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

[pellegrina.livejournal.com]

I have a similar phobia about women with Glaswegian accents: I automatically assume they are frightfully competent and organised and practical, and will scorn me for a scatterbrained nitwit.

On the other hand, I instantly approve anyone with an American Midwestern accent; in fact I have started sometimes recognizing the accent by the automatic sympathy inspired by the voice.