Robocall with voice activation

by David Safier

Has anyone else gotten one of these calls?

It was from something like the Policemen's Widows and Orphans Fund — I didn't really catch the name — asking for money.

A very personable male voice launched into the pitch, but it didn't feel quite right. He didn't ask me how I was or any of the usual intro questions to warm me up.

So I asked, "Are you a real person?"

He/It kept right on with the pitch.

"Well, are you?" I asked.

"Yes," it answered.

"Really?"

"No."

"That's amazing."

"I don't understand."

"This is a recording, isn't it?"

Then the voice launched right back into its pitch.

I asked, "Tell me, are you a [rather rude and colorful, semi-obscene phrase]?"

"Yes," it answered.

I began laughing.

"I don't understand," it answered.

"I'm not surprised you don't understand."

"I see," the voice said politely. "We will put you on our Do Not Call list."

And it hung up.

The whole thing was a surreal and absurd experience, in a Eugene Ionesco kind of way.

Anyone else ever get a call like that? If you ever do, have fun with it.