Voices

I have quite possibly found the most child unfriendly device know to man. It can be dangerous, it can be annoying, but it can also be funny. If you've ever called your mortgage company, your bank customer service, your power company, or anyone else that doesn't realize people have kids - then you probably know what I mean.

It's the voice-automated phone systems that are everywhere these days. I suppose they make life easier for... someone... but not me. I call one these numbers, and inevitably, my kids run in the room screaming. The "woman" on the phone either says "I didn't quite understand you," or "I think you said... buy a boat." This could really be dangerous.

But even if you don't have problems with your kids, you could (read: will) have problems. Have you ever tried to use one of these systems when you have a cold? Each cough sends you to a different department. Or if you walk past a TV, who knows what Dora will make you buy!

What ever happened to waiting on hold for an hour and then being transfered to twenty other departments before you're told they can't help you??