Madam: when you respond to the question "May I help you?" with "Oh, I hope so," in that particular plaintive, martyred tone, it marks you as a troublemaker right from the start. Historically, ohIhopesos have always been people who cannot be helped, no matter how hard one tries.
You may want to try a different tactic the next time you call people up, trying to get services they don't provide, for free, with a bow on top.
Posted by hilatron at June 19, 2003 12:27 PM