Phone-side manners

Just an amusing observation from some phone calls today. The FBI’s press office answers the phone with a brusk “Media Relations.” On the other hand, the Secret Service answers with a friendly, “Secret Service Media Relations, this is so-and-so, how can I help you?”

(Amusing side note: If the Secret Service calls you, your Caller ID will read “1000000000.”)

At various times I’ve called the FBI, NSA, Army, Air Force, and now the Secret Service. In every case, the people I’ve spoken with have been incredibly helpful and efficient — even taking amusement at the reputation that government spokespeople have. When the Air Force guy called me back in about 10 minutes and I quipped, “Wow, an efficient government spokesman,” he laughed and said, “Yeah, we always seem to surprise people.”