# Reverse obscene call

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-obscene-call/20377>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 24, 2000, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-obscene-call/20377 "2000-05-24T05:53:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-obscene-call/20377/1 "2000-05-24T05:53:37Z")

</div>

If I call Joe Blow up on the telephone & scream disgusting things at him, I may be guilty of making an obscene phone call. But what if Joe Blow called ME up, and I scream obsenities at him? Am I Guilty of any crime? To put this in perspective, a telemarketer (whom I screamed every nasty word at for calling me) insisted I violated the law by doing this. I say BULLSHIT, because she called me. I didn’t call her. Who’s right?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-obscene-call/20377/2 "2000-05-24T07:31:44Z")

</div>

I do this all the time, the way I see it you’re calling me, you better be prepared to handle me. How you handle yourself in a phone call is your business, but its not an obscene call unless they can prove you called and intended to make be obscene. For all they know you have terrets or are sexually compulsive.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-obscene-call/20377/3 "2000-05-24T13:07:03Z")

</div>

You’re not guilty of an “obscene phone call” (which generally falls into the category of harrassment). However, there have been rules (FCC enforced, I believe) that forbid you to express yourself over the phone lines in obscene, vulgar, or profane language.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Guy\_Propski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@Guy\_Propski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Propski)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-obscene-call/20377/4 "2000-05-24T13:10:51Z")

</div>

Horselover–just so you know, it’s spelled Tourette. I’m not criticizing, just trying to help.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-obscene-call/20377/5 "2000-05-24T13:12:57Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*\*  
> If I call Joe Blow up on the telephone & scream disgusting things at him, I may be guilty of making an obscene phone call. But what if Joe Blow called ME up, and I scream obsenities at him? Am I Guilty of any crime? To put this in perspective, a telemarketer (whom I screamed every nasty word at for calling me) insisted I violated the law by doing this. I say BULLSHIT, because she called me. I didn’t call her. Who’s right?  
> \*\*

Perhaps she was referring to the law of social graces. What, she did she interrupt you while you were hosing out your trailer, or shaving the kids’ heads to get rid of their ringworm?