I work in an operations office for an airline. We don’t work with the general public, but we do support our airports and often get calls from airport agents across the network. Our number is private, but there are occasions when an airport employee gives it out instead of the actual call center. It’s a pretty quiet day until I get this call.

Me: “Thank you for calling [Team] for [Airline]. You’ve reached [My Name]; how can I help you?”

Elderly Caller: “Who?!”

Me: “You’ve reached [My Name] at [Airline], [Team]. How may I assist you?”

Elderly Caller: “Yes… can I take my medication with me?”

Me: *Pause* “I’m sorry, are you a passenger? This is an internal line; I can transfer you to the call center if you need assistance?”

Elderly Caller: “What?! No, dear, I just want to know which medication is better.”

Me: “I’m sorry, ma’am, but I don’t have an answer for you. Let me transfer you to the call center and, hopefully, they can assist you.”

Elderly Caller: “See, I’ve got the name brand, but the generic is cheaper and I want to make sure I take the stuff that won’t get taken away.”

Me: *Setting up the switchboard to transfer her call* “I understand, ma’am, but I don’t have the answer. Let me get someone on the line that hopefully should be able to assist.”

Elderly Caller: “I thought the airline would know. How do they not know? Why can’t this be easy? Why’d the government have to make this so complicated? It’s all those space aliens, I bet. The moment they blow up something like New York, everyone starts panicking all the time. Why don’t you guys know what you accept and what you don’t?”

Me: *Lets her finish her tirade* “I’m sorry about that, ma’am. I’ll transfer you to the call center right now for those answers you’re looking for.”

Elderly Caller: “Nah, don’t bother. I’ll just go with the name brand.” *Click*

I’ve been sick for about a week and have gotten several scam calls during this period — all appearing to be from the same scam effort. As my condition declines, so too does my tolerance for bulls***, culminating in this call.

Scammer: “Hello, sir, this is Microsoft Tech Support. I’m calling to—”

Me: “Could I ask you to stop right there?”

Scammer: “Sir?”

I move the phone away from my mouth for a moment for a sneeze that leaves my ears ringing like a gunshot.

Scammer: “Gesundheit.”

Me: “Thank you. One question: are you allowed to hang up on someone if they’re being abusive?”

Scammer: “I… Yes, sir.”

Me: “Glad to hear it. Now, I know it’s a scam, and I’m sick of you f***ers wasting my time while I’m trying to R&R. How many of you guys do I have to call a**holes before you add me to the do-not-call list?”

Scammer: “…Good day, sir.” *click*

I stopped getting calls running that scam.

I’m working in a tech support call center. Answering the telephone as usual, I identify myself and ask how I can assist the customer.

Customer: “My cable TV isn’t working.”

As usual, I ask the customer to tell me about the lights on his modem.

Customer: “Okay, hold on while I find a flashlight. The power is out here.”

There is really no tactful way to explain to an adult man that his television needs electricity to operate.

Years ago, during a recession, I had a job interview with a computer parts company. It was one that hired at cheap wages and promised frequent promotions and raises. 

At the time, I had freshly graduated from university and was on contract for slightly over minimum wage. I was first interviewed by a Human Resources person. We exchanged niceties before diving in.

Me: “How do you enjoy working for this company?”

Her demeanor changed completely and she glared at me.

HR Employee: “I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

I was shocked at the outburst, expecting her to highlight the positive aspects of the company. I don’t know why she thought I was asking something personal or offensive. It changed the tone of the interview. 

I continued to be polite, but then, she noted the salary of approximately $20,000 per year.

Me: “No one could afford to live on that salary. It’s barely above minimum wage, and it won’t cover rent or other expenses.”

When the hiring manager (who was pleasant) came in, I repeated this and walked out after twenty minutes. 

It’s the only time I’ve ever been bluntly honest in an interview. But the HR employee’s rudeness showed me that it was not a pleasant place to work and that she would have been miserable to work with. The company doesn’t exist anymore.

I’m heading to a strip mall. Due to a lot of construction around the main exits of the shopping area, the traffic is really backed up, with three rows of traffic trying to merge into a single lane to reach the nearest exit. It’s slow and annoying but nothing too serious.

As I drive from my lane into the one exit lane, I am suddenly bombarded by a symphony of obnoxious horn-blaring to my left. To this day, I do not believe I cut this lady off or butt in front of her by accident, but the woman clearly thinks I did and is letting her displeasure at being slighted be more than apparent. She starts flipping me off, really laying into the horn while shouting what I imagine is a very foul string of insults and acting like everything wrong in her life is somehow my fault.

It only gets worse when I choose to ignore her tantrum-throwing. She somehow manages to throw her coffee out her window and hit the back of my car, which only succeeds in making me laugh at this woman’s road-raging antics.

After several more minutes of honking, bird-flipping, and swearing that I can’t hear — she’s got some strong lungs, that’s for sure — we finally get through the one-lane area of the construction zone. Almost immediately, once free to do so, the woman floors it, racing out and around me and cutting in front of me. Apparently still not done with her onslaught of rage, the woman actually leans out of her open window to give me one more flip of the bird.

As she does so, her car veers a bit too far to the right of her lane, running over several construction cones and nearly crashing before she is able to get back in and control her vehicle.

Seconds later, with almost perfect timing, a police car passes me with lights blaring and pulls this road-raging woman over.

I have a good laugh on my way home. Instant Karma at its finest.