Moral imperative.
Posted on 07/25/2009 10:48:54 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows
I was just on my way out the door, rushed for time as usual, when the phone rang. Caller ID said, "000-000-0000." I had a pretty good idea who it'd be (in a general sense) but I was expecting a call from an out-of-town business associate that day, so I couldn't afford not to answer.
"Hello?" I said warily. Suspicious pause. (This, in my experience, nearly always means an automated system is hooking a telemarketer up to the line.) And sure enough, "Yes, hello ma'am, may I speak with a... (pause) ...Mr. William J. Fields?"
"There's no one by that name at this number," I fairly growled, thumb already reaching for the disconnect button.
"Well then, ma'am," asked the voice before I could complete the move, "Is there a Hillary Fields?" Grrr. I couldn't deny it. I hardened my tone even further and answered, "What's this about?" in as abrupt a fashion as possible.
"We'd like you to answer a few quick questions about your long distance plan..."
Click. I'm done with you.
What I did may have been bad manners, but it's nothing compared to the story of an Ohio man named Charles Papenfus, recently arrested for 'going postal' on one of those extended service auto warranty telemarketers who wouldn't stop harassing him. According to Stltoday.com:
Charles W. Papenfus, 43, of Fostoria, Ohio, allegedly told a sales representative during a May 18 telephone call that he would burn down the building and kill the employees and their families. He was indicted for making a terrorist threat, a Class D felony; and he could be sentenced to up to four years in prison if convicted.
Wow, now that's consumer rage.
I don't know the specifics of his case, but I must tell you, I work primarily from home, and these telemarketing jackasses call at all hours of the day (particularly the auto warranty ones telling me my warranty is about to expire, which is ludicrous since I don't own a car.) I'm on the do-not-call list, but they always seem to find a way around it. And they're often automated calls, so I can't even do a Papenfus and take my fury out at them directly. I'm forced to fume helplessly and one-sidedly at the automated voice waking me up at 7AM on a Sunday, breaking into my dial-in meeting, or interrupting my romantic dinner with my husband.
I'm not advocating specific threats or any sort of violence, but let me ask this: When these callers have violated the sanctity of our homes in this insistent and unwelcome manner, do they deserve anything resembling courteous treatment in response?
I realize that some people who are telemarketers are simply desperate for a job and know what they're doing is annoying, but I can't imagine taking that job unless I were destitute and responsible for feeding my family and there was no other way. Must I be nice to these callers just in case that's who's on the other end of the line? Hmmmm
Moral imperative.
This is from Beliefnet, which is christianity based, right? So the answer is simple: preach the gospel to the telemarketers. It may be the only time they come into contact with a professing christian. If they claim to be christian already, tell them you’ll pray that God will find them a better job. The ones whom I’ve told that to all seem to appreciate it, and I pray with them on the phone right there.
When they get around to saying, “What’s this got to do with aluminum siding (or whatever they’re trying to sell)?” I answer with, “well, siding is important to you, right? And you want it to be important to me. So let’s talk about what is important to me and should be important to you, the disposition of your eternal soul.
Myself, I prefer the Tom Mabe approach:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv_JtNhUePg&feature=related
muahahaah!
The author was nicer than I would have been. And I wouldn’t be in the least interested in arguing the ethics of the situation either.
would just hanging up be considered rude?
Unfortunately, what they’re getting paid for is invasive. I’ll keep hanging up.
Get on the Do-Not-Call List. It’s an 800 number. It takes about 15 seconds to register. Dial 0, and the operator will give it to you. They all have it memorized.
When an unwanted caller calls, just quietly hang up. They expect much worse than that. There’s no obligation to answer questions, engage in niceties, etc.
What I don’t get is that the auto warranty folks are committing fraud, the owners have been charged with crimes, and most of the call centers have been shut down as the money dried up - how can it be a terrorist threat if there’s no call center to burn down, or any employees left to kill?
And was there any evidence of the guy actually trying to do anything?
These thought crimes really bother me, especially carrying the felony tag, which means it’s a great weapon to disarm law abiding citizens for exercising their freedom of speech.
I like that, but I’m Jewish and we don’t proselytize. How about if I try to convert them to Druidism?
Since I haven’t been working for a year and a half (due to a disability), I have received a whole slew of telemarketing calls. when I first became ill, it took a while to get to the phone and it was frustrating and sometimes dangerous for me to rush to the phone. Once I stumbled over a chair and fell. Fortuntely, I was not hurt, but you can imagine how I felt when I answered the phone and it was a sales call.
Yes, I too am on the do not call list, but what I get most are credit card solicitations. Since I have the credit cards in question, this constitutes a prior or existing relationship with the business; therefore, they can get around the do not call list.
I’ve come to the point where I no longer answer the telephone. I let the calls go into voice mail. Usually, these telemarketers will not leave a message.
It’s terrible to not want to answer your home telephone, but these calls are getting ridiculous. And apparently, there is no way legally to stop them.
I'm pretty sure that when you go to hell, Satan makes you become a telemarketer.
I am in sales -—
And I HATE unsolicited telemarketing.
I spend thousands of dollars a year on advertising, which gives me the RIGHT to call people back, who respond.
I resent it when other people do not respect my time, or the law!
Why don’t you proselytize? You might be surprised at the response you get. Many people are naturally attracted to Judaism. And you’d be talking about what’s important to you and that person, from God’s perspective.
I have my phone set so that it only rings if the caller is on my whitelist. (I’m on Do-Not-Call too.) I still think there should be a bounty on telemarketer heads.
The do not call list exempts certain telemarketers — you can receive political campaign calls and calls from those with whom you’ve done business previously. And you have to renew your membership on the do not call list from time to time. In other words, the list, while it helps some, does not solve the problem entirely.
They don't argue for very long after that.
I deal with telemarketers and unwanted calls in an even and measured tone.
For musicians on the thread, it is the tone of G#, in the key of E. (for those in Rio Linda and Port St. Lucie, yes, it is a dial tone.)
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