"spell it exactly like it sounds"; what, in Klingon?

[depechemodefan]

SC : sucky customer
Me:

SC calls library.

SC: I need to know how to get to 8601 (sounds like "Tavnor"), by the airport.
Me: can you spell "Tavnor" for me?
sc: Just like it sounds, "Tavain".
me: that doesn't sound like "Tavnor" *looks up street* I can't find that street ma'm. You said it's spelled "Tavain"?
sc: It's 8601 Tavnor.
me: sorry, can't find it.
sc: I'll call back

She calls back.
SC: It's 8601 Tvenor.
me: are you sure it's spelled that way? Isn't there an "a" or "e" between the T and V?
sc: it's tvenor.
me: *looks* can't find it.
sc: The woman for O'Reilly distribution found that address for me.
me: let me look up O'Reilly distribution *look it up* It's at 8601 T-a-v-e-n-o-r.
sc: yes, Tavenor.
me: you spelled it "TVenor"
sc: thank you (at this point I thougth she would hang up)
me: *give directions*

I l

[AngloSaxonViking]

WARNING! WARNING!

People phone the library to ask for directions? [BRAIN MELTDOWN IN 3..2..1...]

And you answer? [BRAIN CRUMPLES]

With a truthful answer? [BRAIN EXPLODES]

[depechemodefan]

People phone the library to ask for directions? [BRAIN MELTDOWN IN 3..2..1...]

Yep. Sometimes I get a patron who is going to a job interview, or like this moron, going to get a part at a auto supply. Most of the time I wonder, why don't they ask the person at the job interview/store how to get there? I suppose said interviewer/store employee might not know how to give directions. Or else they do give directions (say, "from Main street take a right on Curby) but morons just can't follow the directions (because they are morons) or don't know how to get to Main street. I doubt the people the moron called for directions would know how the moron can come from their home.

We have keymaps, which I have no problem using, and before whe used mapquest, and now we use google maps.

Before the internet, I could use a plan street map. Now adays I guess people don't want to buy a streetmap/keymap or own a phone book.

[starsinthesky]

I used to work at a library. I live in a small town 30 miles west of the capital city of my state (still within the larger area). The name of town is the name of a major street in the capital. I would get about 5 calls a week asking for directions to our location in our town and then always ask why do they have to get on the freeway, why is called *name* if it isn't on the that street, what do I mean it isn't in the capital. The special snowflakes who don't see the name of the town on the address when the call to ask how to get to it.

[Josh]

In my humble opinion, the MORON is the one that came up with the brilliant idea to make you guys information (411), operators (0), quasi emergency services and everything in between.

[lie-al]

I get that a lot. "MY name is Gary...G...A...R..Y, Zimbowickolipziscnitz." (No clue on how the last name is spelled.) Or, "You need my phone number to look up my account? It's 654-rattlerattleblurblur".

You know what, customer? I can't find your account or the info you need, thank you for calling. Try the tarot reader down the street, or speak with your spirit guide if you refuse to cooperate or provide any pertinent info that I can enter in my system with any degree of accuracy.

[MoonCat]

Yes...there are some people who should never be allowed to use the phone because they are idiots.

I get that some people are bad at spelling, but how can any native English speaker not know that there have to be some VOWELS in most words??

[depechemodefan]

MY name is Gary...G...A...R..Y, Zimbowickolipziscnitz

Yesterday a woman called, and she had to give me her last name for me to look up her account since from home our site said she had a problem with her accoutn. she spelled it "R-a-r, like richard,-z, like zebra,-h-e." So I look up her account and she the last name is different, spelled R-a-r-z-a-t, so I figured that was the problem. I asked her, "ok your name is spelled R-a-r-z-h-e?" and she said, "no, R-a-r-z-a-t." It would have been kind of helpful if she had continued with the "z like zebra". Short answer to why she had problems, was that she couldn't understand that when our site asks for "Last name," she is suppose to type in her last name

Long ago, I was used to people calling us asking "how many miles from Los Angeles to San Diego" or any city to any city. I guess it evolved from that. I suppose they dont' teach map skills in school anymore, though most people who call us for directions are older than me. Well, if the Zombie Apocalypse arises, I'll make sure the directions will lead them to the Zombies.

Also, while I was givng this woman directions, at one point I said, "If you are coming from 45N..." She says, "I'm heading 45S," great comprehension skills there.