Judge just ruled USA national DO NOT CALL list was unjust...

[galactica]

Can you believe this.....
The national do not call list was just found to be a violation of the right to free speech of telemarketers. So, all the 50 million of you americans who signed up looks like its going to do no good.

when does the hurting stop

[Devanshu]

I konw...its ridiculous. Now I cant tell them to **** off

[pacmania_2001]

Don't you just love the American bill of rights?

I don't mind telemarketers too much. They are good for playing jokes on or releasing some pent up anger on.

One of my favourite games is to get talking to the telemarketer for a couple of minutes then pretend that you just have to do something for a second and could they hold on. Then just leave them on the line till the get the point that you aren't coming back.

[galactica]

yea thats a classic

I always like trying to rationalize with them...

Tele: Sir, would you like to get our cable tv service?
Me: I have dish
Tele: Oh, well doesnt your dish go out sometimes?
Me: What are you implying?
Tele: You really should get both.
Me: Really, so pay 50$ per month for cable that I may only use 1 time a month when my signal is slightly scratchy from rain or a storm?
Tele: Well, its really the best idea don't you think?
Me: No, actually dish is. I get more channels for a lower price.
Tele: Oh..... ok... have a nice day
Me: Uh huh....

This was an actual (well paraphrased) conversation I just had not too long ago.

[Ejoc]

My roomate in college was a telemarketer for the school, he'd hit up alumni for money. But basicly he told me the easy trick to getting rid of them. Say "no" or "I'm not interested" twice, then can pretty much be in arow, but you need to say it twice, because they cant stop at one no, but after the second they are off the hook and can leave you alone. Try it.

[tgpo]

"Hi, may I please speak with a Mr. Rodgers"

"Yeah, that's me"

"You've been pre approved for a Visa College Credit Card!!"

"I'm only 13"

"Oh, our records must be wrong, sorry"

:P

[tgpo]

Hi May I please speak to a Mr. Patrick Rodgers

Yeah, he's dead

He's what

Dead. As In Gone, Split, OUt of here.



:P That one is really fun to do.

[mysticgohan17]

do not call. they can call. i just wont answer. buy a cell phone or a private ground line for calling out only. dont give the number to anyone.

[Solarjetman]

Ah man galactica. You had to post this. I am using every bit of my effort to not go into a political tirade on how the first amendment is being mis-interpreted. But it’s against the rules to discuss politics!



I think I'll go yell at a newbie... just kidding.

So instead, I will mention a call I had. Once I was called by my own phone company wanting me to switch to them! That was a riot!

[Devanshu]

Hi May I please speak to a Mr. Patrick Rodgers

Yeah, he's dead

He's what

Dead. As In Gone, Split, OUt of here.



:P That one is really fun to do.

Gotta try that one sometime.

[pacmania_2001]

My Grandpa (who loves messing with telemarketers) recently told me this recent call he had.

Paraphrased

"Hi, I'm from Brand X telephone company and we were wondering if you would like to switch carriers to save you money"

"Ah, thats okay but I don't own a phone but thanks for offering to save me money"

"Sir, I think you're mistaken, I am currently talking to you over a phone"

"Oh ok, is that what this thingy-me-jig that keeps ringing"

The telemarketer gave up after my Grandpa kept asking him to explain how a phone worked.

[Gees]

Pac - your Grandpa is a gem! :cD

My tactic: No matter what they're selling I say, "I've got a brother-in-law in the business.*"

Than I hang up. No hurt feeling to the poor soul who's got that job, but I refuse to get stuck on the phone on my time. It's too precious.

I need it all for posting here. :cD

* I think this must get me off their lists - they don't call back.

[pacmania_2001]

I agree, the one thing that I don't usually do is go off at the actual telemarketer themself as its just some guy/girl trying to make a living.

Plus, if you be slightly funny with them it gives them a break from the usual crap they normally get.

[Gees]

Yeah - no need to go on raging at them. Have you ever heard any of those wav files from a few years back? With tech support calls and such? I don't know if they were genuine or not, but - sheesh - some people get downright abusive.

I can't think of any funny stuff quickly enough, so I developed my one line years ago and just stick to that.

[pyrate83]

I will also have to try TGPO's second telemarketer example. Either that or I just hang up when they say it's a "courtesy call".

[galactica]

Well i guess with this latest news, we will all be able to brush up on our anti-telemarketer skills. Unless we have that "telezapper" box

anyone have one of those? Do they actually work?

[Randall Flagg]

Boys and girls, can you say "Paid off judges"?

I knew you could.



Or is it just me that thinks like that?

[galactica]

Most likely..... that and the big fat pockets of lawyers
oh well it was a worthy try...

[Devanshu]

Well i guess with this latest news, we will all be able to brush up on our anti-telemarketer skills. Unless we have that "telezapper" box

anyone have one of those? Do they actually work?

Yes and No. My uncle purchased one and the way it woks(at least that model) is that the telemarketer calls, it records the source, and then if they call again, it gives a busy signal. The bad thing about it is, they have to call at least once...and new telemarketer's call all the time. I wonder what it does when it's memory gets too full?

[galactica]

probably just gives up...

My parents developed a way that works quite well...
They got an old answering machine that actually lets you hear what the people are saying when they leave a message, and use it to "screen" the call. The only way they pick up is if they know the voice on the other end.

Problem is.... telemarkerters are now leaving messages!!!!!!!

again, when does the hurting stop

[mysticgohan17]

they say its underminding their right to free speech...i say, we should have the right to restrict who they speak to.

[Devanshu]

they say its underminding their right to free speech...i say, we should have the right to restrict who they speak to.

We discussed something like this in beginning law back in high school and all of us came to a general agreement and deemed it unconstitutional. But what I dont understand, they say that it violates their right to free speech, but it's not really free speech if they're getting paid to talk.

[mysticgohan17]

they say its underminding their right to free speech...i say, we should have the right to restrict who they speak to.

We discussed something like this in beginning law back in high school and all of us came to a general agreement and deemed it unconstitutional. But what I dont understand, they say that it violates their right to free speech, but it's not really free speech if they're getting paid to talk.

so its illegal not to listen to what they have to say?

[Devanshu]

Well the scenario was similar...but there was one big difference that made us decide(I dont quite remember what). But if you're like people on this board, you'll use one of many strategies suggested(such as tgpo's "he's dead" ).

[flaninacupboard]

I had a fun conversation today. doorbel rings.

it's a little old lady holding a magazine.
"hello dear"
"hello."
"in the world we live in today, do you ever question things?"
"sorry?"
"do you ever wonder why things are happening, what is behind it all"
"um, no?"
"you don't think there's perhaps someone at work to see things are right"
"no, i'm a scientist at heart."
"but even science must have someone behind it to work it"
"no. Science currently tells us the universe is controlled by the actions of superstrings."
"but don't you think there's someone controlling the strings?"
i laugh
"no. i'm not interested. bye."

i explained to my ex who it was, and that they were trying to peddle their little magazine, she said "you should have tried to sell them some back issues of New Scientist!" next time i think i will!

[adam]

Their argument is that the government cannot prohibit them from advertising via personal calls, which is really all they are doing. Its a similar argument if the governement say, prohibited all billboard advertisements or all mass mailing advertisements. These types of things interfere with their right to earn a living, which is considered a fundamental right and is also protected by the Constitution.

This type of "speech" is considered commercial speech, and is afforded very little protection from the Constitution, but they still have a right to inform others about their product. I agree these calls are extremely annoying and I too wish this Do Not Call list hadn't be deemed unconstitutional, but its probably the correct legal decision.

Its hard to believe but these companies actually do make a large portion of their profits off of sales from these cold calls. The list did have a substantial impact on their industry, and they probably do have a legal right to call whoever they want about their product.

[adam]

A funny, and somewhat related advertising issue happened here in San Antonio. The city passed a zoning ordinance (which are basically almost always considered constitutional) which made it illegal for you to use billboards to advertise YOUR product/service on YOUR property. So you could rent your billboard out to anyone else and let them advertise their product, or you could rent a billboard on the neighboring lot and advertise your product there, you just couldn't use your own property for your own advertising. Seems like a strange ordinance but its actually quite common in large cities.

Anyway, Star Storage didn't like this ordinance and at first refused to remove their advertisements until they were forced by the city. So to protest the law, they put up horribly disgusting pictures on all their billboards, basically suggesting that under this law these horrible pictures were ok but regular advertisements were not.

One was a giant picture of a toe with an ingrown nail. Another was a fat guy bending over with his crack showing. I forget the rest but they were equally offensive.

[j1d10t]

My favorite way to deal with a telemarketer - start asking really weird questions.
"Good after sir, I'm calling from brand X phone company, and would like to tell you about our current special, that can save you money. What phone company do you currently use, and how much are you currently paying for long distance service?"
"Why is the sky blue?"
It really throws them for a loop if you just start asking questions to which they have no freaking idea about the answer, or were not expecting. Like, "why do they think cats and dogs can't see in color?", or "what is the number that is one half of one quarter of one tenth of 400?", Usually they give up after 3-4 questions. Never really answer their questions either, if they ask one. Just respond with another bizarre question. It's really fun

[Roundabout]

Hi May I please speak to a Mr. Patrick Rodgers

Yeah, he's dead

He's what

Dead. As In Gone, Split, OUt of here.



:P That one is really fun to do.

I thought of that one too, but my wife won't let me have any fun. So I just hang up on them.
But I'd like to know why their right to "free speech" over-rides my right to privacy. I paid for the phone line, they didn't. I liken it to a smoker's right to smoke, they have a right to do it, but I have a right to fresh air. Whose right trumps another's? And why?
If they want to subsidize my phone bill, I'll let them call all they want. I'd still hang up on them, but they could call me. As it is, I'm paying for the line, then they have no intrinsic right to use it without my permission.
I still think eventually the will of the people will win out. But it may take a supreme court decision to do it. Otherwise, just like the RIAA, the dinosaurs will fight to the end not to become extinct.

[Devanshu]

My favorite way to deal with a telemarketer - start asking really weird questions.
"Good after sir, I'm calling from brand X phone company, and would like to tell you about our current special, that can save you money. What phone company do you currently use, and how much are you currently paying for long distance service?"
"Why is the sky blue?"
It really throws them for a loop if you just start asking questions to which they have no freaking idea about the answer, or were not expecting. Like, "why do they think cats and dogs can't see in color?", or "what is the number that is one half of one quarter of one tenth of 400?", Usually they give up after 3-4 questions. Never really answer their questions either, if they ask one. Just respond with another bizarre question. It's really fun

I've gotta start taking notes!!