Validation!

We've covered before how I talk to strangers. If you have to interact with a real live human being rather than a touch-tone menu then savour that rarity. Life is so much more pleasant when you make an effort with people. Friends call me either naive or a big flirt for this.

Yesterday I got a customer service call from Virgin Media, who have moved into the technology convergence market and taken over my broadband supply. Kitty's job was to get me to add cable to my package for an extra three quid a month but I've got too many rentals, downloads and Freeview recordings to watch already. Plus, Rupert Murdoch vs. Richard Branson has been all over the news: Virgin won't pay Sky's new price for their premium channels so I wouldn't get 24 or Galactica anyway. (Shig tells me Sky One via Virgin Media already "went dark".)

Kitty joked that calls were recorded so she couldn't say what she really thought of Mr. Murdoch. I didn't upgrade but perhaps I brightened her day for a minute or two. Before ringing off she told me that, if I called 150 to complain, they might agree to put me on the cheaper tariff for my existing services that they use to entice in new cutomers. I did, and they did. Kitty gave me this tip because (she said) I was "so nice". I just saved £72 p.a. by being friendly! Now that's what I call validation.