OPINION - Dylan Jones: The single worst American import to Britain? The hellish scheduled phone call
As we enter a new era of US imperialism, it is to be expected that we will have to embrace some annoying aspects of American life. Some are already here, of course, including the newfangled habit of aggressive tipping (for some bizarre reason, the Chiltern Fire House now asks you to tip your waitress twice); the hospitality industry’s inversion of service (“I can do that for you,” they say, as though they’re doing you a massive favour); and the worst of the lot, the scheduled phone call.