[and, this was a separate draft.]

i've heard so many complaints lately, guys. and now, a little parable about one of them.

i was in one of those social situations in which many people are my parents' peers [and in my hometown, too], and i never feel old enough to argue - even when they're talking about something i actually know about. [i don't know everything, but seriously, i do know about some things, and i don't need a lecture about, say, what TEACHING IS LIKE.] and then they got on the subject of how you can never call 800 numbers because the people are always from india. always a crowd pleaser, right? now, i can see where there are problems with outsourcing, but apparently the only thing these people had a problem with is that they're talking to someone from india. and isn't that just racism? right?

[those of you with long memories may recall my epic conversation with the dell man who chatted with me about the friends episode i was watching and tried to convince me to vacation in manila, and those of you who were in the faculty room at the time may remember the nice woman who gave me a free replacement phone even though it was out of warranty. so, for the record, i have some pro-outsourced-800-number bias.]

so then, since my life is a movie, i was looking for directions to the rental car place a few days later and saw a yelp review [in my google results] that said, "do NOT call their customer service number! i ALWAYS get someone in india." then i got lost on the way to the rental car place. so, despite my pro-indian-call-center outrage, i was disappointed to find the toll-free number was the only contact number i could find. sigh.

so, i talked to the nice man in india - who answered right away and gave me very clear and appropriate directions. "no, ma'am, i believe you should have taken exit 4B. just follow the signs for rental car return..." wait. what were people's complaints about this, again? because that was exactly what i needed.

i think that's india three, judgy people zero.

and, this one's especially for my lunch friends - if i can't be the prophetic voice, hopefully i can be a little more understanding.

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