[LINK] Fwd: MR30/2010: Re-register now to avoid telemarketing calls [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

[Stilgherrian]

On 11/03/2010, at 6:32 PM, Roger Clarke wrote:
> At 17:23 +1100 11/3/10, Stilgherrian wrote:
>> Are people really so precious that they cope with occasionally 
>> glancing at their phone and not answering if they don't recognise 
>> the number? Or so desperate for contact that they can't just turn 
>> the phone off if they're doing something else?
> ...
>> [ducks]
> 
> And well you should, Stil.
> 
> A lot of people accept calls from numbers that they don't recognise, 
> assuming that they're from a community-member, and in good faith: 
> 'Someone on the P&C / kids' football committee said you offered to 
> help this weekend' / 'we've found a cat with your phone-number on its 
> collar' ...

So, they should answer the phone. And politely say "Sorry, I'm not interested", whether that's about helping at the trading table or buying a product.

I stand by what I said. That a call is wrong if it's about "grubby commerce" is Victorian middle-class pretension. People are being precious.

Conversely, they don't *have* to answer the phone. They can listen to the voicemail later and call back, or not.

Stil


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