no5ay_: Telling Off The Telemarketer
Telling Off The Telemarketer / 02-02-22 by Daniel Jerome NO5AY_ collection 2022 4000x5000, 300ppi Digital Abstract Paint Expressionism
Most of the time, when I receive calls from an unknown number, I let it ring till it goes to voicemail. I figure if it's important enough, the caller on the other end would leave a voicemail sharing the contents & purpose of reaching out to me.
But specifically yesterday & today (lol), I've received multiple calls from different numbers, but switching off between two different locations. Every one that has gotten to me, I've blocked afterwards, or just completely ignored.
One of the last calls I got, I felt at the end of my patience...I had this urge to answer. Not to blow up at them, but out of curiosity, like what in the hell could they want to make this many calls to my number? I already am not great with any phone calls or live interaction due to my anxiety answering calls since young, but the irritation built up was overflowing. From the soothing livestream jazz or listenings of unabridged audiobooks, whilst studying & creating art......to the obnoxious default ringtone that is of my iphone 8....more than 10 times in less than 2 hours or so.
This need to react & knowing of my power as the one being disturbed, ALMOST urged me to answer, even just to say "no" because that alone would allow me to feel a sense of confidence in such situation, which is kind of a silly thought. Instead, I stayed true to my anxious ways & didn't do that...I continued to let it ring, & the most badass way I handled it was through just shutting off the ringer after a couple rings rather than let them finish.
How did I turn something as random as this into a lesson of any sort?...Well...Through contemplation of answering, not answering, being rude to the telemarketer, etc...I first started to think why so many damn calls? Then I questioned beyond that...and eventually it brought me to thinking that the person making the call as a telemarketer, probably doesn't want to be spending their days calling random numbers to bother or scam. This could simply be this callers unfortunate job & just what they've been doing to get by. This perspective causes me to regain control of my anger & not take things as personal. Instead of thinking, what the hell does this person think they are doing with my time?...Why do they go around doing this to so many people? I was thinking, I'm pretty sure they are aware & google says the success rate for telemarketers is known to not be very good...but these things just exist for whatever reason.
I let go of the idea of "getting back"...or that "is this what you want or expected?" I usually find myself to not be that person, and something like hearing a ringtone over more than usual almost drove me to losing a bit of myself, even if its like 3% of that..or even if the person or company did deserve that from me because we all have our right in someway.
The write up may seem like a creative dramatization, but as a human & artist, I'm simply walking you through the thought process of how I've lived, which is how I art...because art is my livelihood...and yes that situation as trivial as it seems actually was the inspiration that allowed this piece to flow as it did. In the abstract pieces I always add little cryptic things here & there to help my own explanations, to myself that is. Maybe even to get rid of that anger/irritation, to release, let go, & continue anew.
Though I know one day there actually might be a time I accidentally pick up one of these calls at a wrong time & express my discomfort or bring up the inconsideration of the mysterious caller or bot on the other end...I know how I want to handle things for now. And that is with the consideration that telemarketers will just be telemarketers...and I will just continue to not pick up or entertain those calls unless need be. I put my anger & irritation aside to allow for not only a more reasonable, but more calm reaction, rather than allowing the unknown numbers to push my buttons. Sorry, but I'm learning to push my own buttons & only if necessary.
