# Don't piss off the telemarketers **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 8, 2004, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730 "2004-12-08T12:46:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730/21 "2004-12-09T03:58:51Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > Hey! > Waterford is a town or three away from me. > That’s all I wanted to say. > > Carry on. Hey Shirley - be careful. Many telemarketers live in your own state and most don’t give a (expletive)! ---
**Author:** ![Iceland\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@Iceland\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iceland_Blue)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730/22 "2004-12-09T14:11:12Z")
Just to remind you…Shirley has the names and addresses of most of us 🙂 I’d keep in her good books ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730/23 "2004-12-09T14:44:37Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > As far as I understand the average telemarketing business, you can’t just take a break any old time you want to, so at some point during the process, he more than likely would have had time to cool off before sending the letter. For some reason, he didn’t cool off. Why not? And if he’s stupid and angry enough that he’d send that letter, I’m not going to risk my neck betting that he’s not stupid and angry enough to actually follow through. Sure, he _probably won’t_, but why take the chance? Well, it’s no doubt probable that they have monitoring software which tracks the outgoing calls made by the TMs, and this guy knew that if he called the woman back and harassed her, he’d be in big trouble. Still, as has been [more than adequately demonstrated on this board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=51270) TMs aren’t always the brightest crayons in the box. (That thread really should be made a sticky, since it’s so damned funny.) ---
**Author:** ![holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/holmes)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730/24 "2004-12-09T14:59:09Z")
> [@Earthworm Jim](#): > > I don’t think that’s what he’s saying - I think he’s saying “I’m mad at you, so I’m going to say something that shows you I’m mad!” > > I see it happen all the time. My wife will get mad at me and say “I hate you!!” My mother would yell “I’m going to kill you!” when she was mad. Heck, go read the Pit. How many people in there write down angry, violent things that they don’t necessarily mean becaues they’re angry? > > People say things when they’re mad, which if you took seriously are extremely disturibing. But all they really mean is “I’m mad at you!” > > And that’s how I read his letter. > > Next week on “Semantics Central”, tune in to find the definition of “is”! > > 😉 Try this: Your wife and a stranger are heading for the same parking space. She takes it. Goes about her business and drives home. The next morning she finds a note on her car windshield: \*Dear Ms. Earthworm Jim: Before you steal another parking space, you should keep in mind that people can find out where you live. They live in your own state and most don’t give a (expletive)! So, Ms. Earthworm Jim, the next time you see a parking space; wait your turn. Your son or daughter or next-door neighbor’s daughter could very well need that parking space. A handicapped, wheelchair-bound person could need that parking space. A biker or ex-con is may need that parking space. You really, really shouldn’t (expletive) with them!" \* No big deal? No concern for your wife? Not the slightest concern that someone followed her home, waited until the house was quiet and left an angry note? Of course nothing may happen, but that doesn’t invalidate the fact, that the note was left to threaten and to frighten your wife. I’m not saying to give into fear, but to at least acknowledge the purpose of the note. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730/25 "2004-12-09T15:14:34Z")
> [@KellyM](#): > > I don’t know Texas law, but under California law, this would be sufficient to sustain a prosecution for attempted terroristic threat. Doesn’t even come close to meeting the criteria under New Jersey law. Maybe harassment. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730/26 "2004-12-09T15:51:39Z")
If a person gently hangs the phone up, the person on the other end hears a _click_. If a person _slams_ a phone down, the person on the other end hears a _click_. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730/27 "2004-12-09T19:33:14Z")
> [@](#): > > …but under California law, this would be sufficient to sustain a prosecution for attempted terroristic threat. How does one “attempt” a threat? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730/28 "2004-12-10T00:40:47Z")
> [@Doctor Jackson](#): > > How does one “attempt” a threat? “If you don’t watch out, I’m gonna beap you senseless … I mean, feat you senseless … feap you senseless … aw, forget it.” ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730/29 "2004-12-10T03:44:10Z")
Good one, **Steve**! ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730/30 "2004-12-10T04:41:38Z")
> [@Iceland\_Blue](#): > > Just to remind you…Shirley has the names and addresses of most of us 🙂 I’d keep in her good books Or his, as the case may be. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730/31 "2004-12-10T05:09:28Z")
> [@DrMemory](#): > > I love to mess with telemarketers ala “Special-Ed”, from Crank Yankers. I used to like to pretend to be masturbating while they give their pitch. Subtly, at first. Just let them talk. Then just a little breath, between the usual polite affirmatives. After a while, they get a bit uncomfortable, and pause to listen. “Keep talking. Yeah.” Heh heh heh. I loved turning it around and making _them_ want to end the call, and quickly–but not really giving them enough of a legitimate opportunity to. “Really? Uh… is that _steam_ cleaning, or like, uhh… huhn… a solvent-based process?” “Do you do… mmm… _furniture_, too? Really, I’m _very_ interested. I think I might really be able to, mmm, use your services.” ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730/32 "2004-12-10T12:26:53Z")
> [@holmes](#): > > \ > Not the slightest concern that someone followed her home, waited until the house was quiet and left an angry note? Of course nothing may happen, but that doesn’t invalidate the fact, that the note was left to threaten and to frighten your wife. I’m not saying to give into fear, but to at least acknowledge the purpose of the note. I see this as more akin to a pitting than the situation you describe. Guy get’s mad, takes the time to write out (and maybe spellcheck) a rant, stuffs it in an envelope & sends it off. It’s slightly more work than hitting “submit”, but not much. He did NOT, so far as I can tell, go to any extraordinary length to find her personal information like following her home. As he said, he’s got her name & address up on the screen right there in front of him. You’ll note that I also said taking it to the cops AND trying to have the guys job was good idea. But this: > [@](#): > > It makes me nervous. Obviously he’s not playing with a full deck and even my kids are nervous," Beyer said. > > El Paso police are reportedly taking the threat seriously and are searching for the person who sent the letter. …is just plain ridiculous. I don’t see cause for this reaction. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730/33 "2004-12-10T12:46:50Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > But he didn’t say it. > > **He took down her name and address from his phone list.** > He wrote a letter to her, including not-so-vaguely intimidating language. > He put it in an envelope, addressed it, and stamped it. > He dropped it in the outgoing mail. > > Writing a letter and sending it is a far more deliberate act than sitting at your desk and saying “What a _&_%! I’d like to punch her in the face!” after you get the phone slammed in your ear. I believe that most companies have policies strictly forbidding employees from writing down a name, telephone number, or address from the company’s solicitation list too. It’s the type of “no no” that gets the telemarketer fired in fact AFAIK. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730/34 "2004-12-10T14:05:40Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > If a person gently hangs the phone up, the person on the other end hears a _click_. > > If a person _slams_ a phone down, the person on the other end hears a _click_. Most of my phones are digital (and wireless). I can’t slam a phone down on anyone anymore. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Susie\_Derkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Susie\_Derkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susie_Derkins)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730/35 "2004-12-10T15:05:20Z")
Angrily jabbing the “end” button isn’t nearly as satisfying, is it? ---
**Author:** ![KellyM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730/36 "2004-12-10T15:56:17Z")
> [@Susie Derkins](#): > > Angrily jabbing the “end” button isn’t nearly as satisfying, is it? I want a phone with a sensor in it that will hang it up if I throw it hard enough against a wall. ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730/37 "2004-12-10T16:07:33Z")
KellyM- Awesome Idea!!! ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730/38 "2004-12-10T16:09:07Z")
No. Don’t piss off the telemarketers. Piss ON the telemarketers. ---
**Author:** ![Spongemom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Spongemom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spongemom)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730/39 "2004-12-10T19:32:37Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > Most of my phones are digital (and wireless). I can’t slam a phone down on anyone anymore. ☹ Yes you can. You have a table, don’t you? I would think it would be much more satisfying to bang the phone on something a few times without having it hang up, to be sure that they hear how uncontrollably berserk they’ve made you. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730/40 "2004-12-11T18:18:02Z")
I just put the phone down in front of the TV, and leave it there until I get the “your phone has been off the hook too long” sound, and then I hang up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-piss-off-the-telemarketers/278730.md?page=1)