Journal Trolling4Dollars's Journal: Telemarketers (spread the meme) 2
In light of the fact that the Do Not Call list has been successfully delayed, my wife and I have taken a new approach with telemarketers and we'd like to spread the idea around to other folks.
Being a former prank phone caller, I was very disappointed when caller ID was implemented and it took away my fun. Of course I was in high school at the time and have since found other outlets for my parnks (
One approach is to lure a sales call in and make sure they give you the whole pitch. After they're done, you just say, "I'm sorry. I didn't quite understand. Would you mind repeating that"? They're usually good for two repetitions of the pitch after which they get frustrated.
Another is to interrupt them with nonsense. One of my favorites is to say, "Hey look. I was downtown this morning and a Brink's truck happened to pass by and drop a shitload of cash on the ground. I grabbed as much as I could and brought it home with me. I'd be willing to split it with you if you give me your boss's home phone number." After which they typically chuckle and then try to get bak to the pitch. I then tell them again, "Look. I'm serious! I've got... oh I don't know... probably close to 250 thou. That means 125 big ones could be yours. All ya gotta do is give me the boss's phone number." By that point I usually get a manager on the phone who breaks into the call and says, "This call is terminated." and then hangs up the phone. It's hilarious. (I need to record these things with a preamble warning them that they may be recorded.)
Speaking of preambles, here is my latest twist. I state this before a telemarket completes their call:
"You have two choices. You can be a human being and hang up now, or you can choose to support your employer and press on with the call. If you choose to continue your telemarketing call, any unpleasantness is not personally directed at you but is directed at your management and the executives that run your place of employment. Telemarketing is an unpleasant job and it is my duty to make it even more unlpeasant in the hope that this business will die out." After that it's open season.
I'm not usually a nasty/mean person, but telemarketing calls for extreme measures. However, the way I look at it, most of the time I'm entertaining to the telemarketers. Only when I am obscene are the telemarketers displeased. However, I will say this to my Slashdot fans, think of it as trolling in real life. Again, I will state that I am not a troll, but I troll sometimes for pleasure.
Now my friends, cook up some ideas of your own and we can get this big ball o' nasty rolling down the hill at the telemarketing industry. Make sure to pass this along to friends and family. Together, we can kill the telemarketing industry if we try hard enough because no one wants to be insulted all day.
Ask them for advice (Score:1)
Me: "Oh, can you hold on a second? Thanks."
Five seconds later
Me: Sorry about that - my shoulders been hurting for the past week, and I can't seem to figure out what's going on. You know, I really don't want to go to the doctors, because I'm not sure that they can do anything for it. I sometimes think that..."
When I hear a click, I stop talking. Sometimes I make things up for fun too, like rashes, or broken legs. It's my time, so I'
Treat yourself (Score:2)