I work at a call center that calls registered voters in California to do public opinion surveys. I’ve heard just about every excuse, insult, and personal story you could imagine.

A couple of the most bizarre experiences that come to mind – A woman who broke down in tears because she said she had just been sent home after being held at gun point for two days. Who, surprisingly, still did the whole survey. Also, an old man who enthusiastically explained to me that he goes to the park to “steal the pine cones from the squirrels to make wreaths with.” Unfortunately, I had only asked about his thoughts on some housing development or tax increase.

Recently, one of my coworkers got someone who refused to do a survey because they were in the middle of a séance. While another coworker had to end a survey early because the man she was talking to said, “Ma’am, it’s 1950, and this drought we are having is going to kill all the wheat!”

I’m just curious, what do you guys do when someone calls you during dinner for a survey or something? Are you rude or polite? Has anyone played a good trick on someone or had an unbelievable, but true, reason for not being able to talk?