Not P but DFW: refer the call

[Mike Jing]

Thanks for the reply, Mark.


On Sun, Aug 3, 2025 at 6:45 AM Mark Kohut <mark.kohut at gmail.com> wrote:

> From context above it I'd say '
> "refer the call [to the police"}...at least to whatever authorities are
> responsible for you
> being able to take such dicily human calls...
>
> On Sun, Aug 3, 2025 at 2:27 AM Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>
> 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
>>
>