I was just on the phone with my best friend. Her husband has cancer and just had an episode where the radiation is affecting his bladder so he can't release, and he had to go to the ER. She's under huge stress and it's hard for her. We had been talking a while, and the topics started moving around to some better things, talks about vacation and so on, and I was glad, because I'm trying to help my friend have a positive attitude.
Then, my call waiting beeped. I have some important calls I'm waiting on, so I excused myself to my friend for a second and quickly flipped over to the other line, saying, "Hello?"
Rude Telemarketer (RT): Yes, can you hear me well?
Me: (warily) I can hear you, what is this about?
RT: Yes, ma'am I'm Rhonda from AARP and blah blah...(begins spiel)
Me: (interrupting) I'm sorry, I need to interrupt you here. I'm on the other line with someone else, and can't talk now.
RT: Oh I see, ma'am. Well I have a survey of only 4 questions, so if we just do this quickly now-
Me: No, we cannot do this now, I am on the other line with my friend whose husband has cancer so you will have to excuse me! Good luck to you!
And I hung up.
Now, I know I went overboard with what I said and my tone, which was clearly annoyed, so I will take my lashings if I must. But I can't believe the Rude Telemarketer would think it's OK to push the rest of the call when I had already said I had someone else on the other line!