So that's where all my tax money goes...

[elfs]

This morning, the house line rang. It's very rarely used, so when a call does come in that way we tend to pay attention-- although half the time it's still spam, even though we're on the "do not call" list.

I picked it up and heard:

Female voice: This is an automated phone message from your public school district. Please stay on the line for an important announcement.

Male voice: This is the superintendent of your public school district. In a few days, you will receive a phone call from your district with a short survey of questions. These questions will help guide us in deciding what after-school athletic programs we should invest in. The survey should take no more than two minutes. Please take the time to answer the questions, as it is very important to us that we gather this information and make meaningful decisions to provide better for your child.

A different male voice: If you are hearing this through your voice mail, please do not press any buttons. If you would like to hear this message again, press 1.

Original female voice: Thank you!

My initial reaction was that this sounds more like a "The district is having a serious financial shortfall, and we're looking to see what we can cut back on after-hours."

But if the district is short of money, don't spend any on a robocall to tell me you're going to send me a robocall! What a freaking waste.

Comments

[blaisepascal]

I recently got a letter from a Government agency telling me that in a couple of weeks they are going to send me a form, and would I please fill it out and send it back.

No real further information, just informing me that they will be sending me something.

I don't know the purpose of the first mailing.

[en-ki.livejournal.com]

The Census Bureau?

[blaisepascal]

Yep. I've heard of others getting the "We're gonna mail you" mailings. I've not heard a good explanation as to why yet.

Perhaps it means I'm getting the long-form this year.

[kengr]

I suspect that it's to try to reduce the number of folks who will open the envelope, see a form from the government and toss it.

Given that when forms aren't returned, they have to schedule an actual census person to go to the place, it'd be very much worth the cost of the mailing.

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

The census bureau mailed us a letter saying that we were going to receive a letter from the census bureau.

[urox.livejournal.com]

This screamingly reminds me of when I took cognitive psychology. Female voices are used to grab attention since they are higher pitched and travel farther. Male voices are used for instructions and commands because more people associate them with authority.

Where did this study come out of? Attempting to make emergency evacuation instructions for a subway system that people would pay attention to.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]