Accent triggered phobia

[bunn]

Why is it that if someone comes on the phone with a particular generic-eastcoast american accent I automatically assume that they will be not just vastly competent, but the agent of a huge and hyperefficient organisation that will scorn and trample my tiny rural British IT business into the mud? I don't know why I get that reaction, but I do.

Whereas, if someone phones with a random Eastern European or Indian accent, I tend to leap to the conclusion that they are trying to sell me stuff I don't want. Admittedly, so far this has I think been 100% correct, but I feel bad about it for some reason.

Comments

[bunn.livejournal.com]

I try not to do that with British accents (Isn't it hard when you are talking to a Scouser though?) but I think what lures me into doing it with the Indian/Eastern European accents is that it really is very accurate phonecall filter, in my industry.

I suppose because they are cheap places to put call centres, and they do have their own strong website development industries : the main reason to not outsource to India for British companies is culture clash and language issues, but for a company with Indian staff, that would be no barrier so it would be insanely more expensive for them to buy from the UK.