Why does it bother people to be asked to press one for English?

Question

If indeed the agenda here is "illegal" immigration and 32 million LEGAL people speak Spanish, how does pressing one for English relate to "illegal immigration"? And how does something as mundane as pressing a button effect your life?

Answer 1

these people who oppose it think of themselves as patriots yet they are destroying capitalism and free market ideas.





Private businesses can do anything they want within the boundaries of the law, if I want to make people press 4355 for English and press one for Polish, I can. If I want to run a successful business into the ground, I can...Nobody forces you to press it, if you want to take your business somewhere else the customer is more then welcomed to do it. Nobody holds a gun to your head and says press 1. The only people a business are responsible to is the shareholders or the owners. They are reaching out to a broader market to gain more profits...I dont pay attention to the media rhetoric much but it makes me feel that being rich or owning a business makes you somehow a criminal in the eyes of middle class people.

Answer 2

What bothers me is that businesses use an automated answering system, which started several years ago, before illegal immigration. I'm sure they can afford to hire a human to answer the telephone.



I once worked at an answering service, and when they went "computerized", they lost over half of their workers, myself included. They also lost over half their clients who followed us to a new answering service.



Yes, it bothers me to listen to a menu for two or three minutes, only to discover that none of the choices are for what I needed in the first place. I just try 0 or 9, which usually gets a human.

Answer 3

Does it trouble you while your end result and veggies are picked by way of non-English speakme individuals akin to discipline employees? Or while your vehicle is washed by way of immigrants that do not talk English and frequently receives a commission lower than minimal? Maybe you must reconsider your questions subsequent time earlier than posting them and quit being ignorant. If it were not for immigrants this nation's economic system could undergo immensely. So subsequent time while you listen a million for English or two for Spanish (which it customarily is Spanish) please quit and suppose for a second that we don't seem to be all lucky sufficient to have what you'll have, so be thankful.

Answer 4

That itself doesn't bother me so much. I got in the habit of pressing 0 or 1 as soon as I hear a prerecorder message. Once in a while 0 would get you an operator and 1 would send you to the next menu. But I found most of the time they make you listen to the whole message before they let you. That bothers me. Of course if they didn't ask for pressing 1, I wouldn't have wasted the time waiting to press 1. This site is not just about illegal immigration, but immigration in general. Most of those born here use English as the main language, therefore those who are most comfortable with Spanish are immigrants. As to why people are mad, It's more symbolic. I am having problems at work, because I can't communicate with one of my coworker. He's Armenian, and his performance is less than expected, because we are unable to give him instructions that he can properly follow. If I was to accomadate everyone at work who's primary language is ot English, I would at this point need to learn 3 aditional languages, not just Spanish. THe funny thing about rules about racism, is that we have to accomadate all ethnicities or none at all. Make everyone speak English, or have everyone learn all the language they might encounter.



PS I'm trying to borrow an Armenian colleague to have her train my assistant, and I like him although, I tried to find a middle ground and speak German to him. Unfortunately my German seems to dwindle to just ordering food. My assistant does know 4 different languages.

Answer 5

It bothers me to deal with any automated menu system, and any extra menu item I have to go through makes things more irritating. The companies could deal with this a lot better, by having a separate phone number for Spanish language calls. It wouldn't cost them anything substantial and it would be good for business.



That said, I lived in The Netherlands for a while, and I was always glad that there, they allowed me to press 2 for English.

Answer 6

Here is my idea, just make it a "default language" for every phone facility which is "ENGLISH" and a "default button" that when it comes to be needed another language spoken, we should press "that default button", say the default button is 6, then everytime people who dont speak english need to have another language then they will push 6 and then they will have options for language they speak, such as latin, spanish, etc.



Thus, it dont bother people who speak english and do not to hear "push 1 for english" ....

Answer 7

I don't mind them being given the option in other circumstances. But this is part of a greater problem of them displacing us instead of joining us. It feels like an invasion rather than immigration. If English were the official language and all accepted that we'd feel more secure in accomodating them while they learned English. Where I live English has become press 2 in alot of places.

Answer 8

Super Chee- you might have to add the fact that there is no official U.S. language to your question. I've read way too many "in America we speak English" responses.



I speak English and Spanish correctly and have no problem with having to press a button to choose the language I want to continue hearing.

Honestly, it bothers me more to even have to hear a machine. The fact that the recording goes by slowly irritates me more than having to press that button.

Answer 9

Since all Americans should know English, it does seem odd to have a button to press for Spanish.

And if you're going to have a button for Spanish, then why not for Germans or Italians or Chinese? There must be hundreds of languages spoken in the U.S. Why are they being discriminated against? What makes Spanish special?



This is why we should have a common language so that all Americans know one language and since the Constitution was written in English, that seems the best choice.

Answer 10

It doesn't bother me but having to listen to the entire system only to find out I am not going to get to speak to a human does.



Why does it bother people? I am going to assume it is because people feel like we are being pushed to accommodate a group of immigrants instead of those immigrants accommodating us but that's just a guess at best.

Answer 11

Um It doen't bother me but then I live in Texas for as long as I can remember it has been that way I hate the ones that say press one for this 2 for that etc.

Answer 12

What's the problem with you people? have you ever heard of Canada or Switzerland? Two of the most advanced countries... Well Switzerland has four, FOUR official languages and people are fine with it, Canada has two. How does that affect people, on the contrary. Being able to understand and speak another language does not harm you, it enriches youin many ways. When children start young it also improves their social, musical and math skills! What is wrong with that??? The US has no official language, english is just the common language and the more widely spoken.Please grow up! Also, I say get used to it, because your wining is not going to change it...

Answer 13

I think it's just a matter of laziness or perhaps they feel threatened by the fact that the US is the second place where there are more Spanish speakers than anywhere else in the world. Mexico being #1. I think this is America land of diversity and land of the free. It would be hypocritical for companies to just allow english calls. It's a diverse nation and therefore w/ diversity comes differences in everything from language to our cultures. What's the big deal? Just press 1 and move on w/ your life.

Answer 14

I don't think it has anything to do with illegal immigration. I just firmly believe that we are in AMERICA where the language is ENGLISH, if we go to Mexico, then we should know Spanish. I think that if someone is going to live in America, and make it their home they need to learn the national language. The Americans who have been here their whole life shouldn't have to choose a language, it should just be English. Like I said, if we were in Mexico, then yes we should know spanish, but not here at home. But I think that it is inevitable, we are getting more and more spanish speaking people here, so I think that there is no way of avoiding it, so we will just have to get use to it, but we dont have to agree. I welcome foriegners here, but I think that if they are going to make America home, and enjoy the freedom, and get all the help, they should speak our language, we shouln't have to speak theirs to communicate with them.

Answer 15

I absolutely agree on all counts.You make excellent points Chee.Seriously, what is so time consuming about it that has enraged so many people.I would press 1 ten times to get a human.So why the uproar over Spanish?

Answer 16

My issue with this has nothing to do with Illegals which are a whole other problem.

This is America, and in America the language is English. If you want to speak Mexican or any other language at home, that is you business, but when you start accommodating people, they have no incentive to learn the language and assimilate. If I move to Mexico, I don't expect to have press 2 for English. I'd have to learn the language.

I lived in Canada for a few years and saw the problems between the French and English. I don't want that for my country. Learn the language or go home!

Answer 17

I have an Italian friend who is a first generation American -- and it bothers her. Her parents immigrated from Italy before she was born. They took night classes to learn to speak English. She say, they became Americans, not Italian-Americans.

Answer 18

Because we didn't have to do it 30 years ago, it just shows that there are WAY too many hispanics here and they keep coming. America is changing, and not for the better. Look at all the street gangs and crime. We shouldn't be making things easier for them, like speaking their language. We should be making it harder so they will leave.

Answer 19

How does it relate to illegal immigration? If they are here legally, they would know english! When i went and signed my daughter up for high school, there was another girl there signing up too. She had a brand new Nevada birth certificate and a shinny new SS card. When she walked up to the counter...SHE COULDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH! I knew right away, stolen ID! If she was born, raised and went to school here like she was trying to tell them, she would have spoke english by now. As for why pushing 1 bothers me? Well for 1 this is America and we speak english. 2 Why cater to the spanish language when there are people here from other countries who do not ask for this special treatment. Should we have to push a button for every language here? 1 for english. 2 for spanish. 3 for french. 4 for italian. 5 for swahili 6 for chinese. 7 for japanese. 8 for korean 9 for swedish. Get the point? People from these other places learn the language usually so don't need "special" treatment. It seems only the spanish people want that. We came to the country "legally" to meld into one race. The American race. Not, african american, spanish american, mexican american, chinese american...Just AMERICAN. Why can't people get it through their thick skulls? Why do certain people want to be treated different? All it does is make them outcasts. If they don't want to meld into an American, then don't bother coming here.

Answer 20

because it is an extra step that shouldn't need to be taken when making a phone call. America has always done commerce in English even though it isn't our official language, and everyone else should be expected to follow that standard. If we lived in Mexico and tried to speak English in areas that were not tourist locations, we would be laughed at, as they expect us to speak Spanish. It is often considered bad(as far as manners go) to speak English in front of Mexican people, why are they allowed to do the same in front of us?

Answer 21

it bothers me because after trying to go out for dinner to a restaurant or especially fast food in Tucson Arizona i almost always have to repeat my self 3-4 times or until i walk out because the cashier/waitress understands next to no English then to come home and get that message on the phone is just another straw on the camels back

Answer 22

I think it is more of the symbolism - that here in this nation, we have to cater to people who come here and choose not to learn our language.



Look at the reverse - if you live in Mexico and call a company, do you get to press 2 for English? I highly doubt it.



I don't think it is the actual act of pushing a button - we do that on a daily basis. But you have to look at what it actually stands for in our society. THAT is what makes people upset about it.

Answer 23

hi Super Chee, I doesn't bother me at all what about hearing impaired , what do they have to press , , to those who doesn't like it . plain and simple ignore it , or learns Spanish, it will benefit you later on , can get a better paid job for been bilingual you go girl.

Answer 24

It bothers me because we are catering to people who are too lazy to learn English. Why stop there? Why not "press 17 for urdu, or 27 for mandarin?

Answer 25

It is just another unnecessary step made to accommodate the illegal criminal aliens in this country that do not understand ENGLISH.

Answer 26

Here's my take. If you are really happy and satisfied with your life, then "press 1 for English" will at worst make you roll your eyes or shake your head and immediately move on with all the great things in your life--the family and job you love, the house you own, etc.



If you are already angry and dissatisfied, then you need someone or something to blame. At that point, "press 1 for English" represents far more than pushing a button. You imagine all these IMMIGRANTS (er, excuse me, ILLEGAL immigrants) who you think are getting all kinds of special treatment that YOU aren't getting and it just isn't FAIR... without realizing that in fact life isn't fair, and you probably wouldn't trade yours for that of most immigrants (especially not the illegals) in the first place.



In other words? I think a lot of it's "transference."



Let the thumbs begin :-)

Answer 27

Because we are ALL supposed to be speaking English. Learn it before you come. Could I live in Russia and not know their language?

Answer 28

For the same reason it bothers people to have to move out of their American neighborhood because it's become Little Mexico.



Delina M, you describe yourself as a "Mexican living in the US". Don't come to our country and try to change it to yours or any other country for that matter.

Answer 29

We speak English here. Adapt to our ways or get the hell out!

Answer 30

it doesnt bother me. i understand the the US is made up of different cultures, and different languages.

Answer 31

I agree. There is no "official" language of the United States. And, what is odd to me is that there are other languages, too. About 3 hours North of me there is a huge Hmong population and they are in desperate need of social workers that speak Hmong.... Businesses in that area are always looking for bilinguals in those 2 languages....



And, pushing a button takes 1 second. I value my life too much to get "worked up" and angry and stressed over a 1 second inconvenience....



*Vaughn Said it beautifully. Good job.... *

Answer 32

It bothers the CRAP out of me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!