www.donotcall.gov

[Spiffor]

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.

[DinoDoc]

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.

[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.

[Spiffor]

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.

[Buck Birdseed]

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?

[Urban Ranger]

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

[chequita guevara]

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.

[Urban Ranger]

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?

[DanS]

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.

[chequita guevara]

I don't think prescription drug benefits in Medicare will help Bush at all. It's a joke.

[DanS]

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.

[The diplomat]

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?

[Dis]

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.

[Nubclear]

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!!

[Az]

Nevermind.