Spruiking: The art of selling by not selling, advertising a product by use of news, entertainment or commentary ... infomercial ? I'd give a dictionary definition, but it doesn't seem to be in there ... damn. In the context of this ramble, spruiking includes the bit where they're trying to sell something to you by use of personal recommendation and targeted persuasion techniques, so that they're not really trying to sell you anything, they're just trying to make your life better... or something.

Here I am, sitting infront of Ernie, when there's a tapping on the window ... I can't really ignore it because while I do have the radio blaring in the loungeroom, it's not that loud ... So I clomp off from the computer room and answer the door ...

DTDSC#1: slightly condescending voice "Hi, is your Mum or Dad home?"
Droidy: thinking ... ok ... how old do they think I am? ... Um... well, my fiancé's not home at the moment, what can I do for you?
DTDSC#1: omigod I'm soooooo sorry! It's been a really long day -
DTDSC#2: interjecting to save DTDSC#1's face? Actually we said the same thing, and the lady who answered the door said 'I am the mum in this house ... ' *group chuckle* ...

The rest of the sales pitch went on, with them telling me about the special offer, and me nodding and smiling politely standing at the door thinking, I really don't have the money right now to pay for this even if I thought it was a good idea, and them going on about how it's winter and cold and the option of staying indoors is a good one ... I wasn't going to be a sale for them, no matter how hard they tried, so I didn't really want to waste any more of their time ... eventually they finished their spiel and I headed back to the desk of study ...

There's probably a whole book (or at least a website on how to be a good salespeson ... It's probably even more difficult when you're making a cold call, and having to wing it with the personal angle using your keen observational skills ... I wonder if they have a bit covering what to do if you make some sort of judgement error ... granted, I just found it funny that they thought I was young enough to have the parentals around at that time of day (just before 4:00pm) ... I know I look young and I can't really help that other people can't tell my age... I just don't know about the whole trying to sell something by telling me how great it is and how it would apply to my life by pointing out that you also have one and have enjoyed it immensely ... and everyone else has one too ... I'm not sure that peer pressure marketing really works ... It's not the first time it's happened to me. The other time, the salesperson incorrectly assumed that I was already married and he kept referring to my husband ... while I was at the parentals, getting dinner ready and stuff... Hey, I'm all for marrying Decay, but I'm not married to him yet, nor do I expect that when I get married, my identity disappears and I will only be answering to the husband or something ... geez...

What was this about ? Um... take your pick. Misguided assumptions? Sales techniques? Assumed loss of identity in marriage? Absolutely nothing?

I'll go with e) All of the above.