Press 1 for English!

[Cornhusk]

Sure. High on the list is people who are so intolerant and entitled that they are bothered by having to spend literally a second to push a button to specify in which language they would like to conduct their business.

But my finger hurts

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

But my finger hurts

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

If anyone's pet peeve is unintelligent people on a message board, watch out for me because I just now figured out what the picture of cheese means.

 

[S. C.]

how many people do you think would stay on the line if an automated voice started speaking spanish as soon as it picked up? lets be honest here, with the overwhelming amount of "THIS IS AMERICA SPEAK ENGLISH" club members, how much business would that place lose if their phone started speaking in spanish?

For the same second that it takes for them to say for english press one is all it would take for them to say for spanish press 1.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

If anyone's pet peeve is unintelligent people on a message board, watch out for me because I just now figured out what the picture of cheese means.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

For the same second that it takes for them to say for english press one is all it would take for them to say for spanish press 1.

I live in Houston, and often I notice the first thing spoken after "Thank you for calling XXX," is (in Spanish) "For instructions in Spanish, please press 8." Then the recording will go on in English with the options.

 

[Cornhusk]

If anyone's pet peeve is unintelligent people on a message board, watch out for me because I just now figured out what the picture of cheese means.

I thought the PP meant "Who cut the cheese"

Took me a while to figure it out.

 

[Sparx]

For the same second that it takes for them to say for english press one is all it would take for them to say for spanish press 1.

yes, but then someone would have to start a thread about their pet peeve being having to hear spanish when they're trying to call a business. even if it only takes a second, it still warranted a thread.

 

[FireDancer]

It doesn't bother me at all. I assume we are talking about a private enterprise here. If you can serve more customers and as a result do more business by offering Spanish language options why wouldn't you? There is a cost associated most of the time with offering the option, so the ROI must be positive in order to justify it.

There are certain things you probably should have to at least understand basic English for in our country, such as obtaining a license since street signs are in English, but a private business can do what they feel is best to maximize their revenue.

Most of the places I call don't say press 1 for English, they say in Spanish press some number for Spanish and then continue in English as the default.

 

[crashbb]

Meh, I live in Canada. Usually you either press "1", or say "English" for national companies/goverment agencies.

In Ontario, sometimes the default is English and you only have to press for French - said in French after the welcoming message.

It has never bugged me.

 

[S. C.]

To you it may just be a small vent, but the fact that you vented about it reveals tons about your general attitude toward those different from you.

I do not think you really understand the quote in your signature. People who do not speak English in America are facing a major battle, one much bigger than having to wait one extra second and press a button before going on to press a longer series of buttons in order to resolve their question.

For the same second that it takes for them to say for english press one is all it would take for them to say for spanish press 1.

And no i do not have an attitude about those that are different from me.

 

[Cornhusk]

For the same second that it takes for them to say for english press one is all it would take for them to say for spanish press 1.

And no i do not have an attitude about those that are different from me.

I still am not seeing what you are complaining about. Some companies actually have a long spiel of what numbers to push for what language, it is more then just Spanish and English.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Doesn't bother me a bit. Guess I'm used to it living in a state that's a huge melting pot of folks (visiting tourists, as well as short- and long-term transplants) from all sorts of countries.

For those that this bothers, what would you suggest that would be a better idea for those here either living or visiting where English is a second language, or for those that are currently learning English?

I mean, really, isn't five or ten seconds of listening to automation, the act of pressing a button on your phone worth it so someone in your community, for whom English is a second language, can speak with, say, your cable people or local department store?

 

[Amy8888]

and no i do not have an attitude about those that are different from me.

lol!

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Remember, "If you would like to hear a duck quack, press 7"?

 

[BRDof3]

And no i do not have an attitude about those that are different from me.

"And that's all I got to say 'bout that."

 

[S. C.]

"And that's all I got to say 'bout that."

my comment was based on that poster making much more out of this then what it is. but glad you got to laugh

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

Whenever I read a thread like this, I envision the same people who complain about other languages in the States as being the tourists I keep running into who get irate that they can't find anyone who will speak to them in English!

Yes, I know...I really shouldn't stereotype people!

 

[NikitaZee]

my comment was based on that poster making much more out of this then what it is. but glad you got to laugh

OP, if you've ever had a thought that's not politically correct, don't post about it here. No one here has ever done it.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I feel sorry for the OP - everybody jumped on her over a vent! This is the reason why I don't usually start threads on the Dis because of comments like these.

The US may not have an official language but I know for sure we have the Freedom of Speech. The OP is practicing that right with this vent. It doesn't make the OP a good or bad person.

As far as I'm concerned OP, go ahead a vent!