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I was waiting for a call from my husband's friend who was with him at an emergency room, waiting to hear the outcome. The phone rang and it was a telemarketer. I hung up on the telemarketer (I was distraught and waiting to hear about my husband). The phone rang again. I picked it up and the person at the other end hung up on me. Happened another time. I realized the telemarketer was having some fun at my expense because I had hung up on him first. Rang again and I let it ring about 25 times before they hung up and hoped it wasn't my husband's friend at the emergency room.

Telemarketers are scum.

Maybe the reason that I never had a problem with them is that I treat them as human beings who are trying to earn a living. Before I had Caller ID when I got a call I would do one of two things. If I was somewhat interested, I would put them on a short leash -- I'd give them a minute to get my interest. If I wasn't interested, I'd just thank them and tell them politely that I wasn't interested. If I wasn't interested in taking a call, I just wouldn't pick up. Now I run a business from home and I need to take calls, but I use Caller ID to screen. I want to know who is on the line before I pick up.

I understand that you were anxious because of the the ER call that you were waiting for, but a polite 'no thanks' taking 5 seconds would have saved you 5 minutes of grief and anxiety.

I just can't understand the deep hatred that so many people have for telemarketers.