# What do you do to telemarketers? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 7, 2010, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970 "2010-02-07T00:26:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![smaje1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@smaje1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smaje1)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970/81 "2010-02-09T22:49:31Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > If you’re feeling mischievous, you could try something like [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2RAzjZ3zzY). I did this to a telemarketer once, and I was totally inspired by the fellow in the link above. It was glorious. I think by the end of the conversation, the telemarketer knew I was fucking with him, but he sounded like he was having a fun time going along with it. My dad ran a telemarketing business (selling magazines) and I’ve worked as a telemarketer myself. It was the worst job ever. I’d have to say that a quick and simple “No, thank you, don’t call again” and then a hang up is the best thing to do of you get an unwanted call. If you get angry and yell at them, dude, they have your number. They can call you back - from a pay phone, another office, their friend’s phone - and bug you at 4 am. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970/82 "2010-02-09T23:53:27Z")
“I’m not interested.” _click_ I used to let them respond until I realized that there was NEVER a “Okay, sorry to bother you, goodbye.” Instead, it was “Wait. Let me explain how stupid you are for refusing me the first time.” ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970/83 "2010-02-10T02:21:04Z")
I am usually polite unless: 1. They get “chummy.” You know the type. They’ll start off the conversation with “Hey, Chaim, how’re ya doin’?” Then I ask, “Excuse me, do I know you on a first-name basis?” The pretense of friendship and warmth is distasteful. You want to sell me something, sell me something, don’t pretend you are or have ever been my buddy. 2. They start off claiming they’re not trying to sell me anything. That dishonesty pisses me off in a big way. 3. They refer to having sent me a letter. I probably threw it out with junk mail, which is what these phone calls are equivalent to. But…if I cared about your letter, I’d be calling you, I don’t need you to call me. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970/84 "2010-02-10T15:53:23Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Probably the same company. > > **Angel of the Lord** , here is the problem. I have already told these people that I want to be put on their DNC list. I have even reported them to the authorities. > > Under those circumstances, how should I treat the people who are ignoring my wishes and breaking the law? They call me about once a week. > > Regards, > Shodan I’ll be honest; I don’t know what the solution is. It’s a really crappy situation. Maybe it would be pursuing things with the proper authorities, or maybe asking for someone in charge, or threatening legal action. I just know that swearing and/or being personally abusive isn’t it. Not that it doesn’t sometimes happen; I mean, people get upset, say things. We’re human beings; we’re imperfect. I just don’t think that it should be something we plan on doing. Besides, I’ve never been in a situation where the swearing’s made it _better_, so I can’t imagine it’s all that useful most of the time. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970/85 "2010-02-10T16:16:35Z")
> [@PapSett](#): > > Thank you. I have done this shitty job for almost 3 years. There are very few jobs I am capable of doing physically, so… this is pretty much it. I have never been rude to anyone on the phone, I am just trying to make a living rather than living off welfare or the such. How is spending your day annoying and pissing off people better than welfare? As a member of the taxpaying society I wholeheartedly recommend that you take the welfare dollars. That’s why we pay our taxes. Believe me, I’d much rather support you with my taxes than put up with your intrusions > [@](#): > > Another situation a company is allowed to call you even if on the DNC list is if you have business with them or have HAD business with them in the past. You are effectively giving them permission to call, unless you specifically say the magic words- ‘Put me on your do not call list’. > > I honestly don’t get the hatred for someone just trying to make a living. It takes less than 30 seconds out of your day to say the magic words. THEN if that company calls back, you contact the FCC and that company gets socked with a hefty fine. Someday I hope to visit the planet where this is a reality > [@](#): > > I guess some people have the need to make others feel like crap…must be a boost to their own ego. We only want you to feel like crap so that maybe you will get the CLUE that welfare is a much better option than pissing people off all day. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970/86 "2010-02-10T16:27:33Z")
> [@](#): > > We only want you to feel like crap so that maybe you will get the CLUE that welfare is a much better option than pissing people off all day. So, it’s better for someone to receive government assistance than it is for them to do a legal job that you find annoying? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970/87 "2010-02-10T16:31:16Z")
I haven’t had a land-line the past ten years or so; it’s been great. My cell number is given only to very good friends who I trust not to pass it on to _anyone_. Years ago when I had a landline, I would answer, “Why yes, we are interested in xxx. Please hang on while I get my wife”. And I would set the phone down and walk away, going back to what ever I was doing. I do not have a problem with door-to-door salesman, as I never answer the door unless I am expecting someone. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970/88 "2010-02-10T17:31:42Z")
> [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](#): > > So, it’s better for someone to receive government assistance than it is for them to do a legal job that you find annoying? :dubious: YES YES YES!!! Congratulations. You have successfully grasped **the clue**. Give yourself a round of applause. You might consider amending that portion of your comment from “you find” to “damn near everybody finds” and then maybe the clue will sink in just a little bit deeper. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970/89 "2010-02-10T17:36:27Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > YES YES YES!!! > > Congratulations. You have successfully grasped **the clue**. Give yourself a round of applause. > You might consider amending that portion of your comment from “you find” to “damn near everybody finds” and then maybe the clue will sink in just a little bit deeper. I’m fully aware of the fact that it’s annoying. I still think it’s admirable to find work if you’re able. I also think it’s not acceptable to be rude to someone who is politely–if irritatingly–doing their job. Clearly we come from different schools of thought on **that** subject. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970/90 "2010-02-10T17:57:03Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > We only want you to feel like crap so that maybe you will get the CLUE that welfare is a much better option than pissing people off all day. The lesson that I take away from this is that the people who want to convince me what an incredible jerk I am (or, technically, was) can be pretty damn jerkish in their own right. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970/91 "2010-02-10T18:06:11Z")
> [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](#): > > I’m fully aware of the fact that it’s annoying. I still think it’s admirable to find work if you’re able. I also think it’s not acceptable to be rude to someone who is politely–if irritatingly–doing their job. Clearly we come from different schools of thought on **that** subject. Yes, we do. My “school” doesn’t consider telemarketing to be a job. If I were to pay you to get on crowded elevators and fart it would be legal and you could call it a job. But you would still deserve all of the scorn that your fellow riders would give you. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970/92 "2010-02-10T18:11:26Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > The lesson that I take away from this is that the people who want to convince me what an incredible jerk I am (or, technically, was) can be pretty damn jerkish in their own right. Yes, but only one of them volunteered to be in your jerkfest. The other was the jerk’s victim. Like any confrontation, if you punch somebody, don’t be all offended that they punched you back harder. If you annoy somebody, don’t be surprised when they bring the annoyance back to you with a little heat on it. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970/93 "2010-02-10T18:20:40Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > The lesson that I take away from this is that the people who want to convince me what an incredible jerk I am (or, technically, was) can be pretty damn jerkish in their own right. Meh, my phone, my rules. Almost all the calls I get are from criminals who fake their caller id numbers and try to steal my credit card info. Anyone else who calls isn’t abiding by the DNC list, so I’m not sure where me being polite even comes in to play. Before I took a job, I’d at the very least make sure it wasn’t, you know, illegal. Now if you excuse me, I have to politely respond to several phishing emails and Nigerian princes to nicely explain that I’m really just not interested. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970/94 "2010-02-10T18:24:20Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > Yes, but only one of them volunteered to be in your jerkfest. The other was the jerk’s victim. > > Like any confrontation, if you punch somebody, don’t be all offended that they punched you back harder. If you annoy somebody, don’t be surprised when they bring the annoyance back to you with a little heat on it. Your punch analogy doesn’t work. Go back and read this thread, and notice how many people are able to respond with a simple “No” or a quick hangup. Even **MacSpon** , who seemingly wouldn’t piss on a telemarketer if his ass was on fire, nonetheless can act like a grownup. I seriously doubt if I took a swing at these people, they’d just walk away. If I annoyed you and you annoyed me back, I wouldn’t be surprised. But I certainly WOULD be surprised if you decided to act like you were better than me. You don’t get to take the low road AND be morally superior at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970/95 "2010-02-10T18:58:43Z")
> [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](#): > > I’m fully aware of the fact that it’s annoying. I still think it’s admirable to find work if you’re able. I also think it’s not acceptable to be rude to someone who is politely–if irritatingly–doing their job. Clearly we come from different schools of thought on **that** subject. Note that you could do call center work aside from telemarketing. For example, you could work at an inbound call center such as a helpdesk, or a customer service center. I don’t think that anyone here would object to that. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970/96 "2010-02-10T19:09:11Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > Yes, we do. My “school” doesn’t consider telemarketing to be a job. > > If I were to pay you to get on crowded elevators and fart it would be legal and you could call it a job. But you would still deserve all of the scorn that your fellow riders would give you. Telemarketing is a natural extension of the door-to-door salesman routine that was common prior to the widespread adoption of the telephone as day-to-day technology. You can argue that telemarketing is annoying as fuck–I’d agree with that–but it is a legitimate job. Farting in an elevator has no purpose, and, as far as I know, there’s no upside to a company hiring someone to do so. It is, therefore, not relevant. The purpose of telemarketing is to sell something. Tell them you’re not interested, tell them you want off their list, and hang up. I don’t care how annoying it is; abusing the caller still isn’t justified. We’re adults, and we should act like it. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970/97 "2010-02-10T19:12:44Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Note that you could do call center work aside from telemarketing. For example, you could work at an inbound call center such as a helpdesk, or a customer service center. I don’t think that anyone here would object to that. Dewey–I’m not a telemarketer. I worked as a telemarketer once, for three weeks, when I was 19 and between semesters of college. Two of those weeks were spent in training. I quit out of disgust. I needed money, but I didn’t need it that badly. Really, my urging for politeness is born solely of bewilderment; I don’t think that abusing someone else is _ever_ okay, and am shocked that some people here think it is. That being said, yeah, someone could work in that field. However, those jobs aren’t limitless; it’s possible that someone might not be able to get one of those jobs, but could get a telemarketing job. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970/98 "2010-02-10T19:13:09Z")
> [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](#): > > I’m fully aware of the fact that it’s annoying. I still think it’s admirable to find work if you’re able. I also think it’s not acceptable to be rude to someone who is politely–if irritatingly–doing their job. Clearly we come from different schools of thought on **that** subject. They aren’t being polite though. Politeness is about being considerate towards others, not just your tone of voice when speaking. They throw consideration for others out the window with every call they make. Sure, they might be saying words like ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and ‘sir’ or ‘ma’am’ but they are doing something that they _know_ is going to annoy and interrupt almost every single person they call. That is in no way polite behavior. I don’t yell at them, I’d rather just hang up, but I feel no pity for the ones that do get yelled at. If your job requires you to irritate people all day long you shouldn’t be surprised when some of them snap at you. ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970/99 "2010-02-10T20:13:00Z")
> [@PapSett](#): > > I honestly don’t get the hatred for someone just trying to make a living. I don’t hate you because you’re trying to make a living, I hate you because the way you make your living is by bothering, interrupting, and annoying the overwhelming majority of the people you call. I applaud you for trying to earn a living instead of just taking the public dole, but that doesn’t change the simple fact that the way you are making your living is a bother and an annoyance to me and most people. I did not ask you to call me or give my permission to call me. But if you believe you nevertheless have the right to call me, why shouldn’t I then have the right to respond in any way I see fit, including being rude, obnoxious, or yelling obscenities at you? Personally, I handle telemarketing calls the way many here have said, I just say “not interested”, or “I don’t respond to telemarking calls”, or “Put me on your do not call list”, and hang up. But this attitude of not understanding why people dislike or hate telemarketing calls just seems disingenuous to me. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970/100 "2010-02-10T20:49:33Z")
> [@Roadfood](#): > > But if you believe you nevertheless have the right to call me, why shouldn’t I then have the right to respond in any way I see fit, including being rude, obnoxious, or yelling obscenities at you? > > Personally, I handle telemarketing calls the way many here have said, I just say “not interested”, or “I don’t respond to telemarking calls”, or “Put me on your do not call list”, and hang up. But this attitude of not understanding why people dislike or hate telemarketing calls just seems disingenuous to me. Because it’s never okay to haul off and start yelling obscenities at people for annoying you. It is sometimes understandable that one would do so, but having it as a plan of attack is just juvenille. I’m not saying people should like being called by telemarketers; I’m saying that people shouldn’t be abusive jerks about it. I mean, Christ, I get it; it’s annoying. A lot of things are annoying. Being annoyed and being separated by a telephone line are not justifications for throwing decorum and decency out the window. The fact that we can handle being annoyed without resorting to calling people names is what separates us from the target audience of Blue’s Clues. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-to-telemarketers/527970.md?page=6)