Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!enterpoop.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.life From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: The other side of callers who use sex lines Date: Mon, 23 Nov 92 15:07:21 EST Message-ID: Lines: 79 \SE D;LIFE;WAY OF LIFE;WORKSTYLE \SS (WS) \HD The other side of callers who use sex lines \BY Paula Bern \CR SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE Dear Dr. Bern: Remember when you said that the men who call "sex lines" for advice were "sick?" Well, I disagree! I, too, work as a phone therapist and, although we receive only a fraction of the money our callers dish out, it's possible to make a decent living. The men who call are not all sick; some are just lonely and trying to practice abstinence instead of using women and spreading disease. Granted there are some sickos, but the majority are trying to remain faithful, attempting to stay healthy or need to talk to someone about their sexual feelings. Those of us who have an understanding of human needs are telephone sex therapists. . . . Someone like you who has no idea what goes on in this workplace feeds the assumption that anyone who patronizes such a business is sick! - Lynnette Johnson, Arvada, Colo. A: Thank you for your honesty. You sure have given us a new perspective on the callers who patronize sex lines. And you're absolutely correct, I have no idea in the world what these men are telling you. Dear Dr. Bern: In a recent column you agreed with several readers who complained about telemarketers disturbing them. Well, I can give you a different viewpoint for I've been a telemarketer for more than five years. In this poor economy, all businesses are looking for more cost-effective means of reaching their markets. Unfortunately, for those who desire isolation, privacy and separation from the world, a telephone call is still the easiest, most cost-effective way to sell a product or service. When this method is denied an industry, they must cut back and the economy suffers. Be thankful that those you know have jobs and please realize that those job are available only as long as a product or service is sold in sufficient quantities to make that particular industry prosper. So quit complaining! Telemarketers are important! - Von Atkinson, Ventura, Calif. A: You've made a good argument, but I have one request. How about calling me at 6 a.m. instead of 6 p.m? You folks always catch me just as I'm cutting the tomato into the salad. Dear Dr. Bern: I took early retirement, but now that I've decided to return to work, I find the job hunt very frustrating. I answer suitable ads, then follow up with at least two letters. I've received absolutely no response from any of the companies. What has happened to simple, old-fashioned courtesy? Should I ignore their rudeness and keep sending follow-up letters? I feel lost! - Bubba, Troutville, Va. A: You and millions of others! Forget the word "courtesy." It isn't in the vocabulary of today's companies. With a sea of applications before them, personnel staff don't feel obliged to answer any of them. If your two follow-ups didn't work, a third will not be the magic number. Instead, activate a network of colleagues from previous jobs, neighbors, friends, acquaintances and members of professional organizations to see if they know of any openings. Meanwhile, check into signing on as a "professional temporary." No matter what field you're in, there are jobs for "temps." Contact Bruce Steinberg at the National Association of Temporary Services, 119 S. St. Asaph St., Alexandria, Va., or call 703/549-6287. Questions may be mailed to: Dr. Paula Bern, 1090 Vermont Ave. NW, Suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20005. Questions can be answered only through this column. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM