i have a foolproof method.

see, almost nobody ever pronounces my last name correctly. it's three syllables: sa-les-ki.

when i hear "hello, is mr. sels-ki there?" i immediately hang up.

it's oh-so-satisfying.

I just don't answer the phone. Ever. People who know me know enough to leave a message or use e-mail.

It's a shame I pay thirty bucks per month for telemarketing machines to talk to my answering machine, but I got more aggravated picking up the phone three times a day thinking it might actually be someone I wanted to talk to only to have my hopes dashed every time. I even turned the ringer off, so now the phone never disturbs me at all.

As a business owner of course we will comply with whatever regulation is required but from a personal standpoint I'm not for caller ID. I don't use it, refuse it every time it is offered to me and find myself sometimes irritated by others who use it when I call them.

I don't mind knowing what number is calling because every cell phone has that function these days, but it's annoying (bordering on rude) when you call somebody and they start talking to you without even saying 'hello'.

Perhaps this is because we built our business on telemarketing 10 years ago (we don't do much cold calling any more, though) and I'm sympathetic to independent contractors (not big business) who have to start their business this same way. Always remember where you came from, I say.

Now, for the phone companies and other marketers which keep calling after you ask them not to and please to remove from their lists -- that's very irritating and whatever legislation, fines, whatever are required to stamp that out, I'm all for it.

Telemarketers are the equivalent of SPAM. They should all disappear and get a real job. It's unfortunate there is no easy method to make spammers likewise identify themselves. I wonder if the telemarketers will also find a way to obfuscate their calling card? Hmmm

Telemarketing is a real job, BB ;) It may rank pretty low in many people's eyes, but at one time anyway it was a legitimate and viable way to market. I'm not so sure any more if it is though because of all the widespread abuse. Obviously by the number of people on the Do Not Call list it is not a popular thing to do.

The same could be said of unsolicited email marketing at one time. Nowadays, even double opt-in email lists aren't safe from spam complaints.

TD I knew my comment would get a rise from you :-) Actually my best friend once had a job as a telemarketer, but I still detest the practice and stand by my comments. It's an intrusive form of marketing and an invasion of my privacy. No offence intended.