From: psrjd@acad3.alaska.edu
Subject: Re: Caller ID block? 
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.4-b1  
Organization: University of Alaska, Anchorage
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 07:03:00 GMT

In article <1992Dec17.163858.27423@lunatix.uucp>, chelf@lunatix.uucp (Chad Helfenberger) writes...
>In article <BzD8s8.E0n@ns1.nodak.edu> csmith@plains.NoDak.edu (Carl Smith) writes:
>>>
>>>What will you people do if someone calls from a payphone?

Local payphones have a set of numbers assigned to them (here, being Palmer
Alaska, as close to the boonies as you can get without being there.)  I would
expect the technology to alow for this (ie check that group of numbers.)  The
other idea, assuming long distance call/payphone, would be for the system to
send the callers number, not the number of the payphone.

>Well, pay phones are looking nicer and nicer when people insist upon having 
>my number (if/when I call them).  Why must everyone know who is calling them 
>before they pick up thet phone?  If you don't like who is calling you, just 
>scream obscenties to them and hang up.  Big deal.

It's a matter of time, for one thing.  I've got better things to do than play
human answering machine.  (Hello, the Sum A. Shole from Time/Life records, and
we'd like to sell you something...)

>>>And why do you seem to believe you are "owed" the number of the person calling?
>>>You haven't had it for years.
>>
>>Just because we haven't had it doesn't mean we don't deserve it.

[Privacy Arguement Deleted]

>You say EVERYTIME the phone rings, it is invasion of your privacy.  Let me 
>guess.  But ONLY if it is someone you don't want to talk to?  Right?  I 
>figured so.  Let me clue you in on something.  You could 'potenitally reveal 
>all sorts of info about' yourself when talking to ANYONE on the phone, not 
>just someone who you don't want to talk to.  
> 
>If Calling-#-ID is not ruled unconstitutional (which it IS), then there must 
>be some sort of protocol which will be followed by called parties and 
>calling parties.  WHY in the HELL would you want to give out your number to 
>anyone you called?  Why don't you Caller ID freaks put yourself on the other 
>end of the line for a minute.

Sure, no problem.  When I use my phone, it's to usualy to manage my time.  If I
call someone, I've no beef with x-mitting my phone number, because what I plan
on doing will be legitimate.  Examples?

A)  Conducting business over the phone.  If I want to order something from a 
    catalog, hey, no sweat, chances are I'll be giving out my CC number,
    address, and other information anyway, what is the loss?

B)  Call a freind.  No sweat.  If I've got a persons phone number, I make it
    a habit to make sure they have mine, there's no problem here.

[Example of Privacy (?):  Door analogy]

>That doesn't parallel *Calling-#-ID* at all.  When someone calls that you 
>don't want to talk to, it's merely an inconvenience.  When some freak is at 
>your door, your life could be at danger.  Please pick your analogies with a 
>little more realism.

Ever get some asshole calling YOU at two in the morning?  Sure, he's not going
to come through the phone and choke the living shit out of you, or knock your
door down (yet, he's still on the phone, but if he's got your name, and phone
number, how long do you think it's going to take to get that, eh?)  At any
rate, the last asshole _I_ had call me at two in the morning pissed me off; if
I'd found him, I'd have done my best to make sure it didn't happen a second
time.  I am grateful I didn't have a test, or some other engagement requiring
my being well rested that morning.  It makes it difficult trying to sleep, when
you're wishing some little prick was within arms reach so you kid throttle the
S.O.B.

If an analogy is in order, how about this:

I prefer to think of a CID system like a butler, or other servant.  Much as
the rich/well-to-do had their servants to screen visitors, CID gives me the
ability to weed out the unwelcome disruptions in my life.  Like the
telemarketer who bought my name along with 100,000 others in a phone list from
some other company.  Or the asshole who thinks I need to be reminded of what
his opinions are.  Or the punk who decided to play Mary Had a Little Lamb on
the telephone.  With such a system, that becomes possible, short of hiring a
butler.

As far as this being constitutional?  Why not?  Unless you're trying to
paralell it to the 1st Amendment.  If so, you're out of it.  As I recall,
you're freedom of speech is garuanteed, as long as it doesn't interfere with my
rights to: A) ignore you; and B) endanger my life.

Someone else brought up the point that European callers would not be able to
get through.  That would be a concern, if I were taking calls from Europe.  In
this case, a seperate phone might be in order.  (I don't forsee Akhmed of Time
Life Records of Saudia Arabia trying to call me and sell me something.)  

I won't argue your right to have CID blocked.  That could actually be
justified.  Just keep in mind that it's my right to not take your call, be it
business, personal, or prank.

Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk