"Hi, this is Savita Balasubramanyam... er, um... I mean Betty."

June 20, 2001 9:12 AM

"Hi, this is Savita Balasubramanyam... er, um... I mean Betty."
A telemarketing firm based in India trains its local agents to speak not just English, but 'American.' They are assigned to watch Friends, Ally McBeal and MTV. They are taught to shoot the bull on baseball, basketball and (American) football.
posted by Dirjy (13 comments total)

I meant to say 'they are also taught...'

Geez, I sound like English isn't my native language!
posted by Dirjy at 9:14 AM on June 20, 2001

"What do you say we take a relaxed attitude towards work and watch the baseball match? The Ny Mets are my favorite squadron."
posted by ljromanoff at 9:52 AM on June 20, 2001

"We manage to carry off the conversation but if someone
suspects that we are actually in India we tell them that one of our parents is Indian but that we grew up in and are calling from the United States."

Urgh. As if telemarketing wasn't offensive enough, these people are trained to lie about their location. No telemarketer is going to get anywhere with me trying to chat up television; I'll have already hung up.
posted by Ned at 9:52 AM on June 20, 2001

Umm, isn't this story, like, really old?
posted by anildash at 9:54 AM on June 20, 2001

"We manage to carry off the conversation" ... sounds like they're doing one hell of a job...
posted by fusinski at 9:57 AM on June 20, 2001

I think the NYT did this in March.

And why does the shittiest pop culture always go overseas?

"My colleagues and I speak to each other with the (American) accent, we tell Jeff Foxworthy jokes, we tune ourselves to being totally American."
posted by Joe Hutch at 9:57 AM on June 20, 2001

Yeah, the NYT had this in March, and I hate to do this to you, Dirjy, but: double post. Interesting story, though, and I'm sure these folks make a pretty good living compared to the average wages in India. And they probably get some sort of ego-boost, knowing what is happening on Ally McBeal.
posted by msacheson at 10:06 AM on June 20, 2001

"whats the toll fare for the Ohio turnpike"? "whats the capital of California"?"How old IS Elvis?"," Who is 'Sparky' from Chicago?","How many degrees does Art bell have?","Is drive-through liquor legal?"
posted by clavdivs at 10:25 AM on June 20, 2001

idontno
posted by clavdivs at 10:26 AM on June 20, 2001

this reminds me of those wwii or korean war movies where the hero found out whether or not someone was really american if they knew who won the 1947 world series.

hell, I don't know who won the 1947 world series (although i think for the '40's, the yankees are always a good bet)!
posted by elsar at 11:01 AM on June 20, 2001

Yeah, the NYT had this in March, and I hate to do this to you, Dirjy, but: double post.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhh!
I tried to check first! Really, I did! Sorry, all.

(Shoulda searched for 'bangalore')
posted by Dirjy at 1:00 PM on June 20, 2001

In WWII, knowing the winner of the 1947 World Series would have been really astounding. At least it could get you taken in as a loony instead of a spy ...

(It was the Yankees, in seven, over the Dodgers. A crosstown series.)
posted by dhartung at 3:06 PM on June 20, 2001

Damn. I think I'd fail at being American.

When did sports become central to our national identity? Crikey.
posted by dagnyscott at 7:21 AM on June 21, 2001