On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 02:38:07 -0500, Omelet >
wrote:

>2. If they start out with, "How are you today?" say, "Why do
>you want to know?" Alternately, you can tell them, "I'm so glad you
>asked, because no one these days seems to care, and I have all these
>problems; my arthritis is acting up, my eyelashes are sore, my car
>won't start..." When they try to get to the sell, just keep talking
>about your problems.

I know telemarketing scams for vitamins are well known but I only got
one in my entire life. <sigh> I was actually looking forward to it,
but by the time it came I was totally surprised that they had chosen
*me*. I was absolutely giddy! Yes, I anticipated almost every line
the telemarketer was about to say and I finally had to ask him if he
was trying to sell me $600 vitamins. By the time we hung up, he was
laughing and we were the best of buds. I aked him nicely to put me on
the do not call list.... and I never heard from them again.

BTW: I wasted at least 20 minutes of his time by acting interested and
then ducking. Time is money and telemarketers don't want to waste it.


--

Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies. Groucho Marks

sf said...

> BTW: I wasted at least 20 minutes of his time by acting interested and
> then ducking. Time is money and telemarketers don't want to waste it.


I used to do that too. I'd ask about the weather where the callers were
calling from, asking for restaurant and comedy and night club
recommendations, etc., to a point where the callers would finally say they
had to get off the phone.

Now I just have my answering machine answer after the 2nd ring and play the
PhoneCo's disconnect tones, followed by my message. The telemarket phone
system will hang up and auto-do-not-call:disconnected on it's system. Works
like a charm.

Every once in a while, I'll get a blatant message that ignores the tones
and won't let me break to dialtone by hanging up, until its message
finishes playing and it hangs up. Very against the law (inability to dial
911). That happened a few times during election campaigning and I called
them back to tell them for being inconsiderate BUMS!!! they wouldn't be
getting my vote on election day.

Then there's the all-time phone slamming trap. You pick up the phone and a
voice says "can you hear me?" You say "yes" and you'll have a new phone
company minutes later.

Andy

On 12 Aug 2007 16:39:17 GMT, "Default User" >
wrote:

>Omelet wrote:
>
>
>> Why do spammers think we won't boycott them when everybody HATES them
>> so???
>
>On another newsgroup, one participant has two rules about spammers:
>
>1. Spammers are stupid.
>2. Spammers lie.
>
>
>Anything they do is a result of the two rules.
>

I disagree with this. There is only one rule. In every newsgroup,
including this one, there are people, called clickers, who will click
on the message and buy the product. The spammers know this, and they
don't give a tinker's damn about anyone else. They are after the
clickers because the clickers are making them rich.

The shoe spammers are posting through Google. Google doesn't give a
tinker's damn either. I sent the headers to their abuse email and here
is their response.

"Thank you for your note. Google does not regularly monitor or censor
postings sent to Google Groups, but we do try to prevent wide-scale
spam and other forms of Usenet abuse. Please be assured that the
information you sent to us is being collected and taken into account.
While we understand how annoying off-topic posts can be, we aren't
able to pursue most complaints we receive about them. We are using the
information you provide to make large-scale improvements in preventing
abuse. We appreciate your help in our efforts to increase the quality
of Google Groups.

Replies to this email address will not be received. If you have a
general Google Groups question or wish to report a post that you
suspect is illegal, please visit our Help Center at
http://groups.google.com/support

Regards,
The Google Team"

Julia Altshuler > wrote in message
. ..
> Default User wrote:
>> Not a problem anymore. The no-call list has completely
>> removed that. There's no such thing for spammers.
>>
> I'm on every do-not-call list known. All they have to
> do is pretend they're calling for charity donations or
> not tell me what they're really advertising until they're
> well into their harrassment speech. Or they call from
> out of the country. I think we should blow up their
> buildings.

My state's DA doesn't like unsolicited phone calls or spam so he's
been pretty active in making the most-stupid pay.

I, too, am on every do not call list but there are some that still
call. I make sure I get three things from them before they hang up
on me: 1) Company name, company phone number, and the caller's
name. Each pause causes them obvious pain because I keep
interrupting the script. (BTW: The best reward was the local
caller that was so upset she called me back after hanging up and
then blew a gasket through the phone.) After getting all the
essentials, I remind them to place me on the do-not call list. If
I receive another call, I fire off a letter to the DA's office
with dates and specific company information (I love Da Net). 41¢
and ten minutes effort can net an amazing amount of contentment.

The Ranger

Omelet wrote on Sun, 12 Aug 2007 15:31:28 -0500:

??>> The idiots are the people who buy from them, Om. That's
??>> what perpetuates spamming.
??>>
??>> --
??>> Blinky

O> Scary. :-(

I have noticed that a lot of spam that got thro today was posted
from gmail.com. I may have to consider killing all posts from
that server.

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

James Silverton wrote:
> Omelet wrote on Sun, 12 Aug 2007 15:31:28 -0500:
>
> ??>> The idiots are the people who buy from them, Om. That's
> ??>> what perpetuates spamming.
> ??>>
> ??>> -- ??>> Blinky
>
> O> Scary. :-(
>
> I have noticed that a lot of spam that got thro today was posted from
> gmail.com. I may have to consider killing all posts from that server.
>
> James Silverton
> Potomac, Maryland
>
> E-mail, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

I think Google is one of the main conduits of the spammers and probably
99.98% of the posts from Google groups are spam.

T wrote:
> In article >,
> lid says...
>> Omelet wrote:
>>> WTF is it lately with all the clothing and shoe spams?
>>> I'm setting up new killfilters so that any subject with the word "shoes"
>>> gets filtered out. They've been hitting every newsgroup!
>>>
>>> Why do spammers think we won't boycott them when everybody HATES them
>>> so???
>>>
>>> Idiots.
>> Its hard to blame the spammers because they make money doing it. A few
>> percent of (apparently clueless) readers think the deal presented is
>> just for them or too good to pass up. No different than the "we have
>> leftover blacktop coating in the truck..." scam.
>>
>
> I'm sorry but most spam is designed to deliberately exploit people.
> Therefore spammers are dirt to me.
>

But what happened to common sense? With that line of thinking it would
seem we would need to destroy anything with a sharp edge (someone may
cut themselves), prohibit open flame (someone may burn themselves) etc.

In article >, sf wrote:

> On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 02:33:02 -0500, Omelet >
> wrote:
>
> >In article >,
> > George > wrote:
> >
> >> > I'd love to have my driveway paved to control the stupid weeds, but I'd
> >> > hire a local contractor. ;-)
> >>
> >> Scammers don't do paving because it is too much work . The famous scam
> >> is to show up in a pickup truck claiming they were working in the
> >> neighborhood and have leftover blacktop coating and they will give you a
> >> great deal just to get rid of it. It turns out to be old oil or some
> >> cheap Walmart black paint which they quickly spread on your driveway and
> >> disappear with your money.
> >
> >I'm glad I'm not that stupid.
> >
> >I'm considering bricking the driveway. This gravel and weed mess is
> >getting to be a royal pain in the ass. Anyone have any ideas that are
> >not too expensive?
>
> I saw something on HGTV today.... two layers of asphalt. The first
> layer was continuous and provided a level base. The second layer
> began with 2 x 4s laid in some sort of pattern and move asphalt, then
> the top was an asphalt stain that looked like concrete. After that
> they removed the 2 x 4s and filled the space with small river rocks.
> It looked great!

But sounds expensive. :-(
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

In article >, sf wrote:

> On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 02:38:07 -0500, Omelet >
> wrote:
>
> >2. If they start out with, "How are you today?" say, "Why do
> >you want to know?" Alternately, you can tell them, "I'm so glad you
> >asked, because no one these days seems to care, and I have all these
> >problems; my arthritis is acting up, my eyelashes are sore, my car
> >won't start..." When they try to get to the sell, just keep talking
> >about your problems.
>
> I know telemarketing scams for vitamins are well known but I only got
> one in my entire life. <sigh> I was actually looking forward to it,
> but by the time it came I was totally surprised that they had chosen
> *me*. I was absolutely giddy! Yes, I anticipated almost every line
> the telemarketer was about to say and I finally had to ask him if he
> was trying to sell me $600 vitamins. By the time we hung up, he was
> laughing and we were the best of buds. I aked him nicely to put me on
> the do not call list.... and I never heard from them again.
>
> BTW: I wasted at least 20 minutes of his time by acting interested and
> then ducking. Time is money and telemarketers don't want to waste it.

Sounds like me and Jehovah's witlesses. ;-)

I used to mess with them too for fun, but just have not had the time
lately. Fortunately, they won't come to the door any more because they
are afraid of my (very non-dangerous) border collie. The fence and gate
covers my front door.
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

On Aug 12, 11:56 am, Omelet > wrote:
> WTF is it lately with all the clothing and shoe spams?

I was expecting some new SPAM recipes. Oh well

John Kane, Kingston ON Canada

In article >,
Steve Wertz > wrote:

> On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 02:45:16 -0500, Omelet wrote:
>
> > There seems to be a general policy against telemarket spamming
> > businesses and for some reason, answering the phone that way makes them
> > think that that is what they have called.
>
> You get a different type of phone solicitation at work.
> Businesses are not exempt from phone solicitations. I get people
> trying to sell all sorts of shit, and they can get really rude
> and sneaky about getting their feet in the door.
>
> And I can get pretty rude, too (big surprise there, eh?)
>
> -sw

I never get those at work.
The switchboard handles it. ;-)

I also cannot get outside e-mails at work. E-mails are restricted to
intra-system unless you log into the webspace from outside, but you have
to have the system password to do that and an intranet e-mail address.
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

In article >,
says...
> In article >, sf wrote:
>
> > On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 02:38:07 -0500, Omelet >
> > wrote:
> >
> > >2. If they start out with, "How are you today?" say, "Why do
> > >you want to know?" Alternately, you can tell them, "I'm so glad you
> > >asked, because no one these days seems to care, and I have all these
> > >problems; my arthritis is acting up, my eyelashes are sore, my car
> > >won't start..." When they try to get to the sell, just keep talking
> > >about your problems.
> >
> > I know telemarketing scams for vitamins are well known but I only got
> > one in my entire life. <sigh> I was actually looking forward to it,
> > but by the time it came I was totally surprised that they had chosen
> > *me*. I was absolutely giddy! Yes, I anticipated almost every line
> > the telemarketer was about to say and I finally had to ask him if he
> > was trying to sell me $600 vitamins. By the time we hung up, he was
> > laughing and we were the best of buds. I aked him nicely to put me on
> > the do not call list.... and I never heard from them again.
> >
> > BTW: I wasted at least 20 minutes of his time by acting interested and
> > then ducking. Time is money and telemarketers don't want to waste it.
>
> Sounds like me and Jehovah's witlesses. ;-)
>
> I used to mess with them too for fun, but just have not had the time
> lately. Fortunately, they won't come to the door any more because they
> are afraid of my (very non-dangerous) border collie. The fence and gate
> covers my front door.
>

I"m a rabid atheist. I pity any JW that comes to my door.

In article >, ost
says...
> On Sun, 12 Aug 2007 22:44:45 -0400, BOB wrote:
>
> > I haven't received
> > a call in about a year, and it started dwindling since I started using these
> > tactics. I don't care if any of these things are true or not, they don't
> > know either.
>
> If they're female, I ask them what they're wearing and if they
> prefer thongs or briefs.
>
> And they often have the nerve to get upset.
>
> -sw
>

So what about the times they don't get upset. Must make for some
interesting calls.

In article >,
says...
> In article >,
> Steve Wertz > wrote:
>
> > On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 02:45:16 -0500, Omelet wrote:
> >
> > > There seems to be a general policy against telemarket spamming
> > > businesses and for some reason, answering the phone that way makes them
> > > think that that is what they have called.
> >
> > You get a different type of phone solicitation at work.
> > Businesses are not exempt from phone solicitations. I get people
> > trying to sell all sorts of shit, and they can get really rude
> > and sneaky about getting their feet in the door.
> >
> > And I can get pretty rude, too (big surprise there, eh?)
> >
> > -sw
>
> I never get those at work.
> The switchboard handles it. ;-)
>
> I also cannot get outside e-mails at work. E-mails are restricted to
> intra-system unless you log into the webspace from outside, but you have
> to have the system password to do that and an intranet e-mail address.
>

I wish our switchboard could handle things like that. Our unit has it's
own in-dial number, we all have specific extensions, etc. I've explained
to her that if someone calls asking for my extension it's good, or they
ask for me by my short name, it's good too. Anyone asking by my full
name is more than likely trying to sell something.

I do the same at home, if they ask for Anthony I just hang up.

In article >,
says...
> In article >,
> Julia Altshuler > wrote:
>
> > Default User wrote:
> > >
> > > Not a problem anymore. The no-call list has completely removed that.
> > > There's no such thing for spammers.
> >
> >
> > I'm on every do-not-call list known. All they have to do is pretend
> > they're calling for charity donations or not tell me what they're really
> > advertising until they're well into their harrassment speech. Or they
> > call from out of the country. I think we should blow up their buildings.
> >
> >
> > --Lia
>
> I just hang up on them anymore.
>
> I have an answering machine that I use to screen all landline calls now.
> Anyone that I really want to talk to has my cell phone number.
>

Speaking of which, I got a telemarketing call on my cell phone the other
day. If anyone hadn't noticed cell phones get very particular exchange
assignments. A simple lookup would tell them it was a cell phone.

James Silverton wrote:

> Omelet wrote on Sun, 12 Aug 2007 15:31:28 -0500:
>
> ??>> The idiots are the people who buy from them, Om. That's
> ??>> what perpetuates spamming.
> ??>>
> ??>> --
> ??>> Blinky
>
> O> Scary. :-(
>
> I have noticed that a lot of spam that got thro today was posted
> from gmail.com. I may have to consider killing all posts from
> that server.

I think you'll find that they're from the Google Groups server; the
posters are flying Gmail email addresses. The two aren't the same.
Filter on the string google in their Message-ID headers.


--
Blinky
Killfiling all posts from Google Groups.
Except with Thunderbird, which can't filter that well.
Details: http://blinkynet.net/comp/uip5.html

Omelet wrote:

> Sounds like me and Jehovah's witlesses. ;-)

Long ago, I worked at an ABC TV affiliate. At the time, they (the
ABC stations) used the name "Eyewitness News" for their...uh...news
presence. Inhouse, that was sometimes called the "Eyewitless News"
or the "I Missed It News".


--
Blinky
Killfiling all posts from Google Groups.
Except with Thunderbird, which can't filter that well.
Details: http://blinkynet.net/comp/uip5.html

In article .com>,
John Kane > wrote:

> On Aug 12, 11:56 am, Omelet > wrote:
> > WTF is it lately with all the clothing and shoe spams?
>
> I was expecting some new SPAM recipes. Oh well
>
> John Kane, Kingston ON Canada

My dad makes Spam omelets.

There are millions of spam recipes on google. ;-)
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

"Omelet" > wrote in message
news
>
> I'm considering bricking the driveway. This gravel and weed mess is
> getting to be a royal pain in the ass. Anyone have any ideas that are
> not too expensive?
> --
> Peace, Om

More gravel, and some Round-up.
Dee Dee

In article >,
T > wrote:

> > > BTW: I wasted at least 20 minutes of his time by acting interested and
> > > then ducking. Time is money and telemarketers don't want to waste it.
> >
> > Sounds like me and Jehovah's witlesses. ;-)
> >
> > I used to mess with them too for fun, but just have not had the time
> > lately. Fortunately, they won't come to the door any more because they
> > are afraid of my (very non-dangerous) border collie. The fence and gate
> > covers my front door.
> >
>
> I"m a rabid atheist. I pity any JW that comes to my door.

I follow the "Old religion".

That is even more fun if you are well versed in religious history.
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

"Omelet" > wrote in message
news
> In article >,
> T > wrote:
>
>> I don't necesarily want to kill spammers. I just want to persecute them.
>>
>> Seriously, I'd love to put together an elite team composed of financial
>> auditors, detectives, and others with skills useful to
>> prosecute/persecute spammers.
>
> How to get rid of telemarketers...
> Peace, Om
>
Pretty funny!
Dee Dee

In article >,
T > wrote:

> In article >,
> says...
> > In article >,
> > Julia Altshuler > wrote:
> >
> > > Default User wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Not a problem anymore. The no-call list has completely removed that.
> > > > There's no such thing for spammers.
> > >
> > >
> > > I'm on every do-not-call list known. All they have to do is pretend
> > > they're calling for charity donations or not tell me what they're really
> > > advertising until they're well into their harrassment speech. Or they
> > > call from out of the country. I think we should blow up their buildings.
> > >
> > >
> > > --Lia
> >
> > I just hang up on them anymore.
> >
> > I have an answering machine that I use to screen all landline calls now.
> > Anyone that I really want to talk to has my cell phone number.
> >
>
> Speaking of which, I got a telemarketing call on my cell phone the other
> day. If anyone hadn't noticed cell phones get very particular exchange
> assignments. A simple lookup would tell them it was a cell phone.

So far, I havent.

I hope it stays that way.
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

Omelet wrote on Mon, 13 Aug 2007 13:26:26 -0500:

??>> Speaking of which, I got a telemarketing call on my cell
??>> phone the other day. If anyone hadn't noticed cell phones
??>> get very particular exchange assignments. A simple lookup
??>> would tell them it was a cell phone.

O> So far, I havent.

O> I hope it stays that way.

Special exchanges (second 3-digit group in the US) may well be
assigned tho' not area codes unfortunately. Where do you look up
such things?

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

In article >,
T > wrote:

> I wish our switchboard could handle things like that. Our unit has it's
> own in-dial number, we all have specific extensions, etc. I've explained
> to her that if someone calls asking for my extension it's good, or they
> ask for me by my short name, it's good too. Anyone asking by my full
> name is more than likely trying to sell something.
>
> I do the same at home, if they ask for Anthony I just hang up.

I take it your friends call you Tony? ;-)
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

>
> I"m a rabid atheist. I pity any JW that comes to my door.

They love a challenge. Pity you!
Dee Dee

In article >,
"Dee Dee" > wrote:

> "Omelet" > wrote in message
> news >
> >
> > I'm considering bricking the driveway. This gravel and weed mess is
> > getting to be a royal pain in the ass. Anyone have any ideas that are
> > not too expensive?
>
> More gravel, and some Round-up.
> Dee Dee

Yeah, I'm considering the round-up but it only lasts just so long.
I have to be very careful that I don't hit the border garden plants.

My herb garden borders the driveway, as does a stand of Lantana,
wandering jew, Cannas and russian sage.
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

jmcquown wrote:
>
>
>
> There's a Do Not Call Registry for the U.S., can't speak for Europe or the
> U.K. It's good for 5 years, IIRC.
>

There is one in Canada too and I am on it, but I still get calls. One
particular company was calling once a week with a computerized message
about someone in the house having entered a contest at a local mall for a
free vacation ... push 1 for further information. I used to hang up. After
several more calls I pushed 1 and asked why they are calling and said that
I was on the do not call register. No problem..... hold the line and you
can enter your number in our do not call registry. The next week they
called again. This time I blasted the woman for calling and told her to
take my name of their list. She refused because I wasn't polite. I beg your
pardon, but continuing to call me weekly after I have asked them to stop
and to take me off their list is not going to get them any sales. But when
she she once again refused to take my name off the list until I apologized
and talked nicely to her. So I screamed at her to go **** herself and
asked if that was nice enough to get the message.


The Canadian government recently proposed a new law for Do Not Call lists.
It is next to useless. It exempts politicians, charities, newspapers and
magazines, pollsters and companies with which you have had a business
relationship. That means that 99% of the telephone soliciting we get will
be exempt, so it really doesn't help much.

In article >,
Dave Smith > wrote:

> jmcquown wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > There's a Do Not Call Registry for the U.S., can't speak for Europe or the
> > U.K. It's good for 5 years, IIRC.
> >
>
> There is one in Canada too and I am on it, but I still get calls. One
> particular company was calling once a week with a computerized message
> about someone in the house having entered a contest at a local mall for a
> free vacation ... push 1 for further information. I used to hang up. After
> several more calls I pushed 1 and asked why they are calling and said that
> I was on the do not call register. No problem..... hold the line and you
> can enter your number in our do not call registry. The next week they
> called again. This time I blasted the woman for calling and told her to
> take my name of their list. She refused because I wasn't polite. I beg your
> pardon, but continuing to call me weekly after I have asked them to stop
> and to take me off their list is not going to get them any sales. But when
> she she once again refused to take my name off the list until I apologized
> and talked nicely to her. So I screamed at her to go **** herself and
> asked if that was nice enough to get the message.
>
>
> The Canadian government recently proposed a new law for Do Not Call lists.
> It is next to useless. It exempts politicians, charities, newspapers and
> magazines, pollsters and companies with which you have had a business
> relationship. That means that 99% of the telephone soliciting we get will
> be exempt, so it really doesn't help much.

Get an answering machine and screen calls.
Your friends will understand.
--
Peace, Om

Remove _ to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

> I follow the "Old religion".
>
> That is even more fun if you are well versed in religious history.
> --
> Peace, Om

Asking, hesitating-ly -- Old religion?
Dee Dee

"Omelet" > wrote in message
news
> In article >,
> "Dee Dee" > wrote:
>
>> "Omelet" > wrote in message
>> news >>
>> >
>> > I'm considering bricking the driveway. This gravel and weed mess is
>> > getting to be a royal pain in the ass. Anyone have any ideas that are
>> > not too expensive?
>>
>> More gravel, and some Round-up.
>> Dee Dee
>
> Yeah, I'm considering the round-up but it only lasts just so long.
> I have to be very careful that I don't hit the border garden plants.
>
> My herb garden borders the driveway, as does a stand of Lantana,
> wandering jew, Cannas and russian sage.
> --
> Peace, Om

I've heard that round-up only gets weeds; do they not distinguish between
herbs and weeds? Just kidding!

If I see DH spraying that stuff and there's a whiff of wind, I get excited
because even tho they say it is OK to plant edibles on top of ground where
Roundup has been sprayed to kill the weeds, I wouldn't do it.

Poison ivy is something that we spray for. And bramble bushes taking over.
That's about it. Our gravel driveway where we park the vehicles, there is
nothing to worry about like your plants. Basically our property is chemical
free -- and looks it!
Dee Dee

On 2007-08-13, Dee Dee wrote:

> Asking, hesitating-ly -- Old religion?

Must be one of these:

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...ChickTract.gif

or

http://www.kibo.com/

HTH, HAND.

--
Why are they sotto and alto and blotto?
I do not know. Go ask uncle oTTo! [Otto Bahn]

In article >,
"Dee Dee" > wrote:

> > I follow the "Old religion".
> >
> > That is even more fun if you are well versed in religious history.
> > --
> > Peace, Om
>
> Asking, hesitating-ly -- Old religion?
> Dee Dee

Modern Neopaganism.

Ancient goddess worship pre-dates Christianity by thousands of years.
--
Peace, Om

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"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

Omelet wrote:
>

> >
> >
> > The Canadian government recently proposed a new law for Do Not Call lists.
> > It is next to useless. It exempts politicians, charities, newspapers and
> > magazines, pollsters and companies with which you have had a business
> > relationship. That means that 99% of the telephone soliciting we get will
> > be exempt, so it really doesn't help much.
>
> Get an answering machine and screen calls.
> Your friends will understand.

That could work, but I resent the idea that I need to screen my calls
because of telemarketers. I put my name on the Do Not Call register which
bonifide telemarketers are supposed to respect. Anyone from an organization
that does not recognize that list are fair game for abuse. Sometimes I am
polite. If they are taking a poll I ask for money.... no money no answers.
They are being paid for their time to ask the questions so it is only fair
that I should be paid too. Sometimes I waste their time, start talking,
let them do their spiel, ask them questions and then after 10 minutes or so
I say no and hang-up. I figure that has saved a dozen people from having
to deal with them.

I have learned to sometimes give them a chance to get their spiel out. Two
years ago I was about to hang up in disgust but listened long enough to
realize that my television satellite company was offering me free theatre
tickets. After making sure there were no tricks, no gimmicks, no pre
theatre sales pitches I accepted. We got to see a terrific matinee
performance of Pygmalion, and there really were no strings attached.

In article >,
"Dee Dee" > wrote:

> I've heard that round-up only gets weeds; do they not distinguish between
> herbs and weeds? Just kidding!

<snork> Most herbs are weeds... but you knew that. ;-)

>
> If I see DH spraying that stuff and there's a whiff of wind, I get excited
> because even tho they say it is OK to plant edibles on top of ground where
> Roundup has been sprayed to kill the weeds, I wouldn't do it.

I prefer to be VERY careful with the use of that stuff!

>
> Poison ivy is something that we spray for. And bramble bushes taking over.
> That's about it. Our gravel driveway where we park the vehicles, there is
> nothing to worry about like your plants. Basically our property is chemical
> free -- and looks it!
> Dee Dee

Yeah.
--
Peace, Om

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"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

Omelet wrote:

> Get an answering machine and screen calls.
> Your friends will understand.


This is good practical advice, but I believe it misses the point. No
one should have to do that. It's a little like suggesting that someone
get a scary dog to prevent frequent criminal break-ins. Yes, that will
help with the problem, but no one should have to resort to that. It's
the society's job to protect people's privacy and protect them from
theft, not seek a fair solution for people who make money breaking into
people's houses.


Look at the industry devoted to helping people be able to have
telephones: answering machines, caller ID, cell phones, answering
services, do-not-call lists, efforts to track down databases and remove
one's information from them.


I want to be able to hear the phone ring, answer it, and find a person
on the other end who knows me personally I want to speak to. I want to
be able to drop my clothes at the drycleaners and give them my number so
they can call me when my clothes are ready without lying about how I
don't have a phone because I'm afraid they'll sell my number to an
information gathering database. Even if the DON'T sell my number, I
have to lie because one business might.


Hospitals sell your phone number! Want them to call you with important
test results or to tell you in an emergency situation that someone you
love has taken a turn for the worse? Because they know you're worried
enough to pick up the phone without screening, your number is more
valuable. You pick up, and someone tries to sell you insurance, home
care, and lawn service.


Tell them you want to be put on their do-not-call list, and they take
you off. That was easy, they only bought your number for a one-time
call anyway. Get off the database of the company that sold your number?
Good move. There are thousands just like it. I've started making
sure I never give out my number, but I'm still suffering the
repercussions of having given it out 10 years ago. I could get another
"clean" land line. Add that to the list of the measures people have to
take to be able to have a telephone the way they used to.


Blow up the buildings.


--Lia

In article >,
Julia Altshuler > wrote:

> I want to be able to hear the phone ring, answer it, and find a person
> on the other end who knows me personally I want to speak to. I want to
> be able to drop my clothes at the drycleaners and give them my number so
> they can call me when my clothes are ready without lying about how I
> don't have a phone because I'm afraid they'll sell my number to an
> information gathering database. Even if the DON'T sell my number, I
> have to lie because one business might.

I understand... and so far, that is what cell #'s are for.

Sux but that is reality.

I only check my answering machine messages once per week or so, when I
remember to do it.
--
Peace, Om

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"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

"Julia Altshuler" > wrote

> I want to be able to hear the phone ring, answer it, and find a person on
> the other end who knows me personally I want to speak to.

I have a little device I completely forgot about. It would
intercept those telemarketers who used machines to dial.
That was a lifesaver. Tele-Zapper. Before that, I wound
up hanging up on anyone who didn't speak the instant I picked
up the phone. I hear that little silence while the telemarketing
dialer is checking to see if I'm a live one and I'd hang up.

My friends understood.

nancy

> Yeah, I'm considering the round-up but it only lasts just so long.
> I have to be very careful that I don't hit the border garden plants.

Om, have you ever tried vinegar? I've had really good luck with a
spray bottle filled with full strength vinegar on weeds/ dandelions.

On 2007-08-13, ~ Shelly ~ wrote:

> Your list of things to do when telemarketers call is hilarious!
>
> A friend of mine had a sister who would put her four-year-old on the phone
> with them. He would constantly giggle, ask them silly questions, etc.,
> until the caller gave up.
>
> I guess it was pretty funny, because after a while he got wise to the scheme
> and had a list of things to say when the telemarketer would try to get the
> kid to get Mom back on the phone, he had a list of things to tell them.
> Among the favorites:
>
> * Mom's taking a shower.
> * Mom's talking to herself and has her head in the oven.
> * Dad's home and he and Mom have gone into their bedroom. I'm not supposed
> to *ever* knock on the door when *that* happens!
> * Mom went out looking for Grandma - the front door was unlocked and she
> went out and got lost again...
> * Mom won't come to the phone - she just found Dad's vodka.
> * Mom's in the backyard burning some magazines. She keeps screaming that
> real bunnies don't have staples in their bellybuttons.

The stapler is behind you!

> * I'm lonely, will you be my friend?

You're allowed.


--
You can drown in a bathtub with an inch of water in it, and you can
easily write a completely unreadable and unmaintainable program in a
language with no gotos or line numbers, with exception handling and
generic types and garbage collection. [Donn Seeley]

"Omelet" > wrote in message
news
> In article >,
> "Dee Dee" > wrote:
>
>> > I follow the "Old religion".
>> >
>> > That is even more fun if you are well versed in religious history.
>> > --
>> > Peace, Om
>>
>> Asking, hesitating-ly -- Old religion?
>> Dee Dee
>
> Modern Neopaganism.
>
> Ancient goddess worship pre-dates Christianity by thousands of years.
> --
> Peace, Om
>
Om, so many dimensions. You are indeed an enigma. :-)
Dee Dee