# Goddamn Political Exception To DONOT CALL **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 19, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885 "2009-12-19T20:43:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885/41 "2009-12-21T11:47:29Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I never, ever answer my cell phone. My husband hasn’t given his cell number to his work, despite their repeated requests for it. And my husband IS the guy they call in emergencies, and if you ever fly into or out of the DFW Airport, you better hope that he’s answering the landline…because if the hardware OR software on the radar system goes out, he’s the one who knows the most about those things, and he’s one of the first guys they call in. So yeah, he needs to answer our landline. Are you serious? You never answer your mobile phone? What function does it serve you then? Your husband is the Emergency Guy, and he’s refused to give his cellphone number…like, um, in case of an emergency? What happens if a crisis happens when he is not near the landline? What the fuck sort of arrangement is that? > [@](#): > > The only people who SHOULD call me, ever, are people that I would DEFINITELY welcome a call from. This means, it’s OK for my pharmacy to call me and tell me that my prescription isn’t filled yet, or to remind me to pick up a prescription that is filled and has been waiting for me. It’s NOT OK for them to call me to offer new services. This means that a survey company does NOT have an ethical right to call me. Yeah, I’d probably be interested in taking a survey, but since such a call is likely to come when I’m asleep, I don’t want to be disturbed. Oh for fucks sake, get over yourself. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885/42 "2009-12-21T12:05:37Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > You never answer your mobile phone? This isn’t odd. I do answer my cell phone at home because only my wife has the number. Otherwise, no. My boss gave me a cell phone for work, but I never carry it. I don’t because the only people who call are the ones who want something. Usually for things that can wait until I get back to my office to deal with. If it is an emergency, then I can guarantee that I’d know about it and won’t need a call on my cell phone to tell me about it, or they can call the help desk to resolve their issue (like they should be doing). So, the only time I ever use it is when I’m in the field away from the office. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885/43 "2009-12-21T13:06:50Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > Are you serious? You never answer your mobile phone? What function does it serve you then? Your husband is the Emergency Guy, and he’s refused to give his cellphone number…like, um, in case of an emergency? What happens if a crisis happens when he is not near the landline? What the fuck sort of arrangement is that? > > Oh for fucks sake, get over yourself. > > :rolleyes: I am completely serious. I only carry and use my cell because public pay phones have gone the way of the dodo. And even though I carry a cell, I don’t use it, unless I want to call my husband and see if he wants me to pick up some dinner while I’m out. Otherwise, if I want to make a phone call, I use my landline. I don’t hold up the whole checkout line at the store while I attempt to schedule an appointment. My husband is the most senior, most trained, and all around Super Tech guy in the radar shop…but the other people CAN do some of the stuff that he does. It’s just that he knows ALL of the hardware and software (he’s the one who designed and built a lot of the hardware, and who wrote a lot of the software), so either the FAA can call in Mr. Super Tech, or they can call in three or four Lesser Techs. Naturally, they will prefer to call Bill in. They can make do with the other people who work there, though. And occasionally they have to, when he’s out of town or otherwise unavailable. And not everyone has to conform to YOUR usage of phones, so get over your ownself. Would you enjoy receiving telespam at 2 AM, your local time? I don’t appreciate it during my sleeping hours, either. Well, I never appreciate it, but I especially hate being awakened to hear some person babble about how I desperately need a new car warrantee. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885/44 "2009-12-21T18:18:50Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > Are you serious? You never answer your mobile phone? What function does it serve you then? Your husband is the Emergency Guy, and he’s refused to give his cellphone number…like, um, in case of an emergency? What happens if a crisis happens when he is not near the landline? What the fuck sort of arrangement is that? > > Oh for fucks sake, get over yourself. > > :rolleyes: I had a cell phone for a while, and I didn’t take incoming calls either. No one knew the number unless I gave it to them, and they knew that I genreally kept it turned off to preserve the battery. It was there for ME to call out. It was not there for “solicitors” to bother me. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885/45 "2009-12-21T18:59:57Z")
> [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](#): > > Do you folks have non-published numbers? True, it’s not free. But we don’t get these calls, and if that’s the reason why we don’t, it’s even more worth it than I thought it was before. I worked as a telemarketer for many years.We called every number possible.The non-pubs were gold,much higher conversion than a listed number. > [@alphaboi867](#): > > My mother think’s I’m crazy because I sometimes order stuff (especially stuff like brochures) in my dog’s name. 😉 There’s a very good reason I do this. I know for sure that anybody calling my house and asking to speak to him bought their lists of some data minining service. And yes I’ve occasionally used this to mess with telemarketers. I’m well aware that I’m just wasting their time. So fucking what? They get paid to waste my time; I’m wasting theirs for free. In the mundane world of telemarketing,we loved getting fucked with,broke up the monotony.You are making the expereinced TM’s day(who can mess with you way better than you can mess with them).Lotsa of those calls we pulled and let everyone listen. As far as the DNC list, we put those in a file and called back in six months,ran a slightly worse conversion rate than a normal cold call. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885/46 "2009-12-21T19:31:36Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > I worked as a telemarketer for many years. > > \ > > As far as the DNC list, we put those in a file and called back in six months,ran a slightly worse conversion rate than a normal cold call. Is that legal? ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885/47 "2009-12-21T19:37:18Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Is that legal? AFAIK,yes. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885/48 "2009-12-21T19:40:58Z")
I don’t answer my cellphone, either, unless I KNOW someone I know is calling me. My cell is for my own personal uses only. For calling OUT. Why is that so hard to understand? As for home: I am on the DNC list; I have an unlisted number; I have an answering machine; and I still get stupid political calls and charity calls. Sure, I tell them not to call. There’s always someone else. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885/49 "2009-12-21T19:43:39Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I don’t answer my cellphone, either, unless I KNOW someone I know is calling me. My cell is for my own personal uses only. For calling OUT. Why is that so hard to understand? > > As for home: > > I am on the DNC list; > I have an unlisted number; > I have an answering machine; Exactly the type I hope to get on the phone. Easy sale. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885/50 "2009-12-21T19:44:07Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Is that legal? If the person is registered on an official Do Not Call List, then it’s not legal for commercial telemarketing outfits to ring them. (Exemptions as noted in posts above). However, if the punter has just _asked_ to have their name removed from X list, then it is perfectly legal to call them again. Some telemarketing companies are more considerate than others of course. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885/51 "2009-12-21T19:46:31Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > Exactly the type I hope to get on the phone. Easy sale. So then, having an unlisted number, requesting to be on the do not call list, etc, don’t mean a thing. Gotcha. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885/52 "2009-12-21T19:47:21Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > Exactly the type I hope to get on the phone. Easy sale. You seem to be somewhat inconsistent in your use of tense. If it’s not too prying of me, would you mind clarifying whether you are still working as a telemarketer? ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885/53 "2009-12-21T19:56:03Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > So then, having an unlisted number, requesting to be on the do not call list, etc, don’t mean a thing. Gotcha. It means a lot. It tells me(in most cases) you have trouble saying NO > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > You seem to be somewhat inconsistent in your use of tense. If it’s not too prying of me, would you mind clarifying whether you are still working as a telemarketer? No I am not. I am telling you what I would have done. To make it simpler,I use the tense as if I still was. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885/54 "2009-12-21T19:58:27Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > It means a lot. It tells me(in most cases) you have trouble saying NO Don’t ever bet on that. About all you’d hear is “no” and “click” as I hang up. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885/55 "2009-12-21T20:02:07Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > Don’t ever bet on that. > > About all you’d hear is “no” and “click” as I hang up. I would bet on that EVERY time. And saying “no” and hanging up is much appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885/56 "2009-12-21T20:40:33Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > Exactly the type I hope to get on the phone. Easy sale. Because obviously, those sort of people WANT to be called. The money is “awsome”, I hear. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885/57 "2009-12-22T00:37:11Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > No, they won’t. They just start yakking when the phone is answered. I’ll come home and have a half dozen partial messages on the answering machine. Oh, we get messages on the machine. They all usually say: “beep, bop, beep! We are sorry, your call cannot be completed as dialed.” Maybe it’s because our greeting message is long and the auto dialer gives up. I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885/58 "2009-12-22T04:30:55Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > And saying “no” and hanging up is much appreciated. As is not calling us in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885/59 "2009-12-22T05:06:09Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > It means a lot. It tells me(in most cases) you have trouble saying NO > > No I am not. I am telling you what I would have done. > > To make it simpler,I use the tense as if I still was. Have you moved on to trying to sell people hand exfoliators in the mall? ---
**Author:** ![zenith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zenith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zenith)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885/60 "2009-12-22T16:11:57Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > **Messing with Telemarketers** should become an Olympic Sport, such is the lengths and novel ways you punters go to avoid their assault! :rolleyes: > > FYI EVERYBODY is on a list of some description or another. Data-collectors don’t just rely on internet-or previous-sales information: they use council-records, hospital data, banking information and a whole plethora of other shit to compile their ‘ideal’ demographic to target prospective customers. Putting your order in your dog’s name is really cute, but ultimately pointless yannow? > > If you don’t wish to be continually called by telemarkets, note the posts above and just say, in a reasonable tone, “Could you take my name off your list please?” > > It’s really simple, takes far less frothing at the mouth and other fucking bullshit that pops up on this board FAR TOO MANY TIMES than is warranted by the ‘real’ inconvenience of having to answer a fucking phone-call. > > Oh, and for you morons who sleep during the day and don’t want to be disturbed…it’s called an answering-machine folks. Either buy one, or pay the monthly premium from your phone-provider. Costs next-to-nothing, and saves you all that life-threatening angst from having to pick up a phone that rings whilst you’re asleep. Same goes for you fuckers who answer the phone while you’re in the shower…what sort of MORON picks up the phone there? Are you so stunningly attractive or so indispensable that you can’t take FIVE FUCKING MINUTES of personal time to wash your hair and your arse?? FFS. Don’t answer the fucking phone. Simple. It’s not AN ALARM…it’s a PHONE. And what good does my answering machine do for people I really want to hear from when they call and find it jammed with crap? You’re the moron, you asshole! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-political-exception-to-donot-call/521885.md?page=4)