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Pastimes : Don't Ask Rambi -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: username who wrote (9584)	4/10/1998 4:52:00 PM
From: Gauguin	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 71178

I hope this "solicitation defense" doesn't come out snobby, but around here most of my friends and I use the wonderful, wild and comfy, two phone numbers. (Can't do that at a work, tho.) Our "listed" phones aren't really going to get them to us, because they're just machines and/or on-line. Number two you give to people you like and loan officers et al. It isn't listed for anything, so it only gets calls from random dialers; and if anyone else calls, you ask them who gave them the number, and you set that person/institution afire. Sixteen dollars a month for absolute domestic bliss. We were getting four to seven calls a night; now, none. Peace and quiet baby. Especially while cooking meals; our favorite private time. Some of the peskiest were the "good causes" we support; yak yak yak yak yak. "If you don't leave me alone, I'm joining the NRA." When we do get a solicitation, because a bank or somesuch has exhaled our number, the in-response you're supposed to make is usually to a live person. When I feel like it, I call them and say, "I'm returning your call ~ just a second....." and I set the phone down. If it's an automated machine, I say, "You know, you guys called me unsolicited and took up my very valuable time. I know this machine won't stop recording until I stop talking, so here ~ have a listen to this AM radio." I don't know how many lines they have going in, but every minute I'm on the line, some "serious" fish is gettin away. I'll make the call five times if I feel like it, or even have my helper do it. Economics, baby. De-incentive. And the satisfaction is palpable. (Does someone need to call my therapist?)