years. It's her whole life. She takes it very, very personal y.
her down, cal ing her a scam artist and issuing other vicious personal insults, and
saying she was going to sue Sara for everything she's worth as retribution for the
Devastated, Sara turned off her computer and cried. She shut off the phones and
closed up shop for the day. She spent the whole weekend in bed wondering if she
should just give up. Thinking maybe every insult in this client's letter was true,
every point in this ten-page email; then she went through the client's website,
connections. Sara refunded the client's money, plus an additional $50, with
to help.
The next day, she cal ed the client to try to talk through the situation with her.
The client cheerful y took her cal and said, “Oh, don't worry about it! I wasn't
actual y that upset. I was just in a bad mood, and didn't think anyone would read
my email anyway.”
My friend Valerie was using an online dating service.
She was half-hearted about it. She wanted a magic perfect man to sweep her off
her feet through divine serendipity.
We were at her computer when I asked her how it's going. She logged into her
account and showed me her inbox. There were eight new messages, each one
wel written, saying what the man liked about her profile, how they have a mutual
interest in hiking, or that he also speaks German, and asking her if she's also
been to Berlin, or has hiked in New Zealand.
I felt for those guys, each one pouring out his heart, projecting his hopes onto
Valerie, hoping she'l reply with equal enthusiasm, hoping she might be the one
who wil final y see and appreciate him.
She said, “Ugh. Losers. I get like ten of these a day.” Then she deleted al of
them, without replying.
When we yel at our car or our coffee machine, it's fine because they're just
mechanical appliances.
So when we yel at a website or a company, using our computer or our phone, we
forget that it's not an appliance but a person that's affected.
It's dehumanizing to have thousands of people passing through our computer
screens, so we do things we'd never do if those people were sitting next to us.
It's too overwhelming to remember that at the end of every computer is a real
person, a lot like you, whose birthday was last week, who has three best friends
but nobody to spoon at night, and who is personal y affected by what you say.
Even if you remember it right now, wil you remember it next time you're
overwhelmed, or perhaps never forget it again?
Dostları ilə paylaş: