# F\*\*\*ing Telemakerters, but this ones different
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-ing-telemakerters-but-this-ones-different/27872
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [August 2, 2000, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-ing-telemakerters-but-this-ones-different/27872 "2000-08-02T17:26:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2000, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-ing-telemakerters-but-this-ones-different/27872/1 "2000-08-02T17:26:00Z")
I friggin knew it :mad: !! Ok long story. Around a month ago we started getting these annoying calls. On the caller ID it’s just 000 and unavailibile. Answer the phone silence, dead air, nothing. WTF, who did we piss off? 😕 We both have exes, and while mine is the Ultimate B\*\*ch, hangs up aren’t her style. My wife’s ex could care less , so we could rule him out. Old girlfriends, boyfriends? Nah we dated exclusively for two years. 😕
Call the phone company. No they’re not doing, can’t help, Morons! ☹ Change the number? Hell no, Ive had the same number for 5 years and can barely remember it when I need to call home. :rolleyes: WTF!
So Who the f\*\*k keeps doing this crap.
Now I start racking my brain. Not someone pissed off apparently. Then I remember the calls qualities, specifically the “dead air”. It’s a computer I think, maybe a fax machine, but there’s no annoying beeping, so Im back to computer. Why the f\*\*k would a computer be doing it. Separate line for computer that’s not it. Dead End. 😕
Yesterday I’m reading US News and World report and what do I see but this article. [http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/000807/nycu/voice.brf.htm](http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/000807/nycu/voice.brf.htm)
A HAH, F\*\*king Telemarketers! :mad:
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### Author:  [@DavisMcDavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavisMcDavis)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2000, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-ing-telemakerters-but-this-ones-different/27872/2 "2000-08-02T17:53:11Z")
I always found that if I waited around for a full two hellos (helloes?) I would actually get the damn telemarketer - I assume the computer can tell if someone picks up or not and then connects it to the telemarketer. Wouldn’t want to have them waste THEIR time waiting for the phone to ring, getting busy signals, etc. but there’s a little pause in between when any normal person would have responded and when the connection goes through. It’s very tricky, and I’ve learned to hang up if someone doesn’t respond fast enough. Hey, if they’re someone you wanted to talk to, they’ll call back, and talk fast.
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### Author:  [@conway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conway)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2000, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-ing-telemakerters-but-this-ones-different/27872/3 "2000-08-02T18:32:54Z")
During that second or two of silence while the computer is connecting the telemarketer to you, right before they begin to speak, I always say:
“Hello my name is Anthony Mason, and this is just a courtesy call to inform you of our special offer…etc,”
They’re usually pretty confused so its funny to get their reaction.
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2000, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-ing-telemakerters-but-this-ones-different/27872/4 "2000-08-02T18:42:44Z")
I get the SAME DAMN THING! And even if we stay on the line, it cuts us off and goes dead…and we get a damn busy signal like when the phone is off the hook.
That SUCKS!
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### Author:  [@ponch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ponch)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2000, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-ing-telemakerters-but-this-ones-different/27872/5 "2000-08-02T18:57:23Z")
my least favorite is the recording “please hold for an important call”
click, I is what I do
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### Author:  [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2000, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-ing-telemakerters-but-this-ones-different/27872/6 "2000-08-02T20:02:17Z")
Just to follow up my is of the type Guinastasia gets. That’s why we originally thought it was a jerk not a computer.
I get that "Please hold for… one too, but I can deal with those easier, I hang up as soon as someone picks up.
Mine is typically hello…hello…HELLO, Goddammit, cut to busy signal or incompleted call noise
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### Author:  [@Asmodeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asmodeus)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2000, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-ing-telemakerters-but-this-ones-different/27872/7 "2000-08-02T20:07:19Z")
This is the pit you are allowed to say fuck\*\*\*.
Talk about a cheap post.
😛
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### Author:  [@Delta-9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delta-9)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2000, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-ing-telemakerters-but-this-ones-different/27872/8 "2000-08-02T20:13:02Z")
Thank you, thank you, stuffinb!
This has also been happening to me for months. I’ve been at the same number for two years now, being very careful who I give my number to. Then several months ago, I started getting these calls where you answer and there’s nobody there. No hang up, no breathing, nothing.
Mystery solved.
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### Author:  [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2000, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-ing-telemakerters-but-this-ones-different/27872/9 "2000-08-02T20:37:29Z")
The silence on the phone is especially maddening when someone in the family is ill/elderly/whatever and youre waiting for a call… makes a body want to scream!!!
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### Author:  [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2000, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-ing-telemakerters-but-this-ones-different/27872/10 "2000-08-02T20:38:59Z")
Well Pardon Fucking Me Then Asmodeus…
Im a polite person not given to random burst of profanity, but if you insist…
Fuck off, ass wipe, I didn’t ask for the opinions of random assholes and didn’t try to post for your fucking amusement anyway you prick.
That do yah 😉
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### Author:  [@Asmodeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asmodeus)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2000, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-ing-telemakerters-but-this-ones-different/27872/11 "2000-08-02T21:31:27Z")
What the f\*ck??? Flamed by a smiley faced wimp?
Boy do I feel honored.
Wow…my first pit war. I AM NOT A PIT VIRGIN ANYMORE!!
Ouch…hurts so good…🙂
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### Author:  [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2000, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-ing-telemakerters-but-this-ones-different/27872/12 "2000-08-02T21:47:03Z")
That’s Mister I say Mister smiley faced wimp to you…
Hey I just realized this is my first pit war too
Maybe that waiting thing… :eek:
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### Author:  [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)
#### Post date: [August 2, 2000, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-ing-telemakerters-but-this-ones-different/27872/13 "2000-08-02T21:48:46Z")
Btw, Gald to be of service Delta-9 🆒
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### Author:  [@justice-chi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justice-chi)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2000, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-ing-telemakerters-but-this-ones-different/27872/14 "2000-08-03T00:30:53Z")
the same crap happens except i get them up to midnight once i got it at 12:30 a.m. i…was…PISSED!!!
I have gun, next time i am putting the barrel next to the phone and pulling the trigger.
p.s. just wait tl they start calling the cell phone.
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### Author:  [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2000, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-ing-telemakerters-but-this-ones-different/27872/15 "2000-08-03T00:36:20Z")
Y’all should like this: yesterday, I got a call (which started off with one of those machines that doesn’t connect you to the telemarketer until it knows you’re not a machine, so I was pissed from the get-go) from a dude hawking credit cards.
“Congratulations, sir, you have been pre-approved for a MasterCard blah blah is your address?”
“Yeah, that’s my address but I’m not interested.”
“But sir, blah blah advantages blah card blah?”
“Well, if you’re comfortable with someone with an income of zero having one of your cards, go to town!”
Oh, the confused stammering that ensued…before he could locate the right page of his script, I said, “Thought so. Thank you,” and hung up.
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### Author:  [@Asmodeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asmodeus)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2000, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-ing-telemakerters-but-this-ones-different/27872/16 "2000-08-03T00:36:39Z")
_Icily stares at **Mr** Smiley faced wimp…_
Best thing to do is answer the phone…say yes!! I want whatever the fuc\* you are selling. Hold on let me get my card! Lay the phone down and go about your business. of course if you are working a 911 line when they call…please disregard this advice.
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### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2000, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-ing-telemakerters-but-this-ones-different/27872/17 "2000-08-03T00:48:26Z")
I believe it is against the law for a telemarketer to call after 8 pm…they called at MIDNIGHT?
You could’ve had them SO fucking NAILED!
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### Author:  [@Rock-n-Rolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rock-n-Rolga)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2000, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-ing-telemakerters-but-this-ones-different/27872/18 "2000-08-03T23:32:41Z")
Here’s an URL you might find handy:
[Telemarketers, hang-up calls, and you](http://www.antitelemarketer.com/hang_up_calls.htm)
And while we’re at it, I thought that computer-generated calls were highly illegal now, but I’ve gotten two in the past month. Fuckin’ fucks!