The List
I am a nice guy. I mean, seriously. Jocelyn was talking about how she gets taken by the insurance companies... Im right there with her. Even when I am trying to be a hard-ass (sorry, mom), I just can't. I am not a good negotiator, not a good enforcer, not a good substitute teacher- mostly because I am a nice guy. When telemarketers call- I usually let them say thier peice and then say no thank you several times before hanging up. I just have always felt like its not their decision to call me- its just a job. Why make a tough day any tougher for them? That has always been my position on telemarketing.
Today I made a decision. Holly and I are entering our number into the national "Do Not Call" registry.
We have, in the past, said that we were against such a list. We felt like people should be able to call and try their darndest to get you interested in investing in gold or buying magazines. After all, they are only using public information. I guess I also felt like it was not the role of the federal or state government to compile or enforce such a list. The Libertarian in me hates the idea of Uncle Sam telling businesses who they can and can't market to.
Today I decided to go against my gut and register. After staying home with Holly for two days, I was absolutely amazed at how many calls we got. We kept wondering why we would come home with fifteen hang-up messages on our machine.
I really think that because our names are not on this list- it must mean that we WANT to get a thousand calls a month. Amazing. I cannot keep my nice guy status and keep talking to these people every ten minutes. I will go postal and really freak out. So- if you are getting calls for all kind of trash too- here is the website.
To register, like me- the nice guy, just go to www.donotcall.gov .
Other than that- not much happened today. Holly got to be feeling better, we cleaned for Hollys parents who are coming in- we went to the Rose Pepper Cantina for dinner with some friends, then we came home and cleaned and talked and played with Dante.
Kind of a boring one today- Maybe tomorrow will be a better blog. day. blog. I do this too much.
TJ
posted by Unknown @ 12:28 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
you're a libertarian? interesting...
i think this list might be a good idea. somehow mark and i have been getting these phone calls for almost a year that come from some computer or something...it's always the same loud beeping sound. the worst part is that the beeping usually comes at 2:00 am or later. but it doesn't happen every night, not even every week. it usually waits until we've forgotten about it and then it startles us awake very late at night. maybe this list would help us out...
glad holly's feeling better! have a great weekend!
With my experience at the ACU calling center, I understand the life vacuum that happens when you work telemarketing. That is why I like to spice up their day a little bit. One time a girl called me about magazine subscriptions, she asked me my age - 73, she asked me my job - astronaut, she paused because you hate to call a total stranger on a lie over the phone. Next time you talk to them try to give them something that they can tell the person sitting next to them about. Then it is fun for everybody. This has been telemarketing advice with Matt. Thanks.
the Do-Not Call list wasn't enough for us. We eventually changed our number altogether, and to an unlisted one. HATE people intruding on my life. I don't have TIME to answer calls like that. Ugh.
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