Survey: Who Rang The Doorbell?

[Suzana]

On Monday's TNP radio program (6 April), the doorbell was heard ringing about 5 minutes into the show. Steve explained: "I have a sign on my door telling people not to ring the doorbell from 2 to 3..."
so, what does everyone think, who did Steve have to send away?

1 – A child
2 – A prankster
3 – A non-English speaking person
4 – An illiterate person
5 – A blind person with an illiterate guide dog
6 – A bleary-eyed neighbour wanting to borrow a cup of sugar
7 – A very determined salesperson who took the “on the air” sign (yeah, right) to mean “no salesmen”
8 – One of the kids (“sorry pa, forgot my key – oh, oops, is that the time?”)
9 – None of the above – someone stole the sign
10 – None of the above – Steve forgot to put up the sign

[Michelle]

It could have been a land shark...which only makes sense to people who watched late night tv in the 70s.

I kind of like to think it was missionaries.

[Jill]

.

[Suzana]

thanks, Karen, that was helpful (the shark didn't ring a bell for me at all)!

I forgot to state my opinion...

I think it was some child/children looking for sponsors for their readathon/walkathon or something similar.

[Jill]

.

[steve]

It was a slightly-senile old lady who lives in my apartment complex and did not notice the sign on the door. The apartment manager's birthday was that day, and everyone in the complex was signing a card for him. She was bringing it by for me to sign. Some of your speculations were more interesting, though.

The annoyance of that interruption was nothing compared to the problems we had at the beginning of today's program. I was all connect (by internet) to our studio's computer in Salinas, and 30 seconds before air time, the connection was interrupted. Every time I tried to reconnect, I got a message saying that their computer was off-line. I phoned the guy in the studio (while one commercial was playing after another—sometimes the same one twice!), and he didn't know what was wrong. He re-booted their computer, and I rebooted mine, and still got nowhere. I phoned him again and told him to feed my voice over the air anyway (the lost connection is only relevant to call-screening, not audio transmission), and he said "Okay," but kept playing commercials. I eventually got on the air without the call-screening hook-up working, which means the call-screener at the studio has to tell me in my headphones if someone is waiting to go on the air with me. We did the show that way until about halfway through, and then we regained the needed connection on our computers. From then on the show went normally. However, whenever technical problems are occurring while I am trying to talk over the air, I get really distracted by the problems.

I believe that we have the most forgiving audience on the radio. That's only because everyone who is intolerant of imperfection has left our audience long ago.

[Suzana]

It was a slightly-senile old lady who lives in my apartment complex and did not notice the sign on the door.

I didn't think of that one! I hope you weren't too annoyed - I bet most of your audience found it quite funny. Those unexpected moments just add interest & I think maybe even contribute to a comforting sense of fellowship.
With the type of the technical problems you had today, it's easy to see how that would be really distracting of course, and I'm sure your listeners would be understanding.

Thanks for taking the time out to post, and not keeping us in suspense! (I wasn't of course intending to interrupt your deadlines with powerpoints etc, in asking frivolous questions; just having some light-hearted fun in the courtyard for a bit).
p.s. hope you got to sign that card in the end.

[selah]

Those unexpected moments just add interest & I think maybe even contribute to a comforting sense of fellowship.
With the type of the technical problems you had today, it's easy to see how that would be really distracting of course, and I'm sure your listeners would be understanding.

The annoyance of that interruption was nothing compared to the problems we had at the beginning of today's program. I was all connect (by internet) to our studio's computer in Salinas, and 30 seconds before air time, the connection was interrupted. Every time I tried to reconnect, I got a message saying that their computer was off-line. I phoned the guy in the studio (while one commercial was playing after another—sometimes the same one twice!), and he didn't know what was wrong. He re-booted their computer, and I rebooted mine, and still got nowhere. I phoned him again and told him to feed my voice over the air anyway (the lost connection is only relevant to call-screening, not audio transmission), and he said "Okay," but kept playing commercials. I eventually got on the air without the call-screening hook-up working, which means the call-screener at the studio has to tell me in my headphones if someone is waiting to go on the air with me. We did the show that way until about halfway through, and then we regained the needed connection on our computers. From then on the show went normally. However, whenever technical problems are occurring while I am trying to talk over the air, I get really distracted by the problems.

I believe that we have the most forgiving audience on the radio. That's only because everyone who is intolerant of imperfection has left our audience long ago.

Steve,

I agree with Suzanna that the interruptions add a sense of fellowship to the program, and I have marvelled at your calm demeanor through "thick and thin." But I have also wondered what might remove the technological problems during the show, so you're not distracted. Got any ideas what might help?

Thanks,
SueAnn* p.s. Just to add something else since I have thought about it so much. I thought you handled little Megan's call with tremendous wisdom and patience! I think that call will probably have a lasting effect upon her life.

[SteveF]

I'm catching up on listening to previous shows. Steve G's doorbell sounds just like ours and when I heard it I was just about to go and answer the door. Fortunately, it dawned on me that it was Steve G's doorbell because I remembered reading this thread.

p.s. Just to add something else since I have thought about it so much. I thought you handled little Megan's call with tremendous wisdom and patience! I think that call will probably have a lasting effect upon her life.

I also thought Megan did really well for an 8 year old! She was starting with a faulty premise but her logic, based on that premise, was excellent for an 8 year old. I was impressed!! I think I would have had trouble just dialing right the numbers to call the show when I was 8!

Steve, I'm really glad you stayed with the call for that long. I really enjoyed it. I took note that she felt strongly about her position but still respectfully listened to your answers....and you listened to hers as well. That doesn't happen often when varying views of eschatology are being discussed.

[selah]

p.s. Just to add something else since I have thought about it so much. I thought you handled little Megan's call with tremendous wisdom and patience! I think that call will probably have a lasting effect upon her life.

I also thought Megan did really well for an 8 year old! She was starting with a faulty premise but her logic, based on that premise, was excellent for an 8 year old. I was impressed!! I think I would have had trouble just dialing right the numbers to call the show when I was 8!

Steve, I'm really glad you stayed with the call for that long. I really enjoyed it. I took note that she felt strongly about her position but still respectfully listened to your answers....and you listened to hers as well. That doesn't happen often when varying views of eschatology are being discussed.

Yes it was a really edifying phone call, for all the same reasons SteveF said.