# National Do Not Call List may be illegal? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 24, 2003, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564 "2003-09-24T16:43:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564/41 "2003-09-25T02:35:03Z")
Of course they are. And you can make some poor receptionist’s life difficult. Big man. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564/42 "2003-09-25T02:43:43Z")
Seems like a good time to link to the **best** ["I hate telemarketers! rant evar!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51270) (You’ll notice the kind of brain power :dubious: , we’re dealing with here, folks.) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564/43 "2003-09-25T02:45:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > \*\*Of course they are. And you can make some poor receptionist’s life difficult. Big man. \*\* Fuck you. They have no problem making life difficult for millions of people. If they don’t want to hear from the public, their numbers shouldn’t be on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564/44 "2003-09-25T03:12:52Z")
[From here](http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Academy/1743/stv.html) and probably millions of other sites, come to think of it… > [@](#): > > [Answering a telemarketer’s phone call.] > Jerry: I’m sorry, I’m a little tied up now. Give me your home number and I’ll call you back later… Oh, you don’t like being called at home? Well, now you know how I feel. [hangs up] ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564/45 "2003-09-25T04:19:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blowero \* > \*\* > But my question is: why didn’t the FCC do it in the first place? I guess we’ll have to wait 'til more info comes out. The Yahoo article is just too sketchy: > \*\* I think it’s because funding authorization was given to the FTC, in the Do-Not-Call Implementation Act. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2003, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564/46 "2003-09-25T06:52:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Max Torque \* > \*\*Which is why you’d think they’d be thrilled with a national do-not-call list. The list should save them time by keeping them from calling people who wouldn’t be buying their products in the first place. Thus, they don’t waste resources trying to sell to non-customers. The claim that the list would cost direct marketing more than half of its annual profits is a ridiculous overstatement. \*\* Not necessarily overstatement. It could be a veiled admission that they are _soooo_ persuasive at tricking people into buying things they don’t need from people they don’t want to hear from, that it makes them $50B _per annum_. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564/47 "2003-09-25T07:09:58Z")
O.K., Yahoo updated their article; it makes more sense now. It sounds like this ruling is utter bullshit and it’s not going to last long. > [@](#): > > “This is the goofiest decision that I’ve seen in a long time,” said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. “There is no question that Congress intended for the FTC to have this authority and will quickly make any correction that the court, in its arcane logic, deems necessary.” They can just work around the ruling, anyway: > [@](#): > > Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, already has drafted legislation to give the FTC explicit authority to operate the list and will try to push it through the House on Thursday, spokesman Ken Johnson said. “We’re absolutely confident that we will solve this problem,” he said. This is good: > [@](#): > > After the ruling, angry consumers posted the judge’s office and home phone numbers on Web sites and encouraged people to call and complain. Anybody have a link for those? And what do those fuckhead telemarketers have to say about it? > [@](#): > > The Direct Marketing Association, one of the groups that challenged the registry, said it hadn’t decided whether its members would stop calling people on the list starting next Wednesday. The association has said its own do-not-call list is effective and a government registry is unnecessary. I hope they fine your fucking asses off. > [@](#): > > “We will find some way to accommodate the wishes of those who don’t want to be called,” association President Bob Wientzen said. Like hell you will. You’ve been doing _such_ a bang-up job of it so far.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![corndog\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@corndog\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corndog_man)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564/48 "2003-09-25T10:33:03Z")
Hello everybody… THIS IS THE CORNDOG MAN CALLING FROM AT&T. I HAVE NOTICED THAT EVERYYONE OF YOU HAVE CHANGED YOUR LONG DISTANCE PROVIDER TO ANOTHER COMPANY… NO THIS IS NOT A SALES CALL, JUST BEING A FRIEND… ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564/49 "2003-09-25T11:23:34Z")
My state has had a “do not call” list for several years and it is WONDERFUL!! I think I have had only two telemarketing calls in the last year or so. The article linked to in the OP actually sounds optimistic. This seems to be a minor setback and may not even affect the outcome. Before the law changed here, what made me the angriest was when my dad was very sick and we had an emergency. Just as I was reaching for the phone, I got a call that was a recorded message. I could not disconnect for two or three minutes. I was _livid_. I guess it’s a good think that I didn’t need to call 9-11. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564/50 "2003-09-25T13:51:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blowero \* > \*\*Doesn’t work if you’re self-employed. I just got an “unknown number” call yesterday; it was an acquaintance of mine calling to offer me work. _You_ may have the kind of life where the only phone calls you ever need to take are from your buddies and family, but not all of us live like that. > > P.S. - Fuck telemarketers. \*\* After the phone quits ringing I wait 30 seconds to see if I get a new message. If so, I check it and if it’s a real person I call them back and say sorry, I was . . . Now if they never leave you a message, then you’ve got problems. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564/51 "2003-09-25T13:57:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by adam yax \* > \*\*Fuck you. They have no problem making life difficult for millions of people. If they don’t want to hear from the public, their numbers shouldn’t be on the internet. \*\* Blow me, punk. If it makes you feel affirmed to ruin some innocent receptionists day (and not have any impact at all) then you’ve got issues. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564/52 "2003-09-25T14:02:49Z")
As much as I intensely dislike telemarketers, I have to agree with **JC** ’s point here–calling the 800 numbers will have no, I repeat NO, impact on the telemarketers’ plans. None. The decisionmakers will not talk to you, so all you will be doing is harrassing an underpaid, overworked receptionist who has absolutely ZERO power to stop the direct marketing industry. All you will accomplish is to swear at some poor woman making $9.75/hr, with no benefits. Not a worthy goal, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564/53 "2003-09-25T14:32:39Z")
Okay. I’m in the wrong. Where is the rightous indignation towards Dave Barry? He has the potential to reach millions of readers and he put a number in his fucking story. OTOH, I post numbers in a thread that has just over 1000 views, and I’m the one with problems? > [@](#): > > All you will accomplish is to swear at some poor woman making $9.75/hr, with no benefits. Not a worthy goal, IMO Who said anything about swearing? It is possible to register displeasure in a civil way. Not that I would trust most people to be civil… Maybe if the fuckheads who run telemarketing companies need to realize that they pissed off, what is it, 50 million people who made it clear they don’t want the calls. Rolling over like a puppy isn’t exactly sending them the message in a clear manner. And if you must know - I emailed **Coldfire** just after I made the post (and before **JC** responded) and asked him to remove the numbers if I had violated a board policy. Happy? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564/54 "2003-09-25T14:52:10Z")
Frankly, yes. Though I admit I was more mad at the swearing at me than anything else. Really, again think of the **goal**. The only thing that will stop it (other than government fiat) is for everyone to stop buying. The simple fact is that it’s so cheap to do that it’s insanely profitable for the firms that do it. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564/55 "2003-09-25T14:55:41Z")
Oh, and I’ll lay cash down that Congress makes the DNC list happen fairly quickly regardless. There **might** be a constitutional freedom of speech issue involved (I’ll let a lawyer comment on that) but the judges ruling is more procedural and can be worked around fairly simply. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564/56 "2003-09-25T15:25:36Z")
What blows my mind is that telemarketers would actively seek to to block legislation that allows people who actively seek their privacy to get it. I can certainly see fighting legislation against telemarketing in general but this is just bad press. This is the kind of thing that gets grassroots types really pissed. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564/57 "2003-09-25T15:27:34Z")
BTW isn’t anyone concerned that by leaving the phone disconnected for a while you will be placed on some “doesn’t immediately hang up” list? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564/58 "2003-09-25T15:29:14Z")
I don’t get the freedom of speech argument. Freedom of speech doesn’t translate into guaranteed audience. I have the freedom to stand on a street corner and entreat people to do anything within the bounds of legality; doesn’t mean I have the right to go into their home to do it or the right to make them stop on the street corner and listen to me. The only way I see a free speech argument flying is in the exceptions to the list that Congress carved out (charities, political calls, etc.) but I don’t find that line of thought particularly persuasive. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564/59 "2003-09-25T16:17:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > \*\*Frankly, yes. Though I admit I was more mad at the swearing at me than anything else. > > Really, again think of the **goal**. The only thing that will stop it (other than government fiat) is for everyone to stop buying. The simple fact is that it’s so cheap to do that it’s insanely profitable for the firms that do it. > > And > > Oh, and I’ll lay cash down that Congress makes the DNC list happen fairly quickly regardless. > > There might be a constitutional freedom of speech issue involved (I’ll let a lawyer comment on that) but the judges ruling is more procedural and can be worked around fairly simply. > \*\* I’ll admit that I was drunk when I made the post last night and I apologize for the swearing. This shows the true evil of the TB(telemarketing bastards), as they are causing animosity between Dopers. It seems that the TB and that one judge in OK are the only people in the country who think yesterdays ruling was okay. From what I have heard, Congress did give implicit approval to the FTC for the list (granted not explicit). I do hope that Congress does act fast to overcome yestedays ruling. If the TB carries out the ‘threat’ of calling people on the no call list after that, then I may just go ahead and start calling them. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564/60 "2003-09-25T16:36:11Z")
I thought it was Sauron who’s chief power was causing disruption among his enemies? Or was that Voldemort? Hmm… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-do-not-call-list-may-be-illegal/203564.md?page=4)