2008年10月 7日
FAQs
Hi everyone,
This week, I am back to a crazy lifestyle again because I am trying to get ready for the conference in Malaysia next week. The organizers are paying for my flights and accomodation, so I want to make sure I do a good job.
Hi Tomo - sorry about the mistake; I didn't realise you were talking about your own children, but the story was really interesting anyway.
Hi Anne - I agree with you that people also learn languages by imitating, but before Chomsky, people believed that imitation was the only thing that children did. If that was true, children like Tomo's daughter wouldn't say the kinds of things they do. By the way, good luck on your trip to the UK. I hope you have a good time in Wales.
Do any of you know the expression 'FAQs'?
FAQs stands for 'frequently asked questions'. I suppose the Japanese translation would be よくある質問. Because so many people now use technology in their everyday lives, we often have to try to find solutions to problems by looking at websites and manuals. If you ever look at an English website or manual, you will see the 'FAQs' section. Unfortunately, in my whole life I have never found the answer to the question I wanted to ask in one of these sections, so I never even bother to look at them now.
The things I hate most about our technological society is the use of telephone answering systems where you have to press about 300 buttons (or wait a few hours) before you actually get to speak to a human. In English, these systems often say something like, "Your call is important to us", and I always want to shout, "But not important enough for you to employ someone to take it!" When I came back from Thailand, my internet modem was not working, so I called the helpline. I had to go through about 10 minutes of 「○○に関する問い合わせは１を、○○に関する問い合わせは２を……」, and then I was told to wait while the computer did a check of my phone line. I had already unplugged my modem, so it was not connected to the phone line, and I got a message saying, "There might be a problem with your modem, so we will send you a new one. Thank you for calling"! At no point had I talked to a human, but a few days later, a new modem arrived in the post. I suppose it is cheaper for the company to just send new modems to everyone instead of employing someone to talk to customers and find out whether that is really necessary or not. There have been many wonderful inventions over the last century, but computerized telephone answering is not one of them. If I became president or prime minister, I would make them illegal and force companies to employ enough people to answer telephone enquiries.
Anyway, that's enough complaining for today. I have to get back to work now, so hope you are all well, and I will do one more entry before I head off to Malaysia.
Bye for now,
David
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Hi David,
Yes! I couldn't agree with you more! I also have never found the answer to the question I wanted to ask in any "FAQs" sections. Usually everything is like "帯に短し、たすきに長し". But I still try to look for the answer in them, every time I have a something trouble...
I hate computerized telephone answering as well, but I would be patient like Tomo would. When I have some problems with my PC, I call a helpline. After the information, I usually can speak to a human. Sometimes the line is busy and it takes a time to get through, but I need help.
You made me laugh at the same part as Tomo mentioned!;-)
Hope you will give a wonderful presentation at the conference!
Talk to you later,
Maki
- Maki
- 2008年10月 7日 22:41
Hi David and everyone,
I know the expression’ FAQs’. As you mentioned, these days we often see this expression on the Internet, and it’s so difficult and impossible for me to find the solutions there when it comes to PC or other gadgets.
I really agree with your idea about the use of telephone answering systems. Recently we can’t call directly even the nearby bank. This is so annoying, isn’t it?
I sometimes give up calling the helpline because it takes much time to go through 『ＯＯに関する問い合わせは1を～』。。。；I want to talk to a person directly who answers my questions!
We got a ’convenience’, but instead we got a ‘patience’ as well.
By the way, I got to know the new expression recently” Thank you for your patience”(しばらくお待ちください。）when I was checking the timetable of the train in the UK, but at that time I didn’t feel bad.
David, I’m sure you Do a good job there! Good Luck!!
Thank you for your words. I want to enjoy the student life even a short time with young people and experience the days complaining about the weather!
I’ll be back to Japan on November 3.
See you on November,
Anne
- Anne
- 2008年10月 7日 22:57
Hi everyone,
I know how you feel! I have the same experience. I even got a computerized opinion poll by phone the other day. Meanwhile, I’m wondering how do you know how many people are enough to answer all the questions (from FAQs to rarely asked questions)? Wouldn’t the labor cost hike the price of products or services? In fact lots of American companies outsource their customer service departments in India to cut the labor cost. You wouldn’t even notice if your phone call from the U.S. got connected to a well trained Indian operator at, say, Bangalore in India. I’m not really sure if it’s a good idea or not. There is no quick solution to that problem. It’s just a phone call, but it’s not so simple.
Anne, have a nice trip (^_^)/~
- Jazmin
- 2008年10月 8日 10:22
Hi Anne,
I hope you have a great experience on your trip. I'm looking forward to hearing your story. Good luck!
Amica
- Amica
- 2008年10月 8日 23:39
Hi Jazmin,
I didn't know that lots of American companies outsource their customer service departments in India to cut the labor cost. I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not, either, but I prefer it to computerized telephone answering. When I'm in trouble with something I'm not sure, I want to talk to a human.
By the way, I learned the new word 'outsource' from your comment. 'Out' ＋ 'source', it's interesting! I like this kind of word because it's easy to imagine and remember. Thanks!
See you soon,
Tomo
PS Anne, have a wonderful trip! If you have a chance, please write a comment from the UK;-)
- Tomo
- 2008年10月 9日 12:02
Hi Tomo,
I’ve heard that employees in Indian call centers are required to hide their identity and pretend to be Americans. They are told to cram their heads with the general outline of the U.S. history and geography, adopt American names, take speech therapy so that they will sound “Americans”(NY accent, Southern accent…etc.), have pizzas and Coke and watch Hollywood movies and American TV programs on weekends in order to create “an American ambience”.
BTW, ‘outsource(outsourcing)’ has become a Japanese now;アウトソーシング(^_^)v
- Jazmin
- 2008年10月 9日 14:45
Hi Jazmin,
Really?? They have to pretend to be Americans? They have to study a lot about America and American people and do the some things as Americans? Wow, it's hard to believe. That must be hard work for them..
By the way, I had never heard the word 'outsource(outsourcing)' in both languages.(笑)
Anyway, thanks for the information;-)
- Tomo
- 2008年10月 9日 15:38
Hi David,
I know how you feel. FAQs usually don't have answers I want. Most of the answers they have are "そんなことならわかる" or "その説明ではわからない"! So, I need to talk to a human who gives me an answer to my question.
Hi Tomo and Jazmin,
I know that lots of American companies outsource their customer service departments in India to cut the labor cost. I have watched it on TV before. According to the TV news, they outsource their complaints department in India, too. As you said, I'm not sure if it is a good idea or not, but when I watched it, I felt that was strange.
See you soon,
Amica
- Amica
- 2008年10月 9日 15:42
Hi Tomo, jazmin and Amica,
I've also watched a TV programme about the outsourcing. It's getting very common in American companies. I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not either, but it's going well with both people in India and the companies, because this suits interest s of both sides, I guess. But I didn't know that the employees learn not only American English, but also its culture(?), jazmin!
Hi Anne,
You are getting ready for your trip! I hope you will spend a lovely time and enjoy everything! As Tomo said, please post your comment from the UK, if you have a chance. Take care!
By for now,
Maki
- Maki
- 2008年10月 9日 22:34
Hi David and everyone,
My PC's trouble was solved at tonight with FAQs. So I'm enjoying the web site with Adobe flash player.
Tomo,
My grandson was similar to your daughter last year, he was four-year, he said "スキクナイ" but now he could say 'dislike'.
David,
I have to comment even one word, before you head off to Malaysia. Also I hope your success of your job. Because I'm going to drive to Kantokoshinetsu district with my husband on free schedule. So It is impossible to open my PC for a while.
Anne,
I hope you have a great experience in UK. Good luck!
everyone,
I'm happy to see you on coming Saturday. Have a nice weekend,
Kiyoko
- Kiyoko
- 2008年10月10日 00:44
Hi Anne
You must be exciting, do you???
I just want to say good luck massage before you leave.
I hope you really enjoy your stay in England.
and I am looking forward to hearing from you again.
- amo
- 2008年10月10日 00:44
Thanks,everyone !
If I have a chance, I'll write a comment.
Anne
- Anne
- 2008年10月10日 09:06
Hi Kiyoko,
Did your grandson say a similar thing as my daughter? Mistakes that small children make are very funny and cute, aren't they? My daughter was saying 'tsumaru' to make the opposite meaning of the word 'tsumannai'. It was a mistake, but all the people around her understood what she wanted to say. I didn't correct the mistake for a while because her way of speaking was cute.(I'm a bad mother.(笑)) Of course, I taught her the correct version before she entered kindergarten.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Tomo
- Tomo
- 2008年10月11日 09:50
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- 2011年10月31日 04:35
Hi David,
I totally agree with you. I hate computerized telephone answering, too! When I have a problem with my computer or my Internet connection, I NEED to talk to a human, someone who actually answers my questions. It's sometimes difficult even call the helpline because the line is always busy. If I can get to speak to a human after some minutes of 「○○に関する問い合わせは１を、○○に関する問い合わせは２を……」, I would be patient, but you couldn't talked to a human when you called the helpline? That's not nice service. Please make the systems illegal and force companies to employ enough people to answer telephone enquiries someday! But I want you to stay as a teacher for the rest of your life:)(Did I get my meaning across? I mean, ずっと先生でいてほしいです。)
Anyway, this part ‘"Your call is important to us", and I always want to shout, "But not important enough for you to employ someone to take it!"’ was very funny and it made laugh.
Speak to you soon,
Tomo
PS I'm sure you will do a great job at the conference in Malaysia. Good luck!