Conference Call Anatomy™


A rare example of the Skype trouble gambit captured in the wild, yesterday. We 'think he got away with it.

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An internationally recognised defence to conference call ambush. It is a common-enough scenario: some consultant has been warbling on about cost-cutting metrics for 45 minutes, you’ve drifted off completely and are searching Amazon for electric shaver lubricant[1] and the question presently occupying your mind is “can I use sewing machine oil because that is, like, way cheaper” when the consultant rounds on you with a specific, direct and (for all you know) perfectly sensible question that only you can answer. You have to buy time; “sorry, I was on mute” only delays the inevitable because while it excuses your silence it will not excuse your lack of attention to the call.

The answer is “Skype trouble”.

Sorry, I was having Skype trouble and my audio was breaking up for a bit. Can you say that again?

See also

References

  1. Real-life example, needless to say.