Directness can actually be refreshing, but it seems to be hard to find these days. Let me provide two examples.

When an agency does not have the resources to help you with a certain situation at a given time, it is much better for them to just explain this situation and leave it at that. What really gets infuriating is when someone proceeds to lie to cover his/her mistake in some area. The all-time award winning phrase in this category has to be the “I tried to call you, but could not get through because (insert excuse here)” excuse. Some of these creative “inserts” are laughable because they fly in the face of reality. For example, claims of “call blocking” where it does not exist, or claims that “it kept ringing” when, oops-a constant answering machine was available !

And how about Auburn's latest (I quote) “power interruption” the night of January 11th, when for over two hours, hundreds of homes lost power and heat completely? To this date, there seems to be zero accountability for this failure (or planned shutdown?) which left senior citizens stranded in the dark on upper floors and endangered the digital TV's, stereos, and computers that many people have worked very hard to afford, not to mention many other forms of stress and property damage that people may have suffered.

I would urge everyone in Auburn whose lights and heat went out to demand an explanation. It's the least we deserve. Since I cannot get a human being on the “customer service” line, I have been forced to file my complaint with the Public Service Commission. Isn't this information “whiteout” more offensive to the public than the actual blackout was? That's my whole point. Just tell us the truth; it might actually be refreshing.

Lisa Backus

Auburn