On Dec 12, 7:57*am, Gary > wrote:

> Funny answering-machine message that I heard on a stand-up comedy show once:
> "Hi this is Gary. *I'm home now and in a moment I will hear your voice and
> I'll have a decision to make."


That may be funny, but basis one's decision on a voice is certainly
superior than basing it on a telephone number only. I love the
answering machine. I too use it as a screener, but not exclusively -
and I'm not hiding from anyone. I think it's a useful machine that
can be used in an intelligent and practical and civilized and even
creative way. Just as I have learned that not all cellphone users are
annoying slobs, so should others know that not all people who own
answering machines use them for the same reason or in the same way.

TJ