# Why was the telemarketing thread moved to the Pit? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 18, 2012, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-telemarketing-thread-moved-to-the-pit/638122 "2012-10-18T13:39:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-telemarketing-thread-moved-to-the-pit/638122/61 "2012-10-20T13:50:06Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > And here is the big news-flash: Many people who work at tele-survey/telemarketing companies actually don’t think of themselves as the scum of the Earth! A keen sense of self-awareness is not a particularly useful trait in those holding jobs that are harassing, exploitative, predatory, or outright criminal. Downright counterproductive, in fact. If you happen to get it, you generally quit. I understand completely that the blame-shifting is a kind of defense mechanism, much the way a con man feels contempt for his mark and the shoplifter or thief feels justified because those stores have lots of money or those rich assholes he stole from won’t even miss it. If deeming strangers unreasonable when they don’t want to be bothered and don’t know the proper incantation to be left alone lets people like **Flyer** sleep better at night, fine, but the rest of us are under no obligation to reinforce his delusion. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2012, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-telemarketing-thread-moved-to-the-pit/638122/62 "2012-10-20T14:36:30Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > He wasn’t a telemarketer and never said he was a telemarketer. He wasn’t trying to sell anything. He was a poll-taker. Like there’s a difference. Does the phone not ring? Does he pay callees any more? Does he take up any less time? Should I accept him because he is polling instead of selling? {ring} “Hello?” “Can I speak to the head of the household?” “Oh, a telemarketer. Take me off of your list and go fuck yourself!” “I’m not selling anything, I’m just taking a poll.” “Oh, in that case, I’ll put aside the next 10 minutes just for you and be glad to answer your questions. I thought you were one of those fucking salesmen, not a harmless poll taker.” “Great. First question. How do you feel about Obama being born in Kenya?” … ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-telemarketing-thread-moved-to-the-pit/638122/63 "2012-10-20T14:50:21Z")
I think the difference is that, had it been left in MPSIMS and _moderated_ (as the moderators are supposed to do) it could have been a rational discussion. By moving it to the Pit, you _invited_ flameworthy comments. See the difference? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-telemarketing-thread-moved-to-the-pit/638122/64 "2012-10-20T15:54:12Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I understand completely that the blame-shifting is a kind of defense mechanism, much the way a con man feels contempt for his mark and the shoplifter or thief feels justified because those stores have lots of money or those rich assholes he stole from won’t even miss it. If deeming strangers unreasonable when they don’t want to be bothered and don’t know the proper incantation to be left alone lets people like **Flyer** sleep better at night, fine, but the rest of us are under no obligation to reinforce his delusion. Who cares? This thread isn’t about how great telemarketers are - but whether Dopers can manage to not insult someone in MPSIMS and whether moderators could moderate a thread. Thankfully Lynn moved it so neither need be tested in those Herculean tasks. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-telemarketing-thread-moved-to-the-pit/638122/65 "2012-10-20T16:55:35Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Like there’s a difference. Does the phone not ring? Does he pay callees any more? Does he take up any less time? Should I accept him because he is polling instead of selling? > > {ring} > > “Hello?” > > “Can I speak to the head of the household?” > > “Oh, a telemarketer. Take me off of your list and go fuck yourself!” > > “I’m not selling anything, I’m just taking a poll.” > > “Oh, in that case, I’ll put aside the next 10 minutes just for you and be glad to answer your questions. I thought you were one of those fucking salesmen, not a harmless poll taker.” > > “Great. First question. How do you feel about Obama being born in Kenya?” > > … There is a difference. Selling something and obtaining the opinions of people are two different activities. I think facts are important. This is a board mainly devoted to fighting ignorance, and only secondarily used as a place for ranting about pet peeves. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-telemarketing-thread-moved-to-the-pit/638122/66 "2012-10-20T18:07:09Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > I think facts are important. Cite? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-the-telemarketing-thread-moved-to-the-pit/638122.md?page=3)