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Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder Send a noteboard - 22/09/2010 08:55:34 PM
For example, when someone asks "may I know your name(, please)?" the answer is not "yes, you may"


But the actual question here is: "May I know your name?"; the answer is, "sure, it's Lyringlas". I mean, it is inferred that they want your name, but you're actually asking for the permission to do so. So if you take out the permission to ask for their name, what are you actually asking other than "who are you?". I just don't like this-- it isn't me being rude, I am pleasant on the phone, I just don't like asking permission.

you're asking permission to know, not to ask. Logically, if they accept, they will tell you the answer since the next question would be "what is your name, then?"

It's a matter of politeness I guess. Sometimes, people don't feel it's necessary to tell you who they are or just don't want to. But your phrase assumes they will tell you.
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. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:19:28 PM 1807 Views
I think "May I ask who's calling" is more polite. Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:26:55 PM 1221 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:31:17 PM 1177 Views
Well, but... Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 08:42:22 PM 1268 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:05:01 PM 1142 Views
you may not BE a receptionist... LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:20:09 PM 1281 Views
"And your name, so I can tell (the person you asked for)?" *NM* Hezzah - 23/09/2010 12:34:18 AM 568 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:33:24 PM 1259 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 08:38:45 PM 1113 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 08:55:34 PM 1427 Views
Well, the whole asking permission bit is part of being polite. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 09:05:43 PM 540 Views
. lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:06:47 PM 1137 Views
Not so good for the phone answering, then. *NM* Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:29:34 PM 566 Views
Hmm... Isaac - 22/09/2010 08:59:23 PM 1280 Views
It's "who" *NM* Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:50:15 PM 566 Views
Quite true Isaac - 22/09/2010 10:07:46 PM 1257 Views
I say, "May I ask who's calling?" Tigr - 22/09/2010 09:00:10 PM 1207 Views
What do you do if they say "No" ? TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:43:42 PM 1176 Views
Than you say. ''Ok." They may have a reason for not disclosing their name. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:56 PM 1192 Views
That reason is often that they are nutters. M & M Maddy - 22/09/2010 10:29:19 PM 1286 Views
I hate it when people pull the "attorney-client privilege" thing. Ghavrel - 22/09/2010 11:31:01 PM 1094 Views
They are almost invariably nutters. Elaine - 23/09/2010 01:45:41 PM 1566 Views
Ah, you mean because they want to sell my boss storm windows or vinyl siding. *NM* TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 10:30:15 PM 579 Views
Tools! Tigr - 22/09/2010 10:13:32 PM 1176 Views
I usually ask: "Who am I speaking with, again?" ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:12:29 PM 1270 Views
I'm of the opinion that when you are at work, you represent your employer M & M Maddy - 22/09/2010 09:14:58 PM 1405 Views
^ this. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:23:00 PM 542 Views
Re: I'm of the opinion that when you are at work, you represent your employer lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:42:29 PM 1366 Views
+1 *NM* Rebekah - 22/09/2010 10:10:59 PM 638 Views
I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 09:27:05 PM 1332 Views
Re: I typically say something along the lines of "And who am I speaking to?" lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:40:10 PM 1350 Views
well, i can sympathize with that a bit at least LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:00:34 PM 1491 Views
"Who should I say is calling?" *NM* TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 09:41:57 PM 559 Views
This. It's polite, and asks the question correctly. beetnemesis - 23/09/2010 02:05:01 AM 1167 Views
I usually say "Who may I say is calling?" but that works too... Tom - 23/09/2010 01:59:03 PM 1558 Views
language games..... temeraire - 22/09/2010 09:42:35 PM 1202 Views
There would be apoplectic outcries if I answered the phone in such a way lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:45:56 PM 1387 Views
yeah.... i'm happy i get to be informal! temeraire - 23/09/2010 02:58:31 AM 1238 Views
Who is this? is unprofessional random thoughts - 22/09/2010 09:45:05 PM 1262 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional lyringlas - 22/09/2010 09:48:58 PM 1426 Views
Re: Who is this? is unprofessional ironclad - 22/09/2010 09:54:13 PM 1221 Views
it is not US standards. *NM* LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:03:47 PM 579 Views
good. *NM* ironclad - 22/09/2010 10:13:22 PM 626 Views
I generally don't because BlackAdder - 22/09/2010 10:43:38 PM 1135 Views
well fair enough... ironclad - 23/09/2010 08:07:08 AM 1208 Views
it doesn't matter if you HAVE to know their name. LadyLorraine - 22/09/2010 10:07:18 PM 1287 Views
You don’t have to transfer for them if they refuse but you should still ask politely random thoughts - 22/09/2010 10:31:55 PM 1293 Views
You are being silly and immature. Aeryn - 22/09/2010 09:49:20 PM 1084 Views
Thanks for your input? lyringlas - 22/09/2010 10:17:21 PM 1359 Views
I usually say, "B*tch, who you be!?" Mats Gambling Buddy - 22/09/2010 10:13:57 PM 1189 Views
Do you pronounce that with a click sound? Sareitha Sedai - 22/09/2010 10:15:29 PM 1247 Views
And I be all, like, sobbing and crying cause you're a rude jerk. And then you laugh at me some more TaskmasterJack - 22/09/2010 10:33:38 PM 1192 Views
Re: May I ask who's calling / Who is this? Zeeb - 22/09/2010 10:29:33 PM 1050 Views
Perfect. *NM* Avendesora - 23/09/2010 12:47:14 AM 622 Views
No you are *NM* Zeeb - 23/09/2010 11:53:07 AM 626 Views
Please stop splitting hairs. You're way is simply inccorrect. You cannot justify the rudeness away. M & M Maddy - 22/09/2010 10:49:05 PM 1351 Views
politeness is practically the definition of professionalism. LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:37:27 AM 1249 Views
Who is this? always comes across as rude. *NM* Chas - 22/09/2010 11:17:31 PM 554 Views
"Who may I say is calling, please?" is short and polite. Tashmere - 23/09/2010 01:13:43 AM 1199 Views
when someone asks me "may I ask who's calling?"... damookster - 23/09/2010 03:29:30 AM 1161 Views
that's because you're a tool LadyLorraine - 23/09/2010 03:39:08 AM 1469 Views
because it amuses me *NM* damookster - 23/09/2010 03:41:18 AM 566 Views
It's quite simple, really. Do you like getting paid? Then answer the phone the way your boss wants *NM* Missa Sedai - 24/09/2010 03:46:24 AM 601 Views
Huh Sareitha Sedai - 15/07/2015 02:06:55 PM 757 Views
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