28-06-2003 18:52									#31
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When I'm busy at home, yet expecting a call, I really, really hate it when I interrupt what I'm doing because some telemarketer calls me.

And hanging up the phone isn't a way to prevent this permanent annoyance.

	28-06-2003 19:08									#32
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quote: Originally posted by Spiffor And hanging up the phone isn't a way to prevent this permanent annoyance.

Don't hang up on them. Tell them to hang on for a second and leave the phone on the counter (or whatever) while you go back to whatever you were doing before.

	28-06-2003 19:23									#33
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No, no... he's expecting an important call. And remember: while the phone exists for Spiffor to call anybody he wants, it apparently doesn't allow for anybody to call Spiffor - that is now against the law.

	28-06-2003 19:27									#34
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I don't want advertisers to call me indeed. I don't want anybody who hasn't my explicit clearence to call me. Of course, all of my firends and colleagues have this clearance. Telemarketers have not.

Edit : and the phone doesn't exist for me to call anybody I want either. The phone is here so that I can reach the people I need to reach, in a timely fashion so that it is either :
- work related and as such during work hours
- personal related and as such during wake hours.
I don't consider it's right to disturb someone by calling him, except if the object of the call is urgent. Fact is, telemarketers always disturb me.

	28-06-2003 20:11									#35
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dip: Within the EU we've got an overriding guideline called "the principle of subsidiarity" whereby legislative and administrative tasks are assigned at the level they're most appropriate at. If they're most effectively deployed at state or regional level then the union, at least in theory, stays out.

Now, I know the US is vastly different (a much stronger union for one) but surely a law like this is a prime example of something that works much better at federal level?

	28-06-2003 20:52									#36
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quote: Originally posted by JohnT God, all this trouble because people can't hang up on salesmen. tsk-tsk.

The "hold on" trick is excellent, though. I use it all the time

	28-06-2003 21:03									#37
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quote: Originally posted by The diplomat Why is it that whenever a group has the smallest problem, they run to the federal government?

Because that's it's job.

JohnT, it's not a matter of not being able to hang up on them, it's getting them in the first place. Do you know how annoying it is to get a fax call three times after midnight? When I complain to the Sheriff's office, they tell me I have to contact the phone company. The phone company tells me I have to call the Sheriff's office.

It's getting so we won't pick up the phone if we don't recognize the number.

	28-06-2003 21:13									#38
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quote: Originally posted by JohnT No, no... he's expecting an important call. And remember: while the phone exists for Spiffor to call anybody he wants, it apparently doesn't allow for anybody to call Spiffor - that is now against the law.

Sophie got you in the nads?

	28-06-2003 22:13									#39
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While I'm sympathetic to those like JohnT and diplomat who don't want to see the nannystate encroach as much as it does into our everday lives, it's clear that a great many people do think the calls objectionable enough to want to block them.

I don't think that telemarketers are a serious problem. They are not much of a nuisance, and they are a legit business.

Apparently, some others think they are a big nuisance.

I think this rule change (not a law change, FYI) will help Bush politically as much as a prescription drug benefit to Medicare.

	28-06-2003 23:04									#40
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I don't think prescription drug benefits in Medicare will help Bush at all. It's a joke.

	28-06-2003 23:12									#41
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I think you're wrong. $40 billion per annum in leverage on prescription drugs is a lot of money and will make a big difference.

Besides, it's a campaign promise that the Republicans are fulfilling. This congress is getting a lot done.

	28-06-2003 23:25									#42
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quote: Originally posted by chegitz guevara Because that's it's job.

No it is not! It's job is not to be a nanny and take care of everybody's needs! The job of the Federal government is to protect its citizens from foreign and domestic threats so that they can live their lives in peace and safety.

Health care is one thing. It is a matter of life and death. But spam and telemarketers?!? Come on, don't you think that people can take care of that themselves? Are people so helpless that they can't handle a few spam emails or few phone calls without the government's intervention?

	29-06-2003 12:56									#43
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time is money

why should I be forced to answer the phone for people selling products I do not want?

Yes I realize I'm not forced to answer the phone, but without caller id- I kind of have to- it might be important.

	29-06-2003 12:57									#44
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quote: Originally posted by The diplomat No it is not! It's job is not to be a nanny and take care of everybody's needs! The job of the Federal government is to protect its citizens from foreign and domestic threats so that they can live their lives in peace and safety. Health care is one thing. It is a matter of life and death. But spam and telemarketers?!? Come on, don't you think that people can take care of that themselves? Are people so helpless that they can't handle a few spam emails or few phone calls without the government's intervention?

Yeah!!! It'd be better if we were bombing the hell outta 5000 more people in IRAN or SYRIA instead!!

	29-06-2003 13:01									#45
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Nevermind.

Last edited by Az on 29-06-2003 at 14:00

	29-06-2003 13:10									#46
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quote: Originally posted by The diplomat The state gov doesn't have to do anything either. If they want to, fine, if they don't, also fine. It is not a big problem! The bottom line is that I don't think the fed gov should do it. The fed gov should focus on their constitutional responsabilities like foreign affairs, trade etc... not trivial matters like petty telemarketers or spam email. Why is it that whenever a group has the smallest problem, they run to the federal government? Our society is becoming like a spoiled child that cries to its parents whenever it gets a scratch.

multi-task?

	30-06-2003 10:36									#47
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quote: Originally posted by The diplomat Spam and telemarketers?!? Come on, don't you think that people can take care of that themselves?

Yes, people can. If they are allowed to bomb the telemarketer's workplace that is.
However, if violence towards telemarketers is illegal, then only the law can do something to prevent it.

	30-06-2003 10:51									#48
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Dissident -

quote: so you blame the goverment for the actions of stupid people?

I'd say the situation was caused by "stupid" people at both ends - the people who mis-dialed and the people who didn't devise a better way for people to sign up. Don't people in government know that if they publicise a phone number they know will be used alot in a short amount of time that many callers will mis-dial? I'd say that common sense would have led a smarter person to use a unique number or a mailing address for people to sign up.

quote: I fail to see the logic in that.

Since you don't see the logic, I guess you don't see the irony either.

	30-06-2003 11:20									#49
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the problem is we are almost out of 800 numbers, this is why we use 888 numbers.

Of course this number may be an 888 number, I didn't check. I just went to the web address.

	30-06-2003 16:20									#50
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quote: Originally posted by The diplomat But I personally do not see telemarketers as a problem!

Wonderful you. So what?

As the number of people who signed up shows, most of us do.

	01-07-2003 06:44									#51
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quote: Originally posted by Tassadar5000 Yeah!!! It'd be better if we were bombing the hell outta 5000 more people in IRAN or SYRIA instead!!

Who's talking about bombing Syria or Iran?

Just because I want the gov to concentrate on foreign policy does not mean that I want them to bomb anyone!

	01-07-2003 06:49									#52
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I'm more concerned with the 10,000 emails I receive each day in my inbox.

	01-07-2003 06:49									#53
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quote: Originally posted by Spiffor Yes, people can. If they are allowed to bomb the telemarketer's workplace that is. However, if violence towards telemarketers is illegal, then only the law can do something to prevent it.

Come on now. Don't be ridiculous, nobody needs to bomb anybody! There are plenty of normal ways to deal with telemarketers, like hanging up the phone when they call. Really, how hard is that?

Poor helpless society if we can't hang up pur own phone without government help.

	01-07-2003 07:34									#54
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quote: Originally posted by The diplomat Come on now. Don't be ridiculous, nobody needs to bomb anybody! There are plenty of normal ways to deal with telemarketers, like hanging up the phone when they call. Really, how hard is that? Poor helpless society if we can't hang up pur own phone without government help.

Care to come up with ways to prevent being bugged by telemarketers ? That's what I'm talking about from the beginning.

Indeed, the slaughter of all telemarketers of earth would be an efficient way to prevent the telemarketing business to annoy people. It is also possible for the free individual to do it himself without the big government. Unfortunately ( ) that's illegal.
So, do you have any better idea for an individual to effectively prevent telemarketing without having the big government on our backs ?

	01-07-2003 08:23									#55
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I like the slaughter idea, actually

	01-07-2003 08:36									#56
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how about ditching the landline, and only giving your cell out to those who need it?

	01-07-2003 19:26									#57
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In 4 days, 10 million people have signed up for the list. Pretty amazing.

http://www.statesman.com/aponline/c...o-Not-Call.html

	01-07-2003 19:39									#58
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I have to admit, I'm on the side of the folks who see this as a non-issue.

So they're annoying (to me as well)....big deal. Life is FULL of little annoyances. Should we run to Big Brother and let him legislate all of life's little annoyances away?

There are numerous (crafty, devious, inventive) ways to one-up the telemarketers and limit your exposure and involvement (I, for example, was listed for a time in the phone book as G. Khan. Anybody called asking for "Mister Khan" got an immediate boot.... )

So...even if it means putting up with an annoyance or three, I'll keep the government OUT of my life and take care of myself, thankyouverymuch!

-=Vel=-

	01-07-2003 19:46									#59
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A better idea would've been for a list of those who like to receive these calls - that way, any telemarketer can just download the list and happily start calling away.

Of course, many companies use old lists (call lists can be pretty damned expensive - 10 cents a name and up), so this list will do nothing to purge your name from their rolls. It also exempts banks, phone companies, and a whole list of industries that probably comprise about 50% of all telemarketing calls.

	01-07-2003 19:47									#60
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Play them a loud wav file of a fax machine, or a whistle.