Posted on 09/27/2003 7:05:03 AM PDT by joesbucks
I've read over the course of the past few months the numerous threads regarding the use of telemarketing and the intrusion it has on our homes.
I had a long discussion with my wife who hates the intrusion. I ask her why did they call her? She had no idea. Well, despite the black eye telemarketers get, it's probably the most effective way to get business. Even Mrs. Me admitted that if they called about something that she had an interest in, she probably would buy. BINGO.
But let's look at if from another perspective. You will see numerous threads about how regulation is driving business from our shores to others. How we've taken manufacturing and moved it to low cost countries. Not because of productivity, but because of emission regulations or community groups that complain about the noise, smell or traffic caused by the facility. Even right to know and safety concerns. Changes necessary would be costly and not enforeced across the border or across the pond so companies locate there.
We seen threads about government regulation taking over our lives. Yet when it comes to a minor inconvience, we run to the government for help from the big bad telemarketers.
What's the difference between regulating out a obnoxiouis telephone call but not noxiouis fumes from the plant next door?
What happens when all the telemarketing jobs get exported to Ireland or India and our laws don't extend to them? And the calls continue cause we can't stop them.
What are we to do with all the folks who try to eek out a living working in a humid cramped call center. Many are the folks we drove from the welfare rolls with welfare reform (a good thing). Many are college students trying to earn their way through college. Others are seniors trying to supplement a fixed income. Or the physically disabled who find work in a sitting position reading a script, possibly from the company you work for or possibly even own. Some are just the slugs of life and a call center is the only way they've managed to find some sort of paycheck. What do you suggest they do for a living that's not immoral, illegal or indecent?
I find it amazing that we would rally all day about government intrusion and regulation on companies, yet we have rallied to stop a few phone calls a week or day.
The other thing to remember is that there are several ways that you will still get calls. They WILL NOT GO AWAY. Doing business with a company? They can call. Done business with them in the past 18 months? They can call. Signed up for one of those free give aways recently? You can now legitimately get a call. Charities. Exempt. Local lib dem candidate? Exempt. Pollsters. Exempt. Probably a thousand other loop holes? Exempt too!
I can neither sense nor am I harmed by stray electromagnetic radiation that enters my property. When a telemarketer calls my house the electromagnetic signals are converted in to sound waves which I can perceive and tell me that I have a telephone call. The telemarketer is stealing the most valuable thing anyone has which is time. I would also argue that if you parked your car facing my house and shined your bright lights into my house you would in fact be a nuisance. Considering running lights on cars are necessary at night and most streets are public property, most home owners design the front of their homes to minimize the effects of stray light from passing cars at night. If some decided to race down a residential street at 3 am with no muffer, I think that person would be violating the private property of the home owners on the street.
Enforced by the U.N.? I guess you aren't aware that it's cheaper to call internationally than locally.
I suppose even you know that these international calls have to tie into the US telecommunications system at some point. Its not a direct broadcast system. Maybe you slow down the calls but there has to be a way to identify the destination of the calls and block any that are not authorized --IF THAT IS THE DESIRE OF THE LINE BEING CALLED.
Or another idea. We have call forwarding now. How about a system where any calls from a foreign source are authomatically forwarded to a special number where a high volume decibel horn knocks out their hearing?
Whats your beef and whats with the UN? Are you some fool kook who believes in black UN helicopters or what. Only an kook or an owner of a call center would defend telemarketers who dont obey the no call list.
..........
Anybody can call your phone.
And anyone can spam your email account with all sorts of vile and disgusting offers. Many of the unsolicited emails I receive would be in violation of federal laws if they were sent via the US postal service.
Well, despite the black eye telemarketers get, it's probably the most effective way to get business.
Does a telemarketer's so-called "right" to "get business" trump my right to eat my evening meal in peace in my own home without the phone ringing off the hook? Essentially, my telephone is a tool that I pay for and that I expect to be able to use the way I want to use it. And, I don't wish to use it in order to fence with every Tom Dick and Harry trying to flog a product.
We seen threads about government regulation taking over our lives. Yet when it comes to a minor inconvience, we run to the government for help from the big bad telemarketers.
I don't consider telemarketer's invasion of my right to privacy a "minor inconvenience" at all. I pay my phone bill so my family, friends, and associates can contact me and I them. I do not pay it to provide private businesses with a convenient way to pester me at their convenience.
This is one situation where I really don't mind government stepping in. The solution is voluntary (I can choose to participate or not participate in the do-not-call list), and the cost is nominal to me.
What's the difference between regulating out a obnoxiouis telephone call but not noxiouis fumes from the plant next door?
A couple come to mind.
1. I can easily negotiate with a neighbor face-to-face to mitigate problem plant odors, barking dogs, loud parties, etc. I have no such recourse with telemarketers (the number that shows up on my Caller ID is either not displayed at all or is busy when I try to call it back to complain).
2. If a friendly neighbor-to-neighbor chat fails to mitigate the problem, I have recourse in the court system against a problem neighbor. In order to utilize the same option with a telemarketer, I first have to identify the culprit, which is not an option due to the situation outlined in 1. above.
What happens when all the telemarketing jobs get exported to Ireland or India and our laws don't extend to them? And the calls continue cause we can't stop them.
The same argument has been put forward in response to the numerous anti-spam laws that are being enacted. Yes, it is true that offshore operations essentially have no oversight by US authorities. However, if the problem continues, I would hope that the option of a "whitelist" (list of authorized callers) can be provided to me by private enterprise in order to reduce or eliminate the legions of telemarketers who call me.
What are we to do with all the folks who try to eek out a living working in a humid cramped call center.
The same argument can be put forward to justify hiring legions of door-to-door salespeople, each knocking on your door at dinnertime and invading your privacy.
What do you suggest they do for a living that's not immoral, illegal or indecent?
People who telemarket simply need to find another line of work that does not involve angering or inconveniencing the very people from whom they attempt to solicit business.
The other thing to remember is that there are several ways that you will still get calls. They WILL NOT GO AWAY.
A whitelist would cause the problem to "go away." Increased usage of print and electronic media advertising, outdoor signage, and direct mail by these companies could further reduce the problem.
Doing business with a company? They can call. Done business with them in the past 18 months? They can call. Signed up for one of those free give aways recently? You can now legitimately get a call. Charities. Exempt. Local lib dem candidate? Exempt. Pollsters. Exempt. Probably a thousand other loop holes? Exempt too!
The quest for "perfect" is the enemy of the very good. A do-not-call list is a good first step - all I can hope is that private enterprise provides me with more tools in the future to allow me to eat and enjoy my family in peace.
A couple of points.
You don't own line that the phone is tied to. You are paying to use someone else's system.
If you get cable, do you require that your cable company block signals from stations you don't watch? Why not?
I really don't have much of a problem with them. I politely say "No, thank you. Please do not call again." Not really a big deal is it?
Can you imagine how rich we would be if we got even a nickel for each telemarketer that told he was not selling anything before sliding into his pitch for a timeshare or something?
NO! The "No Soliciting" sign is bought, paid for, and put up by the individual protected by it, the "do not call" registry has to be paid for by someone else. But you don't seem to think taking someone else's money to pay for your convenience is an intrusion.
Hank
It is amazing to me, everyone claims to love liberty, but the moment something they like comes along, no matter how much more government restricion of liberty it involves, they're all for it.
Hank
In the very near future that may not be the case. The FCC is finalizing rules that would allow consumers to be able to take their numbers with them when they change telephone companies. I do however own the phone today that rings when my number is called.
The U.N. is mostly full of useless harmless bureaucrats, but using it to enforce TM laws would give it some real power. I am not defending TM's, I just don't like the idea of a government agent at every payphone (in case a TM uses one), or a government bureaucrat deciding that my political party is not legitimate, therefore I can't make any unsolicited calls. Those are just two of many possible problems with this law.
Okay I will opt off the list if you redeem me for the cost of the interstates built and maintained in your state. More than 80% of the public is in favor of the list and 60 million households have signed up. If there wasnt a problem, you wouldnt see this response. Government does have some legitimate responsiblities and not being harrassed by telemarketers is one of them. If you dont agree, then give me your address I will pay the quarter to pay your share of the lists cost. You are either a slimeball telemarketer or an off the wall kook.
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