I am going to tell you a funny story that happened to me a few months ago. One Friday evening one of my dispatchers received a call from a potential client. The guy, Robert, sounded too young. So, she asked for his date of birth. November 14, 1988. Hmm … way too young. She told him that he had to be 21 or older to call. Thanked him for calling and promptly hung up the phone.
Two minutes later he calls back. This time his name is John and his birthday is November 14, 1986. Again, she tells him that you must be at least 21 to call. Click. Within 30 minutes the guy calls back five more times changing both his name and year of birth.
On his eight attempts, his call is forwarded to me. This time his name is John, and he was born November 14, 1981. He is calling back again because anyone born in 1981 is 21 years old and as he stated the other lady was wrong to deny him. I explain to him that on November 14, 2002, he would be 21, but considering that it’s April he’s still 20.
His response? “I did the math wrong.”
First of all, rest assured that my company was not about to do a call with a minor. I informed him that his parents would be contacted and about a week later I spoke to both of his mother and father who were amazed that their 10-year-old son called our adult service.
The particular number he called is only advertised on the internet so I had a good idea how the youth obtained the number and was able to point his parents to a few sites where they can block his access when they are not around.
The moral of the story? Kids are curious as is and do not need any more temptations than they already have. It’s important to communicate with all responsible adults – you know that ‘it takes a village’ jive. And math is important!
The phone is ringing.
Later.