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How to Handle Political Telemarketing?
TheOtherChimeraTwin writes "Slashdot has touched on telemarketing in the past. The No Call lists work pretty well for me except for a flood of political calls. They guys use automated dialers with recorded messages and use bogus caller id information, calling back multiple times. Political surveys are done by real people, but they hang up on me if I stray from answering their questions. Does anyone have a solution better than just hanging up on these slime? I'd just vote for their opponent, but sometimes I'm getting called by both sides. The distraction of these calls is annoying and the problem is only going to get worse."
Join the libertarian party ... they don't have enough money to telemarket.
as important to Democracy as Diebold, Bush v. Gore, and voting for the dead guy.
Tell them you intend to vote for CowboyNeal!
Game: Player 'Donald J Trump' now has AI skill level 'experimental'.
trying to track down who's actually calling you, and getting a restraining order against them. Or you can create a web site about it and expose whomever may be responsible, odds are they won't take too kindly to the exposure.
just lie to them. but seriously there is a big problem. if you ignore or lie to political telemarketers dont complain when politicians do whacky things by relying on polling data.
always mosh clockwise
I took the plunge a couple of months ago, and I have yet to get one spam phone call since. Cell phone prices are comparable to landline phone prices and come with lots of nifty features (like free long-distance calling).
The calls are the least of your problems.
In addition to making annoying phone calls, they are also bilking you (and every member of your household) out of tens of thousands of dollars (each) to pay for foreign entanglements (wars, giving weapons to loonies, etc.) to stroke their half baked dreams of empire, selling your rights to the highest corporate bidder, who pay them back with booze and hookers (at your expense of course) and lying to you every chance they get. Oh yeah, and spying on you, paying newscasters to lie to you (again, your tax dollars at work), letting their corporate masters override you and your doctor's decisions about your health care, and hundreds of other things.
Plus that, they are being such jerks in the world at large that people you've never met hate you enough to kill you, just because they represent you.
But if the phone calls are the straw that breaks your camel's back, so be it.
--MarkusQ
I normally just make crap up.
I want my flying car, a county wide monorail system, holoTV that bring hot girls into your living room like on Logans Run, domed cities and a discount on soylet green crumbs.
And masturbation in public to be LEGAL.
Hi, this is Kimberly from the [Republican | Democratic] National Committee...
Hi Kimberly, my wife and I don't make any donations whatsoever over the phone, and we don't answer poll questions either.
Sure, I can understand that. We would like to send you a free brochure with our platform on it, but we need to have some level of commitment from you. Could I put you down for $25?
(It turns out she actually can't understand what I said). I'm sorry. Like I said, we don't make contributions over the phone. Good luck in November.CLICK. BZZZ...
---
For the record, any political contributions we make go to PACs. We figure that the money will be better distributed to the candidates that actually support our positions, than if we gave to the national parties.
Human being (n.): A genetically human, genetically distinct, functioning organism.
Call the successful candidate at dinnertime to tell 'em to cover political campaigns/polls with the existing do-not-call lists.
This
If we get a call from a number we don't recognise, or is blocked from giving the caller id, we let the answering machine take it. If the person starts to leave a message, and we want to talk to them, we pick up. But telemarketers hang up as soon as the hear a machine.
This crowd may want to look up 'civic duty'. A responsable citizen doesn't start and end at the ballet box.
Me: "Which candidate is this?"
Them: Candidate A
Me: Who is his opponent?
Them: Candidate B
Me: Okay. I'll vote for Candidate B. Thanks for interrupting my day.
Enough peopl do this, people won't call.
See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year
What the hell are you doing still using a land line, anyway?
Cancel your land line and get a cell phone (and remember to put a text-messaging block on it). You won't receive ANY telemarketing calls.
Moderator hint: a comment is neither "Flamebait" nor "Troll" if it is true.
if it is the GOP calling i tell them if they dont stop calling i will vote for a democrat.
if it is the DNC calling i tell them if they dont stop calling i will vote for a republican.
Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
Of course, there will come a day when so few people have landlines (that they actually use for voice) that politicians will make sure they can canvas the cel phones too, but until that day comes it's great.
Warning: Apple/Nintendo fangirl. Likes her electronics cute & cuddly. May be rabid.
If you don't mind being rude try this:
If you are busy ask them to hold on for a while- e.g. "Please hold on, I'll be back".
Then finish doing whatever it is you are doing (dinner, shower etc) and if there's nothing else more urgent/important to do, come back and answer their questions.
This way you also delay them from pestering the next person.
Basically, you can either use standard technical or social means for screening out telemarketing calls or you may have to resort to a legal approach. For standard methods, consult Junkbusters as a start. In this case, you may have to resort to a legal approach. Private Citzen has one book you might find useful if you care enough about this to go that route.
If we get ourselves a dictatorship we won't have to worry about this shit.
Why don't you tell us who the 2 candidates are? Or better yet, blog about it.
Or do you think Lieberman's about to lose his Senate seat because everyone stayed quiet about the details?
[o]_O
This (sorry; podcast, but at least it's short) is the best answer I've heard. I'm going to put this on my Asterisk system.
A perfect example of the fundamental problem with American democracy. The two major parties both stink, but you won't even consider voting for anybody else, to the point where you actually forget other parties exist. Both sides? You really think there are only two candidates? Go ahead and vote for Kodos.
Bogtha Bogtha Bogtha
An answering machine is only a temporary solution. You still have to screen it, hear the phone ring, hear the message and the person talking, etc. You just don't have to deal with the person yourself. A better solution is to ditch your land line entirely. Unless you still use a dialup net connection, you don't need it. Get a good cell phone on a provider with a strong signal in your area, and be done with it. Since incoming cell phone calls cost you minutes(money), cell phones are exempt from phone spam (telemarketers or politicians alike).
Chances are you already have a cell phone, so why are you paying that extra $20+ per month for the useless land line?
I ditched my land line three years ago after getting fed up with receiving nothing but phone spam (I use my cell phone for real communication). Rather than deal with no-call lists, I just tossed the damned thing. Haven't missed it since. If you must have a land line (bundled in a DSL package, for example), turn off the ringer, don't get an answering machine, get the cheapest plan you can (which is still usually $20/mo), and only use it for emergencies like calling 911.
Call the politician involved at home at dinner time on Sunday evening and tell him you are going to vote against him because of the call.
Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
Just like any other telemarketing call. "No thanks" [click]
I got a telemarketing call from one of the major parties the other day. I politely thanked the caller, said that I understood how important fundraising was to a candidate, then mentioned that I was a member of the Green Pary and asked if the caller like to make a contribution. THEY hung up on me!
I'm sorta in the same place. I have to have a landline in order to get broadband. (Apartment owners made a deal with SBC... What can I say?). Anyway, all my friends use my cell #. When the landline rings (ringer is off), if I notice it (face lights up) or DirecTV caller ID shows up, if it's a local number I don't recogize, I just don't answer. If it's an area code where I have family and friends, I answer. But basically, JUST DON'T ANSWER. Not that big a deal.
Sig not available, please try again later. If the problem persists, then the submitter is an idiot.
Someone gave Pee-Wee Herman an internet connection!!!
Ah, but I didn't vote for them. And, in several cases, neither did the majority of the people I know. So who did? Beats me. In one case it was the SCOTUS, but that in the rest? Perhaps some sheeple I've never met, perhaps a small team at the company that makes our voting machines, who knows?
The point, of course, is not how they got there, but how we can rid ourselves of them.
--MarkusQ
Make a record of which political groups are doing slimball telemarketing tactics (include pertinent details such as false caller IDs, mudslinging or misleading comments, etc.) Next put in on a weblog or if you have enough call your local news agency, either way the political parties will quickly respond to bad press. Calling them to complain proabbly will only get thier campaign manager who authorized the tactic in the first place.
"Enjoy what you're doing! If it becomes drudgery, you're doing it wrong!" - Jim Butterfield
Some political groups still leave messages, but those are trivially deleted.
The next time you feel like bitching about politicians not giving a damn about what's important to you, don't.
They're trying to find out but you won't let them.
LK
"Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
As soon as I realize it's a telemarketer, instead of getting all riled up about this microscopic inconvenience, I just hang up.
"Political surveys are done by real people, but they hang up on me if I stray from answering their questions. "
As well they should. Polls are not about your feelings, their accuracy is almost completely dependant on people answering very carefully worded questions in very precise ways. If you don't want to take the poll, hang up.
there is no need to sign your posts. this isn't usenet. your username is right there above your post. stop it.
Better yet, dont use your landline at all.
Have a cellphone and/or VoIP.
Dont give out the landline phone number to anyone, only the cell number.
If you have Cable for internet, dont get a phone line at all.
If you have Fiber or something else, dont get a phone line.
If you have Dialup or you have DSL or you have Fiber or something and you must have a phone line (e.g. "verizon will only let you get FIOS if you get verizon phone over that FIOS"), get the phone line but dont even have a real phone (only the modem for broadband/dialup) plugged into it.
That way, even if the telemarketers do get your landline number (if any), all they get is no answer then ring out since no-one even knows a call was made.
Uh, read my post. READ MY POST. Oh, and READ MY POST. And maybe READ MY POST. There must be something you can't understand in it. So READ MY POST AGAIN!. Then go away.
Sig not available, please try again later. If the problem persists, then the submitter is an idiot.
I, for one, read the news to be an informed citizen and I do vote.
I can use the national No Call list to prevent people from interrupting my life to sell me siding that I don't need. Why can't I have a way stop calls to my private phone that say little more than "VOTE FOR GEORGE KERRY / JOHN BUSH"? I may be nieve, but I like to pretend the voters are in charge.
Politely, this is why I read the major papers, various periodicals, and use the news archives, as well as their campaign literature (if they're the challenger and don't have a public record) as well as the league of women voters sheets, before elections. I did this even when living in a one-party state (Chicago), because I needed to make at least an informed (if pointless) opposition. This is how to get information about the candidate, which while spun, is rarely spun by the candidate for best effect.
Having listened to telemarketed pitches in the past, I fail to see how forcing people to sit through deliberate obfuscation on the part of candidates, such as the misleading polls and false rumors spread about McCain in SC during the 2000 primaries, benefits the democratic process. Those calls are (at best) to raise money for the national party, when they aren't deliberately sliming the opposition. I get mailings from the Republicans, which have polls (heh) which are skewed to make you believe you're either a war-mongering, authoritarian, supply-sider or a spaced-out hippie communist, and from the Democrats which imply you're either a left-over McGovernite Great-Society socialist, or an iron-age warlord. The calls are more of the same, and neither is useful to the democratic process, except to excite their "base" (i.e. the extremist 10% on each end of the spectrum). (and if you want to get on both party's mailing lists, try subscribing simultaneously to the Wall Street Journal, and The Nation)
The country is ruled by extremists for a variety of reasons, of which congressional-district gerrymandering, and closed-primaries (which energize the moon-bat wing) are two of the most egregious. Add to that a general problem that no matter who you vote for, the government gets elected (CF Chicago above), and the recipe for apathy is about perfect. If you want a functioning democracy, then work on Open primaries (people regardless of party may vote for the candidates of either party, to ensure bipartisan support), draw congressional districts explicitly to exclude party affiliation, and use term-limits, age-limits, or basic-competency-limits to ensure some turnover now and then.
Don't fear protest candidates, try to force run-offs, and gather your own information; don't rely on politicians to paint their own image.
the more accurate the calculations became, the more the concepts tended to vanish into thin air. R. S. Mulliken
Don't pick up.
If you really want to kick ass politically, then go out and work on a campaign or something like that... Work for the Green Party, or the Libertarians, or find a good Dem/Rep who actually pays attention to what works for his constituants (as opposed to his big-money donors).
Sometimes boldness is in fashion. Sometimes only the brave will be bold.
They will kill each other deciding what to say to you.
(Note: I was and know many communists, and they will mostly agree with this. The ones who don't are busy killing each other over it.)
Great Intellect...
Why is the country going to fuck - continously ruled by ever increasing extremism on both sides? Because people don't want to be involved.
If you don't want to choose between the scum sucking, communist, tax-and-spend democrats or the barely literate, bible thumping, closet homosexual, republicans there is no place for you in American politics. Don't vote. It just encourages them. American politics makes me vomit.
I'm a little puzzled about why people here are getting so worked up about this. Does a 15- or 20-second inconvenience fray your nerves so much that you need to devise anti-calling plots to post on Slashdot? If that's the case, I frankly recommend a deep breath, a pleasant stroll, and a massage. I'm friendly even when commercial telemarketers or Republicans call.
Anyhow, I'd like to make a few points based on ten years' of off-and-on experience calling people from political campaigns (mostly as a volunteer, but some volunteer recruitment as staff):
For starters, the vast majority of the world isn't as reclusive, sensitive, or whiny as the Slashdotters seem to be. Almost all people will remain polite through a quick, friendly, to-the-point conversation. And thank goodness! The world would be a sorry place if everyone threw temper tantrums about such a little thing.
Few calls are done to raise money. Calls may be done to 1) boost name recognition; 2) persuade swingable voters; 3) identify supporters to be turned out to the polls on election day; 4) remind people to vote; 5) recruit volunteers; 6) find people willing to host lawn-signs; 7) identify the issues of greatest importance to voters; 8) miscellaneous other purposes (a campaign once had me phone-bank to get donations to a local flood relief effort, for example). If you think that you're getting a bunch of fundraising calls, you're either hanging up too early or you're an unusual case. I can't tell you the number of conversations I've had that start like this: Me---"Hi, I'm ***, a volunteer calling from ***. How are you?" Person---"I don't give money over the phone." Me---"Oh, I'm not calling for money at all."
Unless you are a party activist or past donor being targeted for volunteer recruitment or fundraising, most calls are part of a comprehensive get-out-the-vote effort that starts several months before the election. A campaign needs to identify its supporters, and then needs to follow up with them at least a couple times before and on election day for the message to sink in. You may also be getting persuasion calls if a campaign has some reason to believe you're persuadable (you registered without a party, you told a previous caller that you were undecided, you live in an area with lots of ticket-splitting, etc.).
So, what are the best ways to avoid calls? If you're actually getting calls for money, you've probably given money at some point before; don't do that.
If you're getting get-out-the-vote calls (calls to identify you as a supporter or calls to remind you to vote), it means you can't be counted on to vote. It may be harsh to say, but if you think you can be counted on to vote, you should probably think again---think back to the last election in your area without vigorous campaigns (maybe a primary election in an odd-numbered year for example), and if you're like 90% of Americans, then you didn't vote. I don't get those calls (maybe one on presidential election days) because I always, always take it upon myself to vote, whether or not there's a major election with some candidate working to turn me out to the polls. If people voted on their own accord, get-out-the-vote efforts wouldn't exist.
Persuasion calls are easy to stop. Tell the caller that you're supporting one or another of the candidates. If you plan on telling the caller that you're supporting the caller's opponent, it's probably a good idea to at least know both the candidate's names. If you always (and, as above, I really mean always) vote, then it's just as effective to say that you support the caller's candidate.
Several Slashdotters' suggestions (hanging up, letting the line go dead, etc.) will accomplish nothing but getting called back a couple weeks later, because the initial contact failed. Telling the caller that you support the other guy will not worry the caller much, because you probably cannot be counted on to vote. (This is especially true if you can't even come up with the other guy's name.)
I'm also puzzled by what exa
(Score: -1, Trite.)
And hanging up on political pollsters can be two things.
Some calls will be 'Push Polls' with rhetoric 'questions' designed to sway you toward a candidate or away from his/her opponent.
That's an excellent time to hang up.
A FEW other polls are genuine attempts to determine voter preferences on a variety of issues.
They are professionally done and quite expensive.
They also provide a way for a few voters to disproportionately influence how a candidate will view those issues.
That's an excellent time to participate and amplify your input on topics you consider important.
The candidate may be from the opposite camp, but will pay attention to the risks involved in going against public opinion.
I didn't desert Windows; Windows deserted me: BSOD
I will admit that I am fully disgusted with your response.
1) I read. I read what I can, when I can to try and fully understand the policy and impact of our policitician's actions. Then I vote accordingly.
2) The Freedom of Speech by definition includes the Freedom to Remain Silent, for whatever reason, without explanation. Perhaps not the best choice, but a valid choice, nonetheless.
You really should tie your high horse up somewhere else.
"My God...it's full of trolls!"
I'm volunteering locally (Idaho's 1st District) for the Democratic Party. A few nights ago I called people for the first time after having only gone door-to-door beforehand. Let me share my perspective...
First, I'm not doing any fundraising, over the phone or in person. I am doing polling, and if people are inclined to vote Democratic or they don't know about our candidates we're going to send them some mail and ask them to vote for our candidates. If the people are Republicans and will vote for the Republican nominees--we don't want to waste our time and money. I'm a political science major and I could get into some hardcore theoretical stuff but it's late.
Anyway. So I'm not doing fundraising. Our lists aren't bought from shady Internet types, or Radio Shack, or tire companies, or credit card companies--they're from public voter registration data. Voters need not include phone numbers when they register, and some don't.
I hate to be an elitist, here. But to suggest that a good fuck-you answer when you're contacted is to tell the person you're going to vote for the other party, to say that out of spite, I don't want your vote, anyway. I haven't been paid $1, in this land of $3/gal gasoline and my beat-up `89 Ford Tempo averaging 22mpg city. I have free minutes after 7pm but I'm paying $50/month for those free minutes. I am an unpaid volunteer working because I believe in the party. Have you no decency, sir? Are you so jaded that you refuse to believe anybody is ever acting in anything other than purely their own self-interest? Do you think that whoever's calling you, paid or not, asking for money or not--do you think you're really getting back at them if you vote for their opponent?
I can only speak for myself but if someone strays from the questions I ask (which are purely "do you usually vote Democratic or Republican," "do you usually vote a straight ticket," "are you inclined or disinclined to support [candidate] for [office]," and if they're giving enthusiastic positive answers I'll ask if they'd like lawn signs for free) I respectfully acknowledge them with "that's fine" or "I understand." Sometimes I'll get people who want to talk my ear off, and I sometimes have to resort to a courteous "I'm afraid we're only doing polling on these specific questions tonight." Because we are. I have about eight lines, each with a name and the numbers 1-5. That's how I can put down your answer. I don't hang up on people, though I have been hung up on. I was once introducing myself and then somebody started talking over me and said "I'm not interested in donating any money." Before I could tell her I'm only doing polling--which, sincerely, I am--she'd hung up on me. Who's the asshole, here? The asshole who is asking Americans about their political beliefs or the asshole who's hanging up on somebody without letting the other person finish? It's no skin off my back. If someone tells me they don't vote, I'll thank them for their time and get off the phone.
There's a particular set of bills that was passed a long time ago, these couple of amendments to the Constitution, and they guaranteed some freedoms: freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of speech, some others. I'm getting in touch with my fellow Americans because I believe in the candidates and the platforms the Democratic Party of Idaho supports. I respect the beliefs of those who disagree. But it's my right and, I feel, my duty to support political candidates who I feel will do a better job. That's why I don't vote a straight ticket when I vote. Forgive me, but I personally believe that voting and being politically involved is virtuous.
The solution to problems that freedom brings isn't less freedom, it's more. If you have no political convictions then I suggest you courteously tell them as much and ask to not be called anymore. If they insist then you can progress or hang up as you'd like. If you have political convictions, though, maybe you can just tell them you'd like to keep them confidential. I really don't know what to tell you. If you think they're slime then this is probably falling on deaf ears.
I'm on a road shaped like a figure eight; I'm going nowhere but I'm guaranteed to be late.
Your problem is your carrier. I use Verizon Wireless, and the only time I have connection/audio quality problems is when I'm inside a building that is massively thick and/or armored/shielded in some way (office building, home depot, grocery store, etc). I have many coworkers and friends who use Cingular or Sprint who complain of bad coverage and drop-outs, but I don't seem to have those probles with Verizon.
Moderator hint: a comment is neither "Flamebait" nor "Troll" if it is true.
"if better jobs were out there and available to us, we'd be working them instead."
Sure many of the people you call might be assholes etc.
BUT from what I see here, it does seem like tons of people you call don't like you calling them. Why don't you get a job where most people actually like what you are doing to/for them? Because this pays more? So who's the bigger asshole?
If you don't mind annoying people just because it pays more, why don't you go send viagra/stock market spam or something? It's the same thing.
Do you really believe there is some greater purpose to your job - that overall it brings a greater benefit to the world?
If it doesn't, then give me a good reason why people shouldn't make your job harder even if the job is legal (in the hope that your employers have to start offering lots more money for the job, and having to hire more people, and the job goes away eventually).
Maybe I'm wrong and most people actually don't mind being called. Anyone have stats? Perhaps some independent party should be called to do a phone survey with just 1 question: "do you dislike being called?" if the majority called answer yes, then all such surveys should be banned.
He whined about how much he hates voice mail - leaving it, getting it, the blinkey light that compels him to pick up his voice mail, etc. And all the while he tries desperately to be funny and creative. "Ooh, ooh, look at me! I'm clever! I'm like, an artistic type! Yeah, I know I'm podcasting, and that's, like, so 2005, but check it out - I have this neo-luddite streak in me: I hate voice mail! Tee-hee! I told you I was clever!"
Yeah, I know I'm no better. Therein lies the irony. Oh, woe be unto the irony, and all who read it!
The system I have devised gets me off the phone quick and cuts down the harassment greatly.
As the telemarketer starts the spiel stop them to say "hold on I just need you to state your full name for my records and This conversation is being recorded for later use". If they squawk(and they will squawk) offer them the choice of hanging up or going on record. It does not take long to get off a call list with this ploy. It also works great for collection agents
> For the record, any political contributions we make go to PACs. We figure that the money will be better distributed
> to the candidates that actually support our positions, than if we gave to the national parties.
God damn! It just makes my day to see someone else with a political clue here at slashdot! I don't care if your preferred PACs are moveon.org, CPAC or the NRA, just the fact you have figured that out puts you miles ahead of 90% of the general population and apparently about 99% of slashdot useful idiots.
PACs are the big equalizer between US and the monied interests. Sure Exxon can give a candidate a pile of cash, so can the alternative energy companies, the other oil companies, the car companies. But so can Greenpeace. I don't particularly like Greenpeace, but recognize they give political voice to a large number of people who would be raging in the wilderness otherwise. Personally I'd rather they be in the game fighting for what they believe instead of assembling pipebombs. Same for the NRA, and remember WE already HAVE GUNS but content ourselves with donating money and plinking! Because that is what it comes down too, our form of government works because most people realize they have a shot at bringing about change through peaceful means instead of going all Hezbullah on us, which is why we only have a few really fringe nutjobs (ELF a few pro-life types and one Tim Mcveigh are about the extent of the homegrown type in the last few decades) blowing crap up. Outlaw PACs and lobbying and I'd really hate to see how bloody the current war of words between NARAL and the Pro-Life camp would get.
Which is why I'm really not looking forward to the next presidential election cycle. Hopefully something will shake up the landscape before then. Because while I'm a lifelong Republican I follow Heinlein's law. I will vote for a dunderhead of my party vs a genius of the party opposing, but I won't vote for someone outright harmful to our form of Government or who exhibits a gross moral defect. Most Democrats are terrified of Hillary Clinton and are praying for someone else to emerge, and I agree. But our side seems hellbent on nominating John McCain, primary sponsor of McCain Feingold and thus failing the 'harmful to our form of Government' test. If the Repubs hold Congress in the fall and appear likely to repeat in '08 I might have to vote for Hillary on the "she won't get anything from a Republican Congress while McCain would." argument.
Democrat delenda est
Their computers are measuring the time, their pitch was listened to... Depress them by having that parameter go down on average.
Also, although no one can hear you scream back at the recording, when aproached by the live campaigners for the same jerk, be sure to talk about nothing else, except how disappointed you are, that their representative chooses to violate your privacy with these automated phone calls.
In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
I see what you did there.
THIS THING CAN TURN ON A DIME, MACROSSZERO STYLE ALSO FUCK BETA, ~NYORON
A campaign needs to identify its supporters, and then needs to follow up with them at least a couple times before and on election day for the message to sink in. I tell a campaign worker that I am or am not interested--that identifies me. If I wanted to volunteer or give a donation, I'd contact whoever and let them know. Instead, campaign workers think that voters are too stupid to remember and have to constantly be told a candidate's views. A recorded phone call just tells me that a candidate has more money to spend on getting elected than he/she knows what to do with, staff that feels they are above all, and most importantly is not interested in really listening the voters. When I go to vote, I've already decided who I am going to vote for. If I am forced to hear more of the same by campaign staff as I walk into the polling place, all that does is antagonize me into possibly voting for a different candidate, or not voting for anyone for that office. Hope that is clear.
We have to play this game the way the rules are written. It's all well and good to encourage the opposing party to vote for the right guy regardless of party, but unless yours has a large majority you're going to lose doing that. Propping up third party spoilers is a standard technique for undermining the opposition.
Sure this sucks, but until we can get approval voting or some other rational system (not bloody likely, but it could happen) we have to play this game.
The conversation went almost exactly like this:
." Which is exactly what we want from candidates, no?
[Her] I have an imporatant question for you: who do you plan to vote for in tomorrow's Republican primary?
[Me] Y'know, that is a really good question. I honestly haven't decided who I'm going to vote for, but I've got it narrowed-down to either Bob Corker or David Davis.
[Her] Uh... uh, ok. Well, thanks very much!
I figure they added me to their "nut list", and it'll be quite a while before I hear from them again -- you see, David Davis and Bob Corker (both Republicans, and both seeking nominations here in Tennessee's Republican primary) weren't running against each other; they were each running for completely separate offices! I figure both candidates will have access to the results from the polling (probably being funded by the Tennessee GOP) and they'll (well, their campaign people) think "well, at least this guy got the names right... I guess we need to do a better job at position, platform, and recognition
I did the same thing a few years ago after being pestered over the course of seven or eight days to sign up for some unwanted and unneeded long-distance service; I told the guy "I don't know why you keep calling me about long-distance service because I don't even HAVE a phone!" Never heard from that particular company again; guess I made their "nut list" too.
This space intentionally left (almost) blank.
"Ohh.. I'd love to participate.. can you hold on a minute" set the phone down. Wait a few minutes, pick up "crap, sorry.. can you hold on just a minute longer. I'm real excited about your call" set the phone down. rinse, repeat.
meh
In the meantime, your line is also tied up for any more-important calls you might be receiving...
I declined to state my party when registerring to vote. No calls. Period. Before I was old enough to be registered to vote I got a call from the NRA asking me for donations. After telling them a couple of times I don't want anything to do with them (I have no idea how they got my info) they stopped calling. Haven't had a political call since.
-Palal
Since anyone who reads Slashdot who matters works in IT, we all have stress to relieve. What better way to do it than to be horrifically abusive when they call. It needn't be obscene (although that's more fun) and can still be quite effective. My first method is to let them roll through their spiel and then at the end when they ask the first question I ask if they can repeat everything they just said because I didn't get it. Repeat this as many times as neccessary. Who needs a "Do Not Call" list when you can get on their "Mental Issues" list which is far more effective?
Another method if the caller is of the opposite sex (or the same sex if you think it will freak them out even worse) is to say in the wormiest or slimiest voice possible... "Are you single???" A lot of people get flustered by this. You could also ask what the person is wearing and try to be suggestive the whole time. Who knows you might even score!
If you've got friends over you can always have them play out some really frightening scene in the background while you chat non-plussed. Have them pretend to be a couple having a fight that quickly escalates to violence. If the caller says, "Is everything OK" you just say, "Oh yeah, at least this time the bleeding is happening in the kitchen where it's easier to clean up".
Just a few ideas off the top of my head... Be creative! Have fun! And most of all be careful out there.
-"...bad old ideas look confusingly fresh when they are packaged as technology" - Jaron Lanier (Digital Maoism on Edge.o
My favorite tactic is to record all the messages from the group you most dislike.
Then, you digitize the audio and cut it up into individual phrases and words. You can either reassemble them by hand, or use a sound-board (a midi keyboard with appropriate software works great) to play them in real time. Rearrange the message so that it either says something absolutely opposite their real platform, or (my favorite) try to create an extreme version of their actual platform. The more extreme, the better; if you can arrange to have them call for overt genocide, you're in business.
Then, you phone the message in to your local college radio station, or make a friend there and give them the tapes. Or, if you really want to have fun, call in to a commercial talk radio station - ideally one aligned with the candidate - and try to get your message on air.
Of course, it helps if you happen to get calls with messages from someone immediately recognizable, preferably someone who makes an idiot of himself every time he speaks. It's hard to beat Arnold Schwarzenegger. (Well, Bush would be even better - but I haven't gotten any calls from him. Guess his folks don't bother calling Greens.)
First off, I complement you on your snark. You do it well. But down to business.
What he said: I said:This is hardly a strawman. In a universe where the exact same things would happen no matter what we did, what exactly would "cause and effect" mean? I defy you to accept his premise and give a cogent definition of causality.
He said "Everything is not simple." If I take your reading (that he is intending "All things are not-simple thus there are no things which are simple," it's even worse for him. For one thing, the situation he describes (the outcome is the same regardless of what we do) would be a direct counter example. You can't get much simpler than that.
Whoa there, buddy. Who said anything about evil Republicans or Republicans vs. Democrats? Certainly not me. I happen to be a life long registered Republican. My argument is against politicians of either party who run up huge deficits, stretch our military to near the breaking point, screw over the vets when they return, let their corporate owners feed at the public trough without restraint, ignore the law and the constitution when it suits them, and kill innocent people (of any nation) and turn the world against us in their blind lust for power.
I can't for the life of me understand why everyone keeps assuming this is "Republicans vs. Democrats" when the "opposition" party's main contribution to this whole fiasco is a bunch of half hearted whining about how they aren't getting their share of the spoils.
And why they hate us should be obvious to anyone who isn't blinded by some sort of partisan / nationalistic / racist dogmatism. What would you be doing today if, instead of going quietly into the night the Soviets had beaten us in the cold war, decided we needed "Regime Change," arrested the President, disbanded our military and police, and were this very minute building huge bases in our heartland, arming the Mexicans so they could come take what they wanted, letting their soldiers rape 14 year old American girls, kill them and their families and burn their bodies, and so on and so forth.
Would you be welcoming our new overlords? Or would you be a "terrorist"?
--MarkusQ
Thanks for the comment. I don't personally find it objectionable (or else I wouldn't use it), but I can sympathize with the reaction. My personal hot button is referring to people by derogatory nicknames (e.g. "Turdblossom", which started as Bush's (affectionate?) name for Karl Rove) instead of just giving their real name. So I can relate.
I can't promise I'll drop it completely, but I'm sure I'll be less likely to use it knowing at least one person objects to it.
--MarkusQ
Seriously, if you tell them you're not old enough to vote, you won't offend anyone and you can probably have some fun with them in the process!
http://whocalled.us/ You can use to report a good many if you are already DNC, and still you can report them as well. We have a voip line here, unless its family/friends/work related, I usally dont answer, most will hang up when voice mail kicks in, if I do randomly pick up (wonder who it is calling) a good example is.
Hi Im calling to sell you a newspaper? What??! Im blind, send it in braile. *click*
Most of the time I ask them questions regarding how they should handle this call, or tell them I want to speak with their supervisor. Since I have done marketing/funding calls in my youth, I still try and keep updated as to the laws, etc.....but when they constantly try to rebuttal my remarks - then I see if I can make them cry. Its also fun to tell them (since Im with child) they are upsetting my baby and do not call back.....I am evil....it is Monday.
Make sure you know what these calls are about before letting it influence your voting. When I worked phone banks for Bush/Cheney 2004 we kept running lists of the results of our calls. People who did not want to be called again were noted and erased from the list. We were looking for volunteers, not money and I didn't get paid for it. We only called people who were registered Republicans and had been active in the party in the past. It is a waste of time to call people again and again who are not interested.
Information wants a fueled airplane waiting at the hangar and no one gets hurt.
From you beginning paragraph:
"I'm a little puzzled about why people here are getting so worked up about this. Does a 15- or 20-second inconvenience fray your nerves so much that you need to devise anti-calling plots to post on Slashdot? If that's the case, I frankly recommend a deep breath, a pleasant stroll, and a massage. I'm friendly even when commercial telemarketers or Republicans call."
No, but string 5 or 10 of these calls together around dinner time every night and I start to get a little annoyed.
No, but when the same group continues to call numerous times after you have clearly communicated that you are not interested and they've assured you that they are "taking you off their list" for the fifth time...yea, it's gets aggrivating....even harassing.
No, but when a political party calls you eight times in the space of an hour on election night to remind you to get to the polls before they close after you have repeatedly told them that you've already voted and please stop calling this number....that, can be downright infuriating.
Minor annoyances, when added up over time, become major annoyances, if not out-and-out harassment.
A goal is a dream with a deadline