Volume II No. 06
 09-25-03
 Don't Touch That Dial!
 author: Vance Cureton
 © Copyright 2003

 Wait a minute. We're not talking about the telephone dialpad.
 But, in reality the computer keyboard. Because that's what 
 most telemarketing services use. Computers with autodialing 
 programs that select unsuspetecting home owners and 
 apartment dwellers to receive annoying sales pitches about 
 storm windows, vaction travel packages, time shares, and 
 whatever else.

 Telemarketing as a sales practice is wholly reviled by the 
 American public. Despite the fact that it is a multimillion
 dollar industry that employs tens of thousands of low level
 wage earners. All that's required is proficiency in English,
 the ability to read a script, and a winning attitude that can
 easily breakdown the psychological barrier that exists when
 two stangers encounter one another on the phone.

 Nevertheless, the telemarking call that usually interupts
 dinner, ranks - in annoyance - right up there with home 
 repair scams, the squeegee boys that clean our windshields
 - unasked - at city stoplights, and of course, the other 
 current cultural scourge, "UCE." Also known as unsolicited 
 commercial email. Or spam.

 At least with the squeegee boys, if you're really annoyed
 you can actually only leave a quarter in their palms, instead 
 of the fistfull of change they're obvioulsy hoping for. Cold? 
 Of course, but it is a measure of revenge for an unwelcome 
 intrusion into our personal space - and the expectation that
 they have a "right" to force a useless service upon us, 
 and get paid for washing a windshield that was mostly likely 
 perfectly clean before they placed their dirty squeeze sponge 
 on the car in the first place.

 And as for home repair scams, a person has the option of
 walking into the neighborhood police station and filing 
 a complaint. Knowing that the purpetrators of these kind 
 of crimes will eventually be caught up to. -- Who knows 
 you might eventually get your money back. Or at least 
 satisfaction in the knowledge that these snakes will spend 
 some time behind bars.

 But UCE { spammers } and telemarketers are tougher "nuts" 
 to deal with. The FTC thought they'd found a convenient 
 answer to the telemarketing problem. The national "Do Not 
 Call List" that already has over 50 MILLION registered
 numbers. -- Unfortunately a federal judge has effectively 
 said, "not so fast." 

 The judge has ruled that the Federal Trade Commission
 overstepped its authority in implenting this "Do Not Call"
 list.

 "Rats!"

 Here's a law that actually makes sense. And it probably
 won't go into effect October 1st as originally planned.

 There has to be an answer to these annoying unsolicited
 phone calls. Let's hope our legislators can come up with 
 an answer. This time an answer that is constitutionally 
 valid. And will withstand any challenge in court.

 Got to go. -- The phone is ringing, yet again!
 

 ReadingPost.Com
 © Copyright 2003

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