OT: Do you hate Telemarketters as much as I do?

[Ilen]

I do treat others the way I want to be treated: I do not deliberately bother them, call them at home, try to sell them crap, etc.

Telemarketers aren't the only type of people who deliberately make annoyances out of themselves. Another good example is a protester. However, the protester is being a nuisance for a higher cause -- there's an element of self-sacrifice involved. The telemarketer is just doing it for money -- his actions are self-serving.

-- Nifft

So is pretty much anybody who takes a job, you think the kid at McDonalds is making that burger for your benefit? I don't think so; he's making it because it makes him money. Same with a doctor who doesn't do pro bono work, or a Road Worker (Talk about people who intrude into your life.)

The Telemarketers I know deal with people in a calm, rational and adult manner, this is the way they wish to be treated, they often don’t get treated that way.

Oh, and if you are one of those that harass other people, you do deliberately bother them. And they only bother you in the sense that they get your attention, they aren’t out to annoy you and ruin your day.

 

[Furn_Darkside]

Found a website where you can get on a list to have your phone number removed from telemarketters. If you hate them as much as I do, it might be worth checking out.

http://www.nocallsplease.com/

I tracked down the New York one for those interested:

https://www.nynocall.com/resident.html

FD

 

[Tsyr]

Well first, not everyone considers telemarketing rude; no more so then approved credit cards in the mail and such.

B_I_G difference.

Credit card mails don't wake me up when I'm trying to sleep. Telemarketers do. Oh sure, most telemarketers limit themselves to "normal" hours, but I don't live a normal shedule... I have late classes at college durring the college season and work nights, so I'm often asleep during parts of the day.

Credit card mails don't catch me at very awkward moments (In the shower, going to the bathroom, in the middle of writing an essay, washing the dishes with my arms up the elbows in soap suds, moving heavy or fragile objects, while I'm on the phone with legitimate calls (I hate call waiting sometimes), while I'm brushing my teeth, etc etc. Telemarketers have the uncanny ability to do all of those.

Credit card mails don't argue with me when I throw them in the garbage. Telemarketers often do argue when I tell them I'm not interested. I don't care if they never do to you, I assure you, they do to me, quite often.

See the difference? Spam, junk mail, etc is all passive... the most involvement it takes from me to ignore it is to dump it in the recycle box on my way in the house after getting the mail each day. Telemarketers are an interuption.

 

[Nifft]

Most telemarketing firms pay more then entry-level positions at fast food joints.

So does pimping, or selling white children to couples who want to adopt. If selling whole children is a problem (due to long incubation time & whatnot), what about nice eggs and sperm? Plenty of money there!

You are focusing only on the needs of the call-bot, not the impact on the person who is non-consensually being bothered at home during dinner.

My sympathy can't go too far for an money-hungry jerk. My sympathy for the involuntary victim here is far, far, far greater.

-- Nifft

 

[Furn_Darkside]

or a Road Worker (Talk about people who intrude into your life.)

No, they don't intrude upon my life. They may cause some inconvenience, but they are building/repairing the infastructure.

FD

edit: forgot a word (I should stop doing this while working unpaid overtime )

 

[Ilen]

After getting 20-30 telemarketer calls a day, I pretty much consider myself to have free reign to **** with them however I want. I don't care who you are, but if people are calling me every 15 minutes to try to sell me stuff, they are invading my life, and they'll know they are doing it. Fortunately, there's a No Call list in Colorado, so as soon as I heard about it I signed up. Now we only get a telemarketer call every so often, and then they get an earful.

You are aware the Telemarketer #1 doesn't know about Telemarketer #2 and so on down the line, they aren't coordinating their efforts to bombard you with calls?

I can understand your frustration, and your annoyance, but the people placing calls are just making a living.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I try to be cool to everyone who calls, including telemarketers. I know it's their job, and I hate to really come down on somebody who is just trying to get in a day's work. But it sure is tough sometimes, especially since their script ensures that my first "not interested" will not be enough. I know they have to get that second - in some cases it seems like third - "no" before they can let you go. In addition, it always seems like I'm in the middle of something or on my way out the door when they call, so I know that I'm roped in and my schedule will be thrown off if I don't simply hang up. I have yet to hang up on one, but it's getting to that point.

 

[Utrecht]

Re: Trivial

My current favorite is: There have been three quarterbacks who started their careers with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and went on to win the Superbowl with other teams. Can you name the players?

I haven't had a correct answer yet.

OK, the two obvious ones are Trent Dilfer and Steve Young - I think that the third might be Dan Williams?


Now back on topic, Colorado has a state law that is you subscribe to a no-call list, telemarketers cannot call you - or face legal action by the state - and it seems to be working.......

 

[Tiefling]

There are always other jobs. I have yet to see a fast food joint not offering to hire.

Most telemarketing firms pay more then entry-level positions at fast food joints.

That's a silly justification. If you're willing to constantly annoy people by calling them up at their own private homes and trying to sell them stuff just to make a little more dough, you deserve disrespect.

 

[Ilen]

So does pimping, or selling white children to couples who want to adopt. If selling whole children is a problem (due to long incubation time & whatnot), what about nice eggs and sperm? Plenty of money there!

You are focusing only on the needs of the call-bot, not the impact on the person who is non-consensually being bothered at home during dinner.

My sympathy can't go too far for an money-hungry jerk. My sympathy for the involuntary victim here is far, far, far greater.

-- Nifft

Ah yes, somebody working through college is a money-hungry jerk.

Last I looked pimping, and selling children was illegal so I don't see where you are going with this. (And if somebody can make a living selling sperm and eggs legally obtained an what not, more power to them) Selling dope makes more money, you recommending that everyone who currently does telemarketing go switch to peddling dope?

I’m focusing on the fact that the “call-bot” is a human being, with human problems who needs to pay his bills and make a living. This whole victimization things is getting carried a bit far, you guys act like they break into your home, steal all your self and off your pets for fun.

The guy ask for 30 seconds of you time, if you can’t say, “Sorry, I’m not interested, please remove me from your call lsit.” Then you have a speech impediment. If they call you back after you asked them not to you can sue the company they work for.