Evil, racist post from The Horse! Kick The Horse off of MyLot Immediately! No Mercy!
By The Horse
@TheHorse (205745)
Walnut Creek, California
October 30, 2018 6:41pm CST
Early this morning, I got a call from a guy with a strong Indian accent. He told me that my Microsoft was damaged and that I needed to hand control of my computer over to him so he could correct things. I talked to him for awhile, and even went to investigate some of the settings he suggested I check.
When my suspicion reached the "tipping point," I asked him his name and where he was calling from. He said his Company was based in New York (the area code corroborated that), then I asked him his name again. He said his name was John Baker. To my dear Indian friends, I ask, how common a name is John Baker in India? I reported him and his call-back number to Microsoft Scam.
Later, I tried to clear up some medical insurance matters, as I have changed jobs, and have to do some phone work to make sure I'm fully covered. The man on the line referred me to a woman who spoke with a strong Chinese accent. I could not understand what the heck she was saying. Nor could she understand me. The issue was not resolved. For all I know, a texting driver could break both my legs tonight and I might not be covered.
Still later, I tried to consolidate my retirement plans, speaking to a man in North Carolina. He understood what I was saying, asked the proper questions, and was able to consolidate my various retirement plans with TIAA, which controls most of my retirement money. We even joked about his forthcoming wedding plans, and I gave him some quick advice about how to reduce stress, both for him and his future bride. I lecture (in English) about Anxiety tonight!
Am I a racist pig for admitting that I was glad to speak with someone who spoke frigging English and could help me with my issue? I don't mind clicking "1" so I can get a representative who speaks English. I speak a few words of Spanish and think it's a lovely language. I say "nee how ma" to Chinese people when they pass me on the street. (Some actually respond "hun how" and smile.)
But when it comes to my computer, or my insurance, or my retirement money, do I have the right to expect (in the United States) that I might speak with someone who can actually speak my language? Or am I truly a racist pig? How are things in your Country? Can you actually understand the people you speak with on the phone who are there to "support" you?
29 people like this
34 responses
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
31 Oct 18
When I call support, no matter what here in Switzerland, I know that I have to press "3 for Italian" (1 is for German and 2 is for French). Guess what, I always get a German Swiss who learned Italian in school and it is impossible to communicate. I hang up and I press 2 for French, at least we both understand what we are talking about.
2 people like this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
30 Oct 18
I agree they need someone for each language to help customers. Tony has handed me the phone before saying I cant understand a word this person is saying. I have told some that too and asked for someone who speaks English.
2 people like this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
31 Oct 18
@TheHorse No , they hung up and that made me mad as hell. I went to the office and complained, probably did no good.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205745)
• Walnut Creek, California
31 Oct 18
@andriaperry Sigh. I speak maybe 40 words of Spanish, 20 of Hebrew, 10 of Italian, 10 of Thai, 10 of Mandarin, 300 of French, and many of English. I feel I should be able to get by (mostly) on English in the United States. No, I am not a Republican.
3 people like this
@vandana7 (98826)
• India
31 Oct 18
You said Indian? We are now sworn enemies. Kidding as usual. I have n number of times said Americans keep your jobs and monies. You all have enough problems on your hands. Your monies come here, and it gets wasted. At your end, it might give some homeless folks a home. That matters because your country is very cold.
2 people like this
@asfarasiknow (3341)
• Bournemouth, England
31 Oct 18
My girlfriend once got a call.from a scammer in India who had chosen to call himself Brett Strong. Shows a certain imagination. He could have pride while trying to con people.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (98826)
• India
31 Oct 18
@TheHorse In fact no. Indians do not use contemporary western names. We have names like Stanley, Leonard, Bernard, John, Michael, David, Charles..etc. But people may use Brett just because they have heard of Brett Lee the famous cricketer from Australia. There are no Steves, but there are Stephens. LOL.
1 person likes this
@asfarasiknow (3341)
• Bournemouth, England
31 Oct 18
@TheHorse I also got one calling herself Vanessa.
@BarBaraPrz (45487)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
31 Oct 18
Well, yes, the problem is not that they aren't speaking English, but their accent, so instead of saying "Speak in English" or "Talk American" the request should be "Please use my accent".
When I was able to watch NCIS on my computer, I had a difficult time sometimes understanding the 'Bama boy on NCIS: Nolo
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45487)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
31 Oct 18
@TheHorse Key and Peele?
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205745)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Nov 18
While taking attendance, inner-city substitute teacher Mr. Garvey has trouble adjusting to a classroom full of middle-class white students. About Key & Peele...
@snowy22315 (169967)
• United States
31 Oct 18
I do not like getting foreign speakers of English as CSRS but I will make exception for those of Filipino extraction, because their English tends to be better than some people who speak with accents in the US.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (169967)
• United States
1 Nov 18
@TheHorse Hispanic speakers are sometimes hard to understand..or Indian kind of a toss up.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205745)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Nov 18
@snowy22315 I do OK with Latinos who speak English as a second language. I think that's because I live in California, and English and Spanish are spoken about equally here.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159008)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Nov 18
I haven't had this type of call for several years. I like to mess with them and pretend I am naive.
I have had to tell them I will call back when I get some Indian in support capacity.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159008)
• Boise, Idaho
3 Nov 18
@TheHorse ......Oh, yes. Same here.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205745)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Nov 18
@celticeagle I wonder how the scam artists find their "employees."
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
31 Oct 18
We always have the right to demand on something that we can or we cannot understand especially if it involves things with oughtmost importance, this should be true and in practice not just in your country but worldwide.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
31 Oct 18
@TheHorse yes most Filipinos especially tech and service people are fluent in both English and Pilipino and we can also use a combination of both but I do understand how the situation is there in the U.S.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205745)
• Walnut Creek, California
31 Oct 18
@louievill Much of the tech support we get comes from people in India or the Philippines. Many speak good English. But some don't.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
31 Oct 18
I have a pretty good ear for accents and usually have no or little trouble understanding someone for whom the American version of English isn't their primary language. My missus, on the other hand, does not have this gift and will repeat, "I'm sorry, I cannot understand you," until they hand her off to someone who speaks with less of an accent.
At to people calling me to tell me there is something wrong with my computer and they're calling to help me fix it, I just hang up as I feel certain there is no major computer or software company that is going to call me first to offer to help me.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (205745)
• Walnut Creek, California
31 Oct 18
Kudos to @JolietJake for having the balls to record an entire conversation between him and a scammer and turning it into a YouTube video (I think). I played along until my computer's integrity was in danger and then contacted Microsoft.
2 people like this
@TishaMears (1026)
• United States
31 Oct 18
I'm a little confused by the title. Are you campaigning against yourself? I understand sarcasm but I don't know... I agree with @rakski and @andriaperry I have no problem with foreigners speaking their language among themselves, but I do have an issue if I need help in customer service and I can't understand the representative. In college, I had alot of foreigners teaching me and I was lost in many of those classes. Unfortunately, this is the world we live in. We can complain but we do also have to realize that America is a melting pot although there are many government officials who totally forget how USA was built. Just saying 
2 people like this
@TheHorse (205745)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Nov 18
@septabchips Are there "choices" when you phone for assistance? Here in CA, you can choose between English and Spanish.
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
2 Nov 18
I don't blame you It's expected that we should understand the person whom we are talking to especially when it's from a customer service hotline. Here, the call centre agents are screened well enough and must have an American accent to be hired since they will mostly be talking to American people. They also have speech trainings for that.
I haven't talked to a customer service that I could hardly understand at all and I always choose the English language because I feel more comfortable with that.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
7 Nov 18
@TheHorse English is the official language in this country. Most subjects are taught in English. Our textbooks are in English, our legal documents are all in English.
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
1 Nov 18
@TheHorse It is one of the former 15 Soviet Republics which are now all independent countries. It is situated in Central Asia like the other countries ending in -stan. The neighbouring countries are Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgystan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. The so-called silk road from China to Europe goes through these countries.
@RubyHawk (99425)
• Atlanta, Georgia
1 Nov 18
Agood thing you caught onto the scammer. We get those calls every once in awhile. I hang up but sometimes Leo will chat with them till they get tired and hang up. No! You aren’t being racist. I can hardly understand these calling centers in India. Its terrible trying to get information.
1 person likes this
