From: savoia@sw.stratus.com (Rick Savoia)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Revenge on a telemarketer!
Date: 16 Oct 92 20:47:50 GMT
Organization: Stratus Computer, Inc.

In article <jnrpylj@dixie.com>, jgd@dixie.com (John De Armond) writes:
> oneil@cwis.unomaha.edu (Sharon O'Neil) writes:
> 
> >The fact of the matter is, yes, the company does burn up money keeping the
> >connection open.  But why punish the poor stiff on the other end who is
> >merely trying to pay his way through college?  Or trying to moonlight because
> >her regular job doesn't pay enough.  (I will point out about half of the folks
> >If you're not interested, hang up.  I mean, yes, it's annoying to get a call,
> >but why be mean spirited to people who are just trying to survive?
> 
> Sorry, dear, YOU'RE the one who invaded my privacy, interrupted my
> sleep, supper, TV show or made me get out from under my car to
> answer your telesleeze call.  Even if I were doing nothing more than
> contemplating my bellybutton, one second of that time is worth more to me
> than your whole life as a teleslime.  You are fair game for whatever trick
> I can come up with to make your personal life miserable.  It is YOU
> who strapped on the headset and started dialing.  It is YOU who
> should be punished.  I'm amazed to read such rationalizations 
> as yours for anti-social behavior.  I suppose by your rationalization
> that it would be OK to, say, steal in order to "survive?"

	Calm down, pal.  Sharon was just trying to make the point that
	people don't do this for fun, but because they need to make 
	money.  I don't know how it was for you when you went through
	college but some of us had a really hard time making ends 
	meet.  I can remember a few times when the choice was 
	dinner or gas so I could get to work to get paid to get
	dinner for the rest of the week!  Maybe someone paid
	your way through college, but not everyone gets that break.
	
	I've never had to do this type of job, I was lucky to always
	find a job related to my major and some other odd jobs around
	but there is no reason to have such a belligerent attitude
	towards someone who is trying to make ends meet.  If you think
	that phone calls were purposely designed to interrupt your privacy,
	then get your phone disconnected!  I'd be surprised if anyone
	called you with that kind of attitude.  

	I don't like telemarketing calls any more than the next person,
	but the easiest thing to do is ask them to be up front about 
	what they want and if you aren't interested, say so and hang up.
	If they won't tell you then tell them you aren't interested and 
	hang up.  
> 
> The things listed to do to teleslime so far have actually been quite mild.  
> I find the freon boat horn, applied directly to the microphone, to be
> quite effective. 

	This is down right rude and can also be dangerous to the person
	on the other end. 
> 
> If you don't like the abuse you receive, then do something else.  Be a hooker
> or sell crack to children.  Either would be more respectable than
> being a telescum.
> 
> John

	Personally, judging from your response here, I've talked to	
	'telescum' who are more respectable  than you!  They are at least
	polite 98% of the time.  Telemarketing calls are kind of like
	reading News, John.  If you don't like the article, hit 'n'.
	If you don't like the call, hang up.  That's all there is to it.
	Either that or get yourself a portable speakerphone, carry it
	around with you and when a telemarketer calls, all you 
	have to do is pull a finger out of your bellybutton, hit the 
	speaker and then hang it right back up so people like Sharon
	don't have to put up with any BS like this.


-- 
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Rick Savoia                     | "I'm just very selective
savoia@watts.sqa.stratus.com    | about the reality 
Rick_Savoia@vos.stratus.com     | I accept" - Calvin
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