# Most annoying message ever!!!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-message-ever/111614
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [May 30, 2002, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-message-ever/111614 "2002-05-30T21:05:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2002, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-message-ever/111614/1 "2002-05-30T21:05:43Z")
You ever get calls from computers? Lately I’ve been getting this one a lot.
Ring
Me: Hello
Phone: Just as you picked up the phone, all of our operators became busy. Please stay on the line…
I’m surprised I know that much of it, as it irritates me so much I practically slam the phone down, to hang up. Does anyone really stay on the line? How presumptuous is it to actually call someone and put him or her on hold? Messages like these irritate anyone else?
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### Author:  [@Journeyman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Journeyman)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2002, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-message-ever/111614/2 "2002-05-30T21:43:09Z")
Some reason I mentally read the title as the Simpson’s Comic Book Guy, and couldn’t stop laughing. Just felt like sharing.
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### Author:  [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2002, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-message-ever/111614/3 "2002-05-30T21:44:22Z")
Yes they drive me batty. Next time I get one, I might stay on the line to deliver a white hot searing stream of vitriol to the unfortunate soul on the other end.
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### Author:  [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)
#### Post date: [May 30, 2002, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-message-ever/111614/4 "2002-05-30T22:30:49Z")
My favorite :rolleyes: is one that I’ve gotten at home and at work.
“I’m sorry about the recording, but I have been unable to reach you. I’m calling about an exciting new offer…”
I hang up at that point. I have no idea what it’s offering.
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### Author:  [@pbrtallboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbrtallboy)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2002, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-message-ever/111614/5 "2002-05-31T01:30:06Z")
Who’s the telemarketing wizard that came up with this ploy? Has anyone ever taken the bait and stayed on the line to wait for an operator? What are they selling?
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2002, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-message-ever/111614/6 "2002-05-31T01:38:09Z")
What’s worse is when the computer doesn’t realize it’s gotten your answering machine and you get a cryptic partial message.
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### Author:  [@catdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catdog)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2002, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-message-ever/111614/7 "2002-05-31T05:36:27Z")
I can totally see this thread ending up in the Pit… 🙂
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### Author:  [@moe.ron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moe.ron)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2002, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-message-ever/111614/8 "2002-05-31T08:08:24Z")
I once heard of this incredibly intelligent way to combat telemarketing schemes. I don’t know if it works or not, but here’s the scoop:
1. Get a business license, and an ad in the phone book which reads:
“Profesional telemarketer evaluation. We will evaluate your telemarketers and auto-dialers to determine if the pitches would work or not.” (paraphrasing)
1. This number will be your home phone line as well.
2. Annoying people call you up, you listen to their bullshit, and either take the money that’s owed to you, or take them to court.
I don’t know how well this works, but at the least, it would be funny to tell someone they’re a horrible telemarketer and get paid $20 for it 🙂
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### Author:  [@Skerri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skerri)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2002, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-message-ever/111614/9 "2002-05-31T14:14:51Z")
I got one of those calls one time with the ‘sorry about the recording’ thing. I actually sat there, all through their spiel about whatever bogus product they were selling. At the end, they tell you to leave your name, telephone number, and address after the beep. I couldn’t help it. I had to say something.
\
“What? You’ve been trying to get in touch with me. You should know my name, number and address.”
\
My sister, whose credit problems run back to the time of dinosaurs, said that some collections agencies use the same tactic. They expect you to sit there and wait until they have a free operator to talk to you. If you know that you owe people money, and they’re not happy about it, why would you sit there and listen to their hold music? Boggles the mind.
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### Author:  [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2002, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-message-ever/111614/10 "2002-05-31T15:04:01Z")
Even more annoying are the ones that don’t hang up.
You get the recorded message. You hang up the phone in disgust. A minute later you pick up the phone to call your shrink because the telemarketing recording has driven you over the brink— and the stupid message is still playing.
I **hate** those expletive deleted!
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### Author:  [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2002, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-message-ever/111614/11 "2002-05-31T15:55:52Z")
**Journeyman** that was the idea, glad you caught it.
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### Author:  [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2002, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-message-ever/111614/12 "2002-05-31T17:56:42Z")
Anyone here sign up on one of those ‘do not call’ lists? And if so, have they helped any?
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### Author:  [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2002, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-message-ever/111614/13 "2002-05-31T18:04:09Z")
Anyone here sign up on one of those ‘do not call’ lists? And if so, have they helped any?
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2002, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-message-ever/111614/14 "2002-05-31T18:34:56Z")
Are these related to the Morons that get your answering machine and say “Hello? Hello?” Perhaps they have a device that dials and indicates when someone answers.
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### Author:  [@Lyllyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyllyan)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2002, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-message-ever/111614/15 "2002-05-31T18:37:21Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by World Eater \*
> \*\*Anyone here sign up on one of those ‘do not call’ lists? And if so, have they helped any? \*\*
It helps alot. I did not even realize how many of those calls we got until I failed to renew. OMG. 3 to 4 a day! Yes, I sent my $5 in right away.
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### Author:  [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)
#### Post date: [May 31, 2002, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-message-ever/111614/16 "2002-05-31T21:38:50Z")
One day, I’m not going to invent a machine. A little black box with a red buttn on it, and it sits next to your phone. A telemarketeer calls, you hit the red button, there’s an explosion at the other end.
I’m going to be very, very rich…
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [June 1, 2002, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-message-ever/111614/17 "2002-06-01T03:01:15Z")
What about those little compressed air siren thingies?
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### Author:  [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)
#### Post date: [June 1, 2002, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-annoying-message-ever/111614/18 "2002-06-01T11:17:04Z")
One day I would love to just pick up the phone and go “Hello” and when I hear “Hello sir, I’m calling you to sell you…” or something of those lines - I want to just scream maniacally right into the phone. And then hang up. Just to imagine the telemarketer jumping out of his desk chair and throwing that crummy headset to the ground. Just the mental image is enough to cause me hysterics.