The biggest conspiracy, by far, which affects everyone in the USA is a conspiracy from whose disturbing effects the Government of the USA should be protecting us, but is not adequately protecting us. It affects all of us and robs us, in our homes, of the peace of mind we very much need every day.

10  2017-05-16 by Dhylan

Of all of the things in my life that I wish that the US Government would protect us from it is unsolicited phone calls that tops my list. I am on the 'Do Not Call List'. These calls greatly disturb me and my wife several times each day, and I cannot understand why it is that the US Government does not use its virtually unlimited power to put an end to this scourge. I am surely speaking for all Americans who suffer the distress, several times each day, of this unlawful subversion of our telephones.

33 comments

n/a  IanPhlegming 2017-05-16

I am also on the Do Not Call list, yet get at least one call per day.

n/a  Dhylan 2017-05-16

If you were at the age my wife and I are, nearly 70, you would perhaps begin to develop the kind of anger that I have toward this unlawful disturbance. I report every call I get to the FCC. Once you've typed the information into each field on all successive calls you can enter the information into each field by just clicking with the mouse two times. It only takes a few seconds to do this and I encourage everyone to put this link in their bookmarks and report the callers.

n/a  GoddessWins 2017-05-16

I think calls from political and charitable organizations remain legal even if you are on a do not call list.

n/a  Dhylan 2017-05-16

After you register, other types of organizations may still call you, such as charities, political groups, debt collectors and surveys.

n/a  bluemagic124 2017-05-16

Lol, people get so upset at marketing.

n/a  Dhylan 2017-05-16

I get upset when, several times a day, companies which are violating the law, call me and try to sell me something I don't want, or try to trick me into giving them access to my computer.
You call it 'marketing' and don't seem to be bothered by this. Are you on the 'Do Not Call List'?

n/a  bluemagic124 2017-05-16

try to sell me something I don't want

That's marketing.

try to trick me into giving them access to my computer.

Never heard of this. I've heard of typical Nigerian prince scams that happen via email, but never gotten them through the phone.

n/a  Dhylan 2017-05-16

I know a little bit about marketing, over the 50+ years since I finished high school. You don't try to sell to everyone. You qualify. You pick the low hanging fruit. You devote 90% of your time to the 10% of the targets who have already decided to buy your product but only need someone to ask them if they are ready to buy. Hey, but what do I know? I had to work til I was 31 before I was able to retire.

n/a  bluemagic124 2017-05-16

http://www.logicalfallacies.info/presumption/no-true-scotsman/

It's marketing whether you find it effective and agreeable or not. Congrats on making it to 70 though.

n/a  Dhylan 2017-05-16

Thank you. I'm having the best time of my life.

n/a  Dhylan 2017-05-16

As I said, I did it the way it was taught to me, focusing on the 10%, and after 6 years was able to retire, to go and do only those things I enjoyed doing.

n/a  Rainbow_Lightning 2017-05-16

i agree it's annoying, but it's not like they are harassing phone calls. just don't answer? lol

n/a  Dhylan 2017-05-16

I run a business from my home and must answer every call in case it's a new prospect in search of information. Yes, they are harassing phone calls. and they're unlawful, because they are harassing.

n/a  elcad 2017-05-16

Probably not unlawful. They added so many loopholes that almost any excuse can be used to call you via a loophole. If not they just offshore the call center to avoids those laws.

n/a  Dhylan 2017-05-16

Definitely unlawful. After you register, other types of organizations may still call you, such as charities, political groups, debt collectors and surveys.

n/a  elcad 2017-05-16

Also anyone who that has had business with you in the past. And people outside the country don't have to obey US laws.

n/a  tinylilzikababyhead 2017-05-16

I've come to the conclusion over many years, that americans are just cows to be milked. Once our usefulness is exhausted, (and we are mostly there with the decimation of the middle class) the real fun begins.

n/a  Dhylan 2017-05-16

Fun isn't the word I would have chosen.

n/a  tinylilzikababyhead 2017-05-16

Only chosen for brevity.

n/a  Beaustrodamus 2017-05-16

The "do not call" list:

A list of people who answer the phone when random strangers call. From the perspective of the telemarketers, I would most likely only call these people. The hardest thing about telemarketing, is getting someone on the phone.

-some guy who paid his way through college selling pens and bumper stickers over the phone

n/a  Dhylan 2017-05-16

Calling people on the do not call list is against the law.

n/a  Beaustrodamus 2017-05-16

It's not really enforced, nor is it realistic to assume the average caller is going to check the DNC list before calling (We called people out of books, so the only way someone's name got taken off was if they themselves asked). There are also a good bit of loop holes. Anything involving PACs, non-profits, surveys, past business, etc is exempt. It basically takes a massive class action lawsuit to hit the company with any sort of punishment, which means small companies like mine was aren't likely to get in trouble, and the financial benefit to doing it anyway surpasses the potential fines of getting taken to court over it for large corporations.

n/a  Dhylan 2017-05-16

Beginning 08/01/16, the fine can be up to $40,000 for each violation. Telemarketers actually pay a fee to obtain the DNC list, which has about 225 million numbers on it. If nobody reports you then you're OK. I report every call I get - it only takes about 20 seconds.

n/a  Beaustrodamus 2017-05-16

Yeah other forms of marketing are leading the way now. Most of the call rooms are based overseas to cut overhead costs. You're probably better off just answering the phone with "May I ask who's calling and what it's regarding" and if you don't like the answer, hanging up. The more effort you put into avoiding cold calls, the more personal information you are putting out there for these companies to profit off of, because everything you say can and will be recorded, logged, and used to swindle/sell you something tomorrow.

n/a  Beaustrodamus 2017-05-16

Also I saw below that you run your own business from home, so you actually aren't protected by the DNC list, so long as it's on a phone that you use to do business.

n/a  Dhylan 2017-05-16

Different phone but I have to be sure because I'm pretty well known.

n/a  Beaustrodamus 2017-05-16

Definitely look into it. That's why I only use my work phone for calling others or answering calls from people I actually know.

n/a  GoddessWins 2017-05-16

Because our corporate controlled government is busy protecting their sell declared rights to exploit us.

n/a  Dhylan 2017-05-16

I think I was probably about 17 when I decided I would never work in government or the military.

n/a  GoddessWins 2017-05-16

And for me the same and I included the really large corporations they are the same.

n/a  Dhylan 2017-05-16

I have something as I near 70 that few others have - great health, utter peace of mind and complete freedom of my time and my thoughts. People ask me why I'm so happy.

n/a  GoddessWins 2017-05-16

I invested in caller ID and if I don't know who the caller is I don't answer. If it is important there will be a message. You will also soon recognize some of the numbers and can receive then end the call without speaking at all.

n/a  irwin_normal 2017-05-16

I have the same problem, similar situation.

I just say 'no thanks' and hang up.