Not P but DFW: refer the call

[Mike Jing]

That's what I thought. An editor changed it to "transfer the call to the
professionals", which doesn't seem right to me.


On Sun, Aug 3, 2025 at 4:49 AM Mike Weaver <mike.weaver at zen.co.uk> wrote:

> Pass information about the call on to the police or whoever will actually
> intervene with the would be suicide.
>
> From Merriam-Webster for refer
> 2a *: *to send or direct for treatment, aid, information, or decision
>
> cheers
> Mike
>
>
>
> On 03/08/2025 07:27, Mike Jing wrote:
>
> The following excerpt is from David Foster Wallace's *Host*:
>
> Q: If a drunk driver calls in, do you have to notify the police or
> something?
> A: “Well, this is why screening is tricky. You’ll get, say, somebody
> calling in saying they’re going to commit suicide — sometimes you have to
> refer the call. But sometimes you’re getting pranked.
>
> What does "refer the call" mean exactly?
> --
> Pynchon-L: https://waste.org/mailman/listinfo/pynchon-l
>
>