23 Mar 2010

TRUE OR FALSE?

Let me start by saying that in no way shape or form do I condone the malicious people who make hoax 999 calls to our emergency services at the cost of, not only, great financial expense but sometimes at the expense of life. However that said I had to have a chuckle at these individuals who did call for 'back up'. Something for which I feel quite guilty as part of me thinks whilst there was nothing malicious in their intent and, other than wasting the time of the emergency service operator, they were causing no real harm but, on the other hand, supposing by them wasting this time someone with a real emergency was not able to get through to make that all important emergency call? A lot of if's and but's I'm sure you'll agree and so it was after much thought that I decided to go ahead with this post.
Some of these were actual calls received by emergency service operators ...... or were they? All you have to do is decide which ones (if any) are true and which (if any) are false. Answers at the bottom of this post tomorrow.
(1) A 46-year-old teacher from London complained to a 999 operator that her dog was barking too loudly and wagging it's tail too quickly and she was fed up with it, could they suggest how to make it stop.
(2) The operator at an emergency call centre wasn't sure what to say when a 76-year-old gentleman from Swansea called. He was complaining the children in the playground at the school opposite his house were making too much noise. "I opened my window, and now I can't hear the telly," he told her. "Um, close the window," she suggested.

(3) When a woman couldn't get through to a tv show (Strictly Come Dancing) to place a vote for her favourite (actor, Tom Chambers) in the final, she called 999 to complain.
(4) In July 2008, 15 people called 999 to report UFOs they'd seen in the sky over Cornwall. It turned out the spectacle was a laser show, part of a concert.
(5) When a woman in Florida, USA, called the emergency operator saying she was stuck in her car with the window up in a car park, the 911 operator's advice was "Unlock the door, and pull up the handle."
(6) A man phoned Devon and Cornwall police in December 2008 to complain that his Chinese takeaway meal was late. He told the operator "I want you to prosecute the takeaway for ripping me off."
(7) A pet owner in Manchester told a 999 operator in December that her cat was "doing her head in," because it was playing with a ball of string. She stressed that it was an emergency because it had "been going on for two hours."
(8) A police officer in Michigan, USA, who ate a lump of marijuana he'd confiscated and kept after making an arrest, called the operator and confessed everything. Among his garbled sentences, he told the 911 operator: "We made brownies, and I think we're dead."


And now, as promised - THE ANSWERS.

Apart from numbers 1 and 2 which are false, the rest are true.

17 comments:

serendipity_viv said...

I would say 4 and 5 were the most believable and might actually be true. When do you tell us the answer?

Dorte H said...

No idea, because I am absolutely sure they could all be true.

Kissed by an Angel said...

I am no good whatsoever at guessing!!! But I'm sure there would be someone stupid enough to do any or all of the above things!!!!
xxxx

susan s. said...

Number 8 is true. It was all over the news here in the US.

Jennifer McLean said...

You know, there's a new Country song popular right now, the main chorus is...

"God's great, beer's good but people are CRAZY!"

I totally agree, lol. Here's a funny "customer encounter" that I got online... (I thought you'd get a chuckle)

JUDGING HELPS YOU QUIT UNHEALTHY EATING
(Grocery store | Minneapolis, MN, USA)
(A woman comes into my cashier line with a single bag of chips.)

Me: “Did you find everything you were looking for today?”

Customer: “You rang me up last time! Don’t judge me!”

Me: “I’m sorry, what?”

Customer: “You’re judging me! Stop judging me!”

Me: “Ma’am, I was just asking if you found everything.”

Customer: “Stop judging me!” *begins gasping hysterically*

Manager: “Ma’am, how can I assist you? What seems to be the problem?”

Customer: “She’s judging me! She’s going to call my husband!”

Me: “Ma’am, I have no idea who your husband is. I won’t be calling him.”

Customer: “You rang me up last time and now you’re judging me!”

Manager: “What did she say to you?”

Customer: “Nothing! But she knows I bought these chips yesterday!”

Me: “Ma’am, I may have rung you up yesterday, but I don’t recall doing so. I handle hundreds of transactions.”

Customer: “You’re lying! You know I bought these chips and you know that I’ve eaten the whole bag already and you’re going to call my husband! I was going to sneak these into the house so he wouldn’t know I’d finished the bag but you’re judging me!”

Yep, Tracy, people are not only crazy but stupid too!!!
~Jenn
(have a great week!)

Gina said...

Since there are so many unbelieveable things happening now, I can't even begin to guess. If you want a real chuckle...check out this one from a lady at a Burger King drive-thru...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ12Ry-hD6I


Seriously...some people. =0)

UberGrumpy said...

:)

I think they're all true. It takes all sorts...

The Accidental Mommy said...

Number 7. The rest are true.

#8 might be my neighbors.

Kelly said...

I wouldn't doubt that they were ALL true!! True or not, they're all entertaining!

Traci said...

There was a woman (I think in Detroit, MI) that called 911 (the US Emergency line)because she didn't feel that she received the right amount of shrimp in her dinner basket. When they refused to give her a refund, she accused them of theft and wanted to call the police on them. As you said, assuming that noone was unable to receive needed help, it is rather humorous to look at the crazy things people will do.

Thanks for the laugh!
:-)
Traci

Alexia561 said...

I'm guessing that they're all true, because people are crazy! Loved Jennifer's story of the chip lady! :D

Oddyoddyo13 said...

I'm pretty sure No. 1 and No. 8 are true...but, then again, it may just be me.

Amazing what some people use as complaints.

Alyce said...

I'm not sure, but the marijuana one was pretty funny!

Felicity Grace Terry said...

Welcome to Essie, good to meet you.

Some very divided opinions but we all seem to agree that as far as human stupidity goes, nothing surprises us. Answers later today at the bottom of the post.

The Accidental Mommy said...

Huh! I hate to be wrong, LOL!

Jenners said...

I'm going out on a limb here and say they are all TRUE!

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