Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for November 25, 2011

Does that really qualify as a “greeting”?

What’s wrong with it? I had the same one for years

You’re assuming a lot, Pig….

Wow! That’s a great greeting. Wish I had thought of it years ago.

Wouldn’t it be great to have a machine that plays either a friendly message or a Rat message, depending on who’s calling?

This just might already be a product; if not – Opportunity Knocks, somebody!

Don’t have an answering machine…Get the message?

Yeah, if it’s important, they’ll call back later.

“…and leave your message after the beep.”

Unless Rat has a PA / WV regional accent and/or a lazy tongue & doesn’t clearly enunciate “…the…” might send a different message.

“If I know you or asked you to call, please leave your name and number. If you are calling to ask me for money, #^^&## off. If you are calling to tell me about my credit card, &%&(&)))&%^%$#$@##!!!!!!!!”

Yeah. Just how much does society have the right to demand of us? At least the Rats will die free.

Keeping a clear distinction between what’s necessary and required and honorable and one’s right to be oneself…and yet keep enough real friends, flesh and blood, not ghosts and numbers on the screen…that, Horatio, is also a pretty good question a-forming in a mind.

Betcha ten zillion people call just to hear the "cute"message.

Hey, that’s my message left on the answering machine

You can do that on Google Voice. Your contacts can be arranged in groups, and you can send some straight to voicemail, use different messages, etc.

It’s still less annoying than those musical answering machine messages that some people use.

We so need that for our greeting!

people still use landlines?

LOVE IT!!! Rat is so anti-social!!!!

I un-friended Farcebook last year. After being on it for 1 month and the press I was reading, I realized it was Big Brother personified. It’s only gotten worse since then.

And yet, some people expect monks to be available 24/7.

.

Hey, we became monks for a reason! And it wasn’t to be constantly on call.

RAT: “@#%&! you’re right. It could be @$#%#ing friendlier !”

My greeting on my cell phone is something along the lines of “Welcome. You’ve reached my voice mail. If you’ll leave a message, I’ll get back in touch with you—at my convenience and if I want to. Thanks!”

Trust Rat to add a swearword!

xxx

Is there a “Number 2, third sister of Number 6?”

FARCEbook? Me likee.

Yeah, Rat, if you leave a friendly message people calling for you will think they hit a wrong number.

You want friendlier? How about “I’m culling the herd. If I don’t call, you’re one of them.”