Heh, I'm agreeable when (at least I) think you are doing the right thing, and get short pretty quick when I feel like you're wasting my time.

I've learned a number of strategies over time dealing with crap like the above. Typically it's getting a manager/customer service on the call with the large group and taking the people I want on the call off to a separate call where things actually happen.

Most of the time we'll have things fixed, or at least a plan for a solution done before the big group has got past anything at all.