More than telephone directory assistance
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381760)
Rockingham, Australia
February 5, 2022 8:58pm CST
Do you remember the days when you could obtain a specific telephone number by dialling 0014 or somesuch? You spoke to the operator, gave the name you wanted and she/he would give you the number.
Our young adult son and his mates discovered that the call centre was (wo)manned, mostly by wives and mothers much like their own. They found the 0014 number (or whatever it was) a great help in many instances and would ring to ask how do I make gravy or how can I remove a stain from my shirt.
I thought that was pretty clever of them really. My son said that mostly the women were most obliging. Maybe they had kids around the same age as those seeking help.
Photo of my son playing Jenga with his grandmother.
18 people like this
16 responses
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
6 Feb 22
Ah, a fond memory of childhood (it was usually 411 in the U.S.). Eventually they started charging for it, and people stopped using it, then the internet came along.
4 people like this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
6 Feb 22
@DaddyEvil — 0 was the operator, like Jim Croce. 
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
6 Feb 22
@FourWalls Okay... You know I don't know anything about musical artists or music... Why do you keep telling things like that? 
3 people like this
@FourWalls (86575)
• United States
6 Feb 22
@DaddyEvil — well, “Operator” is a pretty well-known song, and I was hoping maybe you might have heard it.
http://www.youtube.com/user/eli4777Happy Birthday Eli4777 From-Robin&Guppy&Sean :-)Jim Croce - Operator LyricsOperator, oh could you help me place this callY...
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
6 Feb 22
We dialed "0" here and got live help from a person, male or female. I never tried asking for anything except phone assistance from one of them.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
6 Feb 22
@JudyEv I'm sure that's what happened. Young men, in need of help, hearing a friendly sounding voice, may take a chance that paid off for all of them.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Feb 22
@DaddyEvil I couldn't help thinking what kind ladies they were. I wonder if they laughed about it together later.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222248)
• United States
6 Feb 22
Great photo. Remember party lines and rotary phones? The kids of today wouldn't know what we were talking about.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Feb 22
@LindaOHio Yes, we had party lines here too.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222248)
• United States
7 Feb 22
@JudyEv Interesting. I remember picking up the phone and hearing someone else talking...and then having to wait until they were done!
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
6 Feb 22
That's a lovely picture of your son playing with his grandmother. Reminds me of my special bond with my grandparents.
Everything had a human touch back then. Now it's tough to find real human beings for such task. I don't remember any such thing in our country. In fact in 90s even landline was not so common. Not every household had that. And one phone in neighbourhood would be shared by all. People were generous and having a phone was status symbol. Now in just such less time, smartphones have reached even the remotest of India and everyone from all social and economic background has one
. Now in just such less time, smartphones have reached even the remotest of India and everyone from all social and economic background has one1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Feb 22
@arunima25 They would have appreciated your generosity so much. Mostly, it is so much easier to keep in touch. At least it is for a lot of us.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (93194)
• Bangalore, India
6 Feb 22
@JudyEv Yes, India is the biggest consumer market for mobile phones. There is hardly anyone who doesn't have a phone. And in 90s landline phone and car were status symbol. I remember that one of our neighbour couple would wait every Sunday in our living room watching Sunday TV with us and waiting for their son's phone call from the US. His son was on some project work in NASA and they had no TV or phone. We had many Sunday breakfasts with them
1 person likes this
@sharonelton (30756)
• Lichfield, England
7 Feb 22
I tried to phone directory enquiries once in the UK and just got told that the number I'd asked about was ex-directory! I thought, that's why I'm phoning you about it, because it wasn't in the directory!
1 person likes this
@sharonelton (30756)
• Lichfield, England
7 Feb 22
@JudyEv Yes, they only give their numbers to friends and family, and important people like doctors, etc.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (59648)
• Philippines
6 Feb 22
Nice of your son to spend quality time with his grand ma.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (59648)
• Philippines
7 Feb 22
@JudyEv 
I was close with my grandparents from both sides. I miss both sets of grandparents dearly.
I was close with my grandparents from both sides. I miss both sets of grandparents dearly.1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (49753)
• India
6 Feb 22
Nice photograph! It is really nice for those manning the Helpline to guide people in different ways!
Are any such helplines still operational?
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (49753)
• India
6 Feb 22
@JudyEv
Hmm..
Yes now we rely more on the Internet.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Feb 22
Were you able to ring up for a number if you didn't know it?
@oahuwriter (26773)
• United States
7 Feb 22
Indeed, when younger, we failed 0, for operator and a human answers. I usually knew my phone numbers, so very rarely called, if ever. We at Oahu, have had ask2000, now 211, from Aloha United Way an information line, also hotline for homeless help.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Feb 22
Is there still such a thing as directory enquiries? I would have thought it would have gone the way of the dodo.
