Time Trap (poem) by Ronald W. Hull on AuthorsDen

Time Trap
by Ronald W. Hull → (All Poetry by Ronald W. Hull)
Sunday, January 9, 2022 Rated "G" by the Author.

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I missed writing and posting this poem this week because I spent the last three weeks with at least ten expert agents, including about five hours on the phone on Thursday. Trying to solve a glitch with my bank credit card. Still isn't solved. Have had to order another credit card from another bank.

Image © Franco Zacharzewski for The Washington Post Time Trap Retirement gives us time to relax. Or at least it's supposed to. But change is relentlessly upon us. We must keep up to continue. New timesavers appear every day. We ignore most, but some require play. We jump in and use them anyway. Only to find out they take our time away. Telephone AI answerers are the worst. They misunderstand a simple request. They waste our time with trivial info. Their menus run us around without rest. When we finally get a real person on line, we find that they politely cannot find, any answer to our simple request, forward our request to their very best. Unfortunately, sent to the wrong pew, waiting on line might take a day or two. You wait and wait and wait some more, listening to muzak without keeping score. But the expert hired last week doesn't know, so, they refer your question up the line, which basically means waiting more. you're lucky if solved in due time. You look up from the phone, you missed, what you planned to do that day. So, retirement is not a place to relax, unless you refuse technology to play. Copyright 2022 © Ronald W. Hull 1/8/22 You can read and print this poem at my website here.
Ron's Place

Reviewed by Shervin Hojat, Ph.D.

Reviewed on January 16, 2022

Ron,
Yes talking over phone can be test of patience.
I usually do something else while I wait, hoping the other person can resolve the issue first time around.
Shervin

Reviewed by Rebecca McKeehan

Firstly, I hate that we are forced to bow to new technologies! Second, have you found it easier to get the job done when the person on the other end has English as their first language? Not always, of course, but more often than not.

Rebecca

Reviewed by Jms Bell

Reviewed on January 15, 2022

GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT AND PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE. HOWEVER, YES, THERE ARE INSTANCES WHEN TIME CAN BE TRAP, BUT...IT'S REALLY OUR CHOICE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE ALLOW OTHERS TO WASTE OUR GOOD TIME. GOOD SHARE, THANKS. LOVE, BLESSINGS AND FAITH...HIS+INSPIRATIONS

Reviewed by Betty Jo Tucker

Reviewed on January 11, 2022

Someone had to write a great poem about this frustrating situation -- and I am so glad it's you, Phil!

Thanks for posting it here on AuthorsDen.

Reviewed by La Belle Rouge Poetess Of The Heart

Ron, you are so right. I despise the AI most companies use now. Well penned and you truly captured the frustration in your poem.

Reviewed by w. aher

Reviewed on January 9, 2022

Simple but above a silent depth. you're going deeper.

Reviewed by JoAnne Cromp (Reader)

wow, so sorry you had to endure this. At least now you'll hopefully have time for other things like enjoying life

Reviewed by Diana Legun

Oh my! This is magnificent, Ron. My favorite line is: �Their menus run us around without rest.� The word �around� is perfect in describing the circular action that the shunted call does, ending up back at the start point. That first stanza shines like a beacon, relentless change and keeping up, spot on about that. Also, glad you inserted reference to �real person,� because that concept is the crux of it, isn�t it? Hot topic, this one. ~~ djl

Reviewed by Felix Perry

So very true, everytime I think I have caught up with at least basic technology they change it again...
Fee

Reviewed by Sandie May Joyce (Sandie Angel)

I get the frustrating feeling. Oh, you've got to be so careful with your credit cards info. nowadays. Don't give them out to just anyone on the phone. Also, those scam calls that call you but when you pick up the phone and they don't say anything... Whatever you do, DO NOT say "yes? Yes? yes?" when you don't hear any person on the line. Those are scammers who prompt you to say "yes" as they would secretly play a recording to ask you whether you want to charge something on your credit card, and when you say "Yes" you are actually giving them your consent to charge your credit cards. Be very careful!

Great poem, frustration and helplessness well-expressed! I hope your problem will be resolved soon.

Sandie

Reviewed by John Herlihy

All the misery of this time wasting described in details. So very true. Haven't we all experienced it, especially us retired people, who seems to be always sorting things out, filling in forms, and dealing with AI voice calls. Where do I find the time for it all. Enjoyed this immensely.

Reviewed by Sherry Asbury

THIS IS SO TRUE...ALSO, A VILLAIN IS SIGNING UP WITH A STORE TO ORDER FROM. BY THE TIME YOU REALIZE YOU ARE HOPELESSLY ENSNARED - YOU CRY.
I AM ALSO HANDICAPPED AND GET SO FRUSTRATED.
RONALD, THIS IS A GREAT POEM, TRUTH LAID BARE!!