You know that they are models, right? She doesn't really work there.
February 18, 2009 12:53 PM Subscribe
This site examines the cross-cultural trend of headset-wearing customer support representatives on corporate websites!
From one of the posts on the first page: "This one is kindof interesting because second headset graphic (right side) features a slow animation of the Headset Hottie giggling."
So, what are the cultural and social implications of this paradigm? What are the implications of examining this paradigm on a website titled "Headset Hotties?" Seems a bit problematic.
From one of the posts on the first page: "This one is kindof interesting because second headset graphic (right side) features a slow animation of the Headset Hottie giggling."
So, what are the cultural and social implications of this paradigm? What are the implications of examining this paradigm on a website titled "Headset Hotties?" Seems a bit problematic.
Ha. A visual cliche nicely skewered. Shame about the name.
posted by WPW at 1:03 PM on February 18, 2009
posted by WPW at 1:03 PM on February 18, 2009
I think the "perceived helpfulness" ranking makes up for the site name.
posted by mr_roboto at 1:06 PM on February 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by mr_roboto at 1:06 PM on February 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
I would, after stewing over it for weeks, awkwardly ask it out on a date. If it said yes, I would plan for something casual at first. If it still seemed interested, I would ask it for another date. If it seemed appropriate, I might try to kiss it when dropping it off. If my relationship with it seemed to be getting serious and kissing turning into heavy petting, I would ask if I could go all the way with it.
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 1:07 PM on February 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by strangeleftydoublethink at 1:07 PM on February 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
Delivers what it promises. Would read again.
Ten years ago I was working in a customer service job when we had a day-long "customer service training seminar." One of the things that the preternaturally perky trainer was at pains to impress upon us was that none of us should have telephones with handsets, but rather there should be headsets for all. When we pointed out that we were dealing with customers live in person 98% of the time, we heard "It's just a tool to help you do your job more efficiently!" When we observed that the samples she showed us seemed uncomfortable and chafing and had poor sound quality, we heard "It's a great tool to help make your job easier!" When pressed for precisely what the benefits were, she chirped, "Oh, it's just a super tool to help you with your job!!" These responses left little doubt as to where the word "tool" was best applied in this situation.
As it happens, I had worked with her years before, and I knew she was married to someone who made a living peddling these headsets to credulous companies at six hundred bucks per. I wonder what he would make of this site.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:13 PM on February 18, 2009 [5 favorites]
Ten years ago I was working in a customer service job when we had a day-long "customer service training seminar." One of the things that the preternaturally perky trainer was at pains to impress upon us was that none of us should have telephones with handsets, but rather there should be headsets for all. When we pointed out that we were dealing with customers live in person 98% of the time, we heard "It's just a tool to help you do your job more efficiently!" When we observed that the samples she showed us seemed uncomfortable and chafing and had poor sound quality, we heard "It's a great tool to help make your job easier!" When pressed for precisely what the benefits were, she chirped, "Oh, it's just a super tool to help you with your job!!" These responses left little doubt as to where the word "tool" was best applied in this situation.
As it happens, I had worked with her years before, and I knew she was married to someone who made a living peddling these headsets to credulous companies at six hundred bucks per. I wonder what he would make of this site.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:13 PM on February 18, 2009 [5 favorites]
Thin post and you still managed a to work nerd rage into it. Well-done, sir.
posted by ardgedee at 1:17 PM on February 18, 2009
posted by ardgedee at 1:17 PM on February 18, 2009
I'm just going to take it for granted that Rule 34 applies here and not go looking for it. I know too many customer service people.
posted by Foosnark at 1:21 PM on February 18, 2009
posted by Foosnark at 1:21 PM on February 18, 2009
I miss the "asian or other visible minority girl with short hair, at a keyboard, looking up at a camera pointed down at a 45 degree angle" from the dot com days.
posted by drjimmy11 at 1:24 PM on February 18, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by drjimmy11 at 1:24 PM on February 18, 2009 [3 favorites]
Also, what ever happened to that Chris Gaines? He seemed nice.
posted by drjimmy11 at 1:26 PM on February 18, 2009
posted by drjimmy11 at 1:26 PM on February 18, 2009
Why has the site repeatedly rejected my submission?
posted by terranova at 1:32 PM on February 18, 2009
posted by terranova at 1:32 PM on February 18, 2009
Heh, I recognize this girl, someone had setup a fake blog using a bunch of stock photos of her. That was during the whole "Kathy Sierra gets trolled, leaves the internet" thing.
posted by delmoi at 1:51 PM on February 18, 2009
posted by delmoi at 1:51 PM on February 18, 2009
I don't get the cabal tag. Is this something you'd have to be in the cabal to understand?
posted by Mister_A at 1:54 PM on February 18, 2009
posted by Mister_A at 1:54 PM on February 18, 2009
Only the cabal knows for sure.
posted by exlotuseater at 2:11 PM on February 18, 2009
posted by exlotuseater at 2:11 PM on February 18, 2009
drjimmy - you beat me to the punch.
Next up: Asian women with pipettors under UV light (for biotech).
posted by benzenedream at 2:18 PM on February 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
Next up: Asian women with pipettors under UV light (for biotech).
posted by benzenedream at 2:18 PM on February 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
In customer support call centers where I worked in the past, female reps would occasionally get male callers who would apparently be masturbating. One guy asked a rep to keep saying "hmmm, yes" while he "did something." (She declined and disconnected.)
posted by longsleeves at 2:45 PM on February 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by longsleeves at 2:45 PM on February 18, 2009 [2 favorites]
@benzenedream: Agreed! And biotech print advertising can be so awful (or just utterly random) it would definitely warrant a blog, likewise.
posted by NikitaNikita at 2:59 PM on February 18, 2009
posted by NikitaNikita at 2:59 PM on February 18, 2009
longsleeves: The SOP I've observed for that sort of thing is to switch headsets with a guy co-worker and have him moan into the phone.
posted by ODiV at 3:16 PM on February 18, 2009
posted by ODiV at 3:16 PM on February 18, 2009
I work in a call center and wear a headset - I've never seen any girls that look like any of those girls around. Except for terranova's pic. That looks familiar in all the wrong ways. Giggidy.
posted by Bageena at 4:23 PM on February 18, 2009
posted by Bageena at 4:23 PM on February 18, 2009
One guy asked a rep to keep saying "hmmm, yes" while he "did something."
Thank you for this, which I'm sure will become a successful tactic for dealing with collection agencies.
posted by eclectist at 4:38 PM on February 18, 2009
Thank you for this, which I'm sure will become a successful tactic for dealing with collection agencies.
posted by eclectist at 4:38 PM on February 18, 2009
By that I mean headset wearing dinosaurs fucking headset wearing robots where both are on the line to upset customers but all is well in the end.
posted by Xoebe at 5:17 PM on February 18, 2009
posted by Xoebe at 5:17 PM on February 18, 2009
This site examines the cross-cultural trend of headset-wearing customer support representatives on corporate websites!
I have a hobby which could be titled: "Spot the Australian corporate website or pamphlet whose designers were too dumb or lazy and used American stock photos." They are EVERYWHERE.
Worked briefly for a guy attempting a nation-wide childcare start up. His website had all these beaming kiddies. Including lots and lots of beaming African Americans and Hispanics and Mulattos. He actually PAID MONEY to choose from this catalog of photos.
Sheesh, I reckon I can spot the difference between a white American and a white Australian and a white British kiddie, let alone minority groups that hardly exist in this country.
In my opinion the result is something already a bit too slick and fake becoming extremely slick and fake. And yet morons pay morons to produce this shit and then other morons look at it and go "Wow that's a great pamphlet. Approved!" Hmm, I suppose as long as moron consumers fall for it…
posted by uncanny hengeman at 9:08 PM on February 18, 2009
I have a hobby which could be titled: "Spot the Australian corporate website or pamphlet whose designers were too dumb or lazy and used American stock photos." They are EVERYWHERE.
Worked briefly for a guy attempting a nation-wide childcare start up. His website had all these beaming kiddies. Including lots and lots of beaming African Americans and Hispanics and Mulattos. He actually PAID MONEY to choose from this catalog of photos.
Sheesh, I reckon I can spot the difference between a white American and a white Australian and a white British kiddie, let alone minority groups that hardly exist in this country.
In my opinion the result is something already a bit too slick and fake becoming extremely slick and fake. And yet morons pay morons to produce this shit and then other morons look at it and go "Wow that's a great pamphlet. Approved!" Hmm, I suppose as long as moron consumers fall for it…
posted by uncanny hengeman at 9:08 PM on February 18, 2009
...Just to clarify. The reason I bought up that seemgly random rant is because headset hotties are often the main offender. I did not realise there were so many fuzzy wuzzy Mulattos living in Australia working as customer service telephonists.
You learn something every day.
posted by uncanny hengeman at 9:31 PM on February 18, 2009
You learn something every day.
posted by uncanny hengeman at 9:31 PM on February 18, 2009
that'll be because the average bogan can't tell the difference between fuzzy wuzzy Mulattos & aboriginals, so they're shunted off to departments where there's no face-to-face customer contact.
i've worked in call centres, and they're 100% full of beyonce lookalikes, no shit.
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:31 PM on February 18, 2009
i've worked in call centres, and they're 100% full of beyonce lookalikes, no shit.
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:31 PM on February 18, 2009
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