Winning over Hearts and Minds

[claymore]

I have believed for some time that if this is to be achieved, antagonism and offensiveness, no matter the levels of provocation encountered, are usually counter productive. Would anyone agree?

[Nick]

I have believed for some time that if this is to be achieved, antagonism and offensiveness, no matter the levels of provocation encountered, are usually counter productive. Would anyone agree?

Recent experiences in foreign theatres seem to indicate that 'winning hearts and minds' frequently results in one of your supposed 'allies' stabbing you in the back.

[claymore]

Perhaps 'assumed' allies might be closer?

I have been monitoring the 'foreign field' - hence the post.

[Nick]

Perhaps 'assumed' allies might be closer?

I have been monitoring the 'foreign field' - hence the post.

I was of course referring to Afghanistan. However, I knew why you chose to make that rather provocative post.

If you have been monitoring it closely you will realise that any comment I was foolish enough to make on the matter here would be copied and pasted elsewhere, as has happened before.

[claymore]

Not by me Matey.
Provocative - moi?

I posted what I did out of genuine concern for you.

[Mark]

I have believed for some time that if this is to be achieved, antagonism and offensiveness, no matter the levels of provocation encountered, are usually counter productive. Would anyone agree?

I cancelled my mobile phone contract this morning. The process was Hard Sell->Long Period on Hold->Hard Sell->Long Period on Hold->Hard Sell->Long Period on Hold->Allowing me to cancel. The process took 25 minutes. Clearly it's intended that the customer will get fed up and hang up before the cancellation is complete and is intensely frustrating.

Somehow I remained outwardly calm throughout.

At the end I sincerely thanked the Woman for being so helpful.

There followed an amusing 3-5 seconds of stunned silence while she (presumably) tried to reconcile my statement with what had actually happened.

I don't know if I won her heart, or her mind but I bet I'm the only person today who didn't offer her abuse.

[ParaHandy]

I posted what I did out of genuine concern for you.

Your concern is merited; he's quite grumpy at the moment.

You exclude Denmark in foreign matters? According to my sitrep (Borgen) Denmark's pishing orf the taliban and driving nazi leopard tanks around in 'stan.

[ParaHandy]

I cancelled my mobile phone contract this morning. The process was Hard Sell->Long Period on Hold->Hard Sell->Long Period on Hold->Hard Sell->Long Period on Hold->Allowing me to cancel. The process took 25 minutes. Clearly it's intended that the customer will get fed up and hang up before the cancellation is complete and is intensely frustrating.

Me too ... it took 35 minutes and that was to change to a cheaper (sim only) tariff. They kept asking why I didn't want a new iphone. I did go brain dead at just the wrong moment when he said "OK that's that then, we'll change the contract over (not effing immediately) but on the 20th, your account date".