DEAR ABBY: I'd like to say something about computer-answered telephones.
Everywhere you call, you get a recording saying, "Punch one for this, punch two for that ..." and most of the numbers they tell you to punch have nothing to do with what you called about.
Grocery stores, utility offices, the telephone company, banks and Lord knows how many more businesses have machines to answer their phones. I wouldn't be surprised to hear a recording should I call for an ambulance or the police. It seems that every business in the world now uses recorded answering services.
I would like to know how many people would prefer that every business return to having live telephone operators or receptionists. I also think that everyone who becomes irritated by those recorded-menu answering machines and all those numbers to push should write to their governor, the president, congressional representatives or SOMEBODY to complain. -- TIRED OF PUSHING NUMBERS IN MARYSVILLE, TENN.
DEAR TIRED: Not a week goes by that I don't receive one or more letters with the same complaint. I have been known to ask my assistant to make calls for me because I get so frustrated with pushing "one for this" and "two for that." Although I understand why businesses have resorted to this impersonal answering method, the "personal" touch is far more conducive to a pleasant business experience.