Does anyone else get angry when they need to PRESS 1 TO CONTINUE IN ENGLISH? THIS IS THE USA!?

Question

I have asked this question before. I was insulted, agreed with, and made fun of. I intend to go through all of those again with this question, so your attempt at making me feel bad simply won't work.

Anyway, back on the topic:

WHY must we press 1 to continue in English? THIS IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, last time I checked!

Answer 1

It can eat up 6 seconds of my precious time so yes.
I am a bit annoyed. I could have been counting my cash in those extra 6 seconds but instead I am telling the ATM what language I speak and it happens to be the only language I know. AND, it's the language commonly spoken in this country.

Answer 2

America is one of the few developed nations that is not bilingual.

Everywhere in Europe, everyday common people switch effortlessly between 2, 3, or 4 languages. BTW, they all speak English.

Might take an extra second to press "1" - big deal. American business is trying to sell products & services to everyone.

Remember, your ancestors were also immigrants. America didn't wind up speaking German, Gaelic, Italian, Swedish, or a hundred other languages, but the first generation of these ancestors did not all learn English. Much of the integration into society occurred during the 2nd generation.

See the delightful movie "Spanglish;" it speaks volumes to your question.

I do wonder how the Native Americans view your question.

Relax - you won't wake up some morning with everyone speaking Spanish - eventually everyone will integrate.

BTW, how do you feel about Chinese? The demographics of the world may have the final answer.

Answer 3

Why should something like this bother anyone, does any body just not have anything better to do than complain about having to press a button for Spanish, or English or French, etc.. Get Over It!!!

Here is something we can complain about, and that is Why are there Spanish Channels?

I just hope that we are not all headed the way of a Larry The Cable Guy -ish world

Answer 4

I have to press #1 to continue all the time...for lots of calls at work...you're right...I have no idea why they would even have that on there...

you know what makes me really irritated is when I call someone's cell phone and then when you are trying to leave a message you have to wait for the automated recording (at least 30 seconds), something like: please leave a message after the tone, when you are finished recording, you may either press 1 for more options or blah, blah, blah...

It's a phone...who DOESN'T know what to do after the beep...I also think this is for similar reasons like the question you posted...I just get sick of hearing the actual person you are calling say their whole message and then you have to listen to the automated message, and then after what seems like an eternity you can finally leave your message...

So irritating...we shouldn't have to make so many adjustments...

Answer 5

Oh, guy. i've got written finished essays on the subject rely of "ought to English grow to be the U. S.'s valid Language?" in my opinion, i think of that that is super that we don't have an valid language. the united states of america is meant to be a melting pot, the place human beings from any custom, race, ethnicity, faith, even if can come and experience welcome. If we initiate limiting language use, we will make a brilliant form of folk experience UNwelcome, and that's no longer our purpose. Take as an occasion the Cubans who come to Florida, finding for shelter from their government. they arrive no longer understanding a lot English. If each and every little thing in Florida have been forcibly in English, what sturdy could that do them? think of roughly this, too: a youngster is examining Spanish as their 2nd language, and needs extra prepare, so as that youthful individual makes use of the Spanish determination on the telephone or in the examine-your self-Out line on the food market (i've got certainly executed the two). yet I digress; I won't circulate into my finished rant, in view that could desire to circulate on for 5 - 6 pages, yet i do no longer choose the U. S. to have (an) valid language(s). i think of that could be a bad concept. So, to respond to your question in short, particular. we would desire to continuously be "subjected to" pushing #a million or #2 for English and Spanish. playstation Aleksandra H, there are certainly a lot of issues in English in Spain. no longer a ton--Castellano (general to maximum as Spanish) certainly IS their valid language--even nonetheless that is there.

Answer 6

Yeah, it is ridiculous. I have always thought that it should just automatically continue in English and if they choose to have other languages available, you should have to press something to get to them...

Crazy, it goes right along with printing out all these forms in different languages. If you go to another country, you should be expected to function the way the people there do. If you are just visiting for a vacation, I can see not learning a whole new language, but if you are going to LIVE there, for pete's sake, learn the language!!!

Answer 7

Well it sounds backwards but who cares? It doesn't bother me at all..

I have been trying to learn spanish so when I leave this country after Bush has completely finished destroying it to go South away from Nazi war criminals maybe it will help me to communicate better.

We all should learn at least another language. Seems like it would be simple for Republicans, especially Bush people, because they speak in two or three word sound bytes.. stay the course, your either fer us or agin us, fight them over there so we dont have to fight them here.. Just think how easy it would be to learn another language with that type of limited thinking. You could put the entire dictionary on a cheat sheet.

The last time I checked this is not the United States of America, Bush and Republicans and now the ball-less democrats who have voted to legalize wiretapping on Americas citizens without a warrant, and of course the removal of habeus corpus which is the basis of most of the Bill of Rights by Furher George and his group of shameless enforcers ,supported by special interests groups and corporate lobbyists has turned this country into a dictatorship run by Neocon Nazi Pigs not the Constitution, not the Bill of Rights not America.

Answer 8

God bless America, and you!! I was beginning to think I was the only person who was annoyed by this. Believe it or not-I called a customer service number just today, and it was actually answered in Spanish. After several sentences(which I of course did not understand) then a voice came on saying for English, please press * AAARRRGGHH!! I was furious. And then when you get this so-called "English" operator, you can barely understand a word they say. I have no problem with people coming to our country= but they need to learn to speak our language, not the other way around.If we go to their countries, they do not answer the phones in English, with an option for a Spanish speaking operator! Think about it!!

Answer 9

I most definitely agree with you and anybody who defends the right to speak their own languages that's all well and good but there is a time and place to speak your language and that is around your own kind and in your home. My grandfather came to America by himself as a boy and learned to speak English on his own. Most people just don't want to learn to speak English that's where it should be made a law.If you want to live here you must learn to speak English period.

Answer 10

America has many different cultures HOWEVER when was the list time you had to punch a number for Latin, Russian, or hebrew. I see billboards here in Arkansas in spanish. I feel like we are losing English. Something needs to be done.