NationStates Jolt Archive

Probably the one thing that irks me most about the political season is the phone calls - taped, one-size-fits-all phone calls, that try to explain to you, in the most panicy, least factual terms they can find, about how you should vote the way they want you to. The latest in a long series was a "personalized" call about a Colorado politician named Mark Udall. The call started "Hi Tracy ... ." They couldn't even get my name right! I think I may start a petition to put a measure on the ballot that would end these calls.

How do you feel about these calls? What irks you most about the political season?

(Don't tell me to get a blog, I already have one. No one reads it).

*snip*

(Don't tell me to get a blog, I already have one. No one reads it).

Link please.:D

I live in England, where that sort of call is illegal. So meh. :p

I have never had one of these calls :(

What irks me most are the masses who believe any sort of shit spewed out of a politician's mouth. And the low-brow media and all the shit they have too.

They're no different from regular telemarketing solicitors. How do you deal with them?

I live in England, where that sort of call is illegal. So meh. :p

Is it illegal? My mum got a taped call for Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg a few weeks back.

we get together with the inlaws and try to one-up each other as to who got a spam call from whom.

not yet this season but in '04 it was all "i got a call from the governor" "too bad, *I* got a call from mama bush!"

i just hang up on any call that is a recording.

Is it illegal? My mum got a taped call for Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg a few weeks back.

They got fined for that :D It was meant to be "marketing calls" but they decided that it wasn't, and so they got told off for it.

Link please.:D

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog&pop=1&ping=1&indicate=1

They're no different from regular telemarketing solicitors. How do you deal with them?

Usually I try to sale them something. hehe.

Unsolicited phone calls of ANY kind. Recently Sprint called my cellphone every day at 9:30am for two straight work weeks -- right in the middle of my first class. Of course it was on vibrate, but I could still hear it, and it was annoying. Finally, I got irritated and called them back at lunchtime.

"Thank you for calling Sprint, my name's XXXX, how can I help you?"
"Hi. You can explain why I've gotten a phonecall a day for the past two weeks from Sprint. I pay my bill on time, don't I?"

That seemed to throw him off balance. He went and looked in my records and saw, yes, I had been called that many times but there was no notation on my file why. His explanation was, well, uh, sometimes we just do an automated call to see if the customer is satisfied with their service.... and it's supposed to not call you anymore after the second time it's missed, not two weeks later...

I then pointed out that if I were dissatisfied with the service I would not have signed another 2 year contract with them, and that in future they could be assured that so long as they don't hear from me, everything is fine... if they do hear from me (as with this phone call) they could be assured that I was not a happy person.

So what happened?
Two days later, I get another automated call from Sprint, on another number.
I ignore it, and get another. That one I answered....

"We'd like you to take a survey on your satisfaction with your recent call to Sprint customer service..." prattled a taped message.

"Piss off," I explained, and hung up.

Oddly, no more automated Sprint calls since then.... ;)

what irks me most is how my phone rings like crazy during dinner time after a whole day of nothing (mostly from people trying to drag me outside or the dreaded family calls)

I live in England, where that sort of call is illegal. So meh. :p

lies!

Is it illegal? My mum got a taped call for Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg a few weeks back.

I just thought he was a robot :confused:

They got fined for that :D It was meant to be "marketing calls" but they decided that it wasn't, and so they got told off for it.

democracy in action

Unsolicited phone calls of ANY kind. Recently Sprint called my cellphone every day at 9:30am for two straight work weeks -- right in the middle of my first class. Of course it was on vibrate, but I could still hear it, and it was annoying. Finally, I got irritated and called them back at lunchtime.

"Thank you for calling Sprint, my name's XXXX, how can I help you?"
"Hi. You can explain why I've gotten a phonecall a day for the past two weeks from Sprint. I pay my bill on time, don't I?"

That seemed to throw him off balance. He went and looked in my records and saw, yes, I had been called that many times but there was no notation on my file why. His explanation was, well, uh, sometimes we just do an automated call to see if the customer is satisfied with their service.... and it's supposed to not call you anymore after the second time it's missed, not two weeks later...

I then pointed out that if I were dissatisfied with the service I would not have signed another 2 year contract with them, and that in future they could be assured that so long as they don't hear from me, everything is fine... if they do hear from me (as with this phone call) they could be assured that I was not a happy person.

So what happened?
Two days later, I get another automated call from Sprint, on another number.
I ignore it, and get another. That one I answered....

"We'd like to you to take a survey on your satisfaction with your recent call to Sprint customer service..." prattled a taped message.

"Piss off," I explained, and hung up.

Hehe, Kat got some claws *rowar* ;)

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog&pop=1&ping=1&indicate=1

Link fail. :(

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog&pop=1&ping=1&indicate=1

I can´tz readz it. I no in that networkz no moarz.:(

I just thought he was a robot :confused:

No he's a reptoid. All individuals in positions where they can gain power are reptoids. Hang on, did I just describe the Lib Dems as having a chance of getting into power? Silly me. No, you're right. He's robot, not reptoid.

*light bulb appears above head*. E-gad, I can has idea!

*Submits "Reptoid or Robot?" quiz gameshow proposal to all the major television networks*

How do you feel about these calls? What irks you most about the political season?

(Don't tell me to get a blog, I already have one. No one reads it).

hate em. especially when they come in at 3 a.m. (Seriously!!! haven't these political parties ever heard of TIME ZONES!

what I hate. the promises both sides make and break, the excuses both sides make and the pandering.

Probably the one thing that irks me most about the political season is the phone calls - taped, one-size-fits-all phone calls, that try to explain to you, in the most panicy, least factual terms they can find, about how you should vote the way they want you to. The latest in a long series was a "personalized" call about a Colorado politician named Mark Udall. The call started "Hi Tracy ... ." They couldn't even get my name right! I think I may start a petition to put a measure on the ballot that would end these calls.

How do you feel about these calls? What irks you most about the political season?

(Don't tell me to get a blog, I already have one. No one reads it).

I rank robocalls as more annoying than TV ads, but less annoying than push polls.

Most annoying? The large burly men who cluster inside the no-go zone on election day and try to pretend that they're not intimidating people into voting for the Mayor's chosen slate.

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog&pop=1&ping=1&indicate=1

linky no workie

linky no workie

It's on MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/retiredwaterotter

Unsolicited phone calls of ANY kind. Recently Sprint called my cellphone every day at 9:30am for two straight work weeks -- right in the middle of my first class. Of course it was on vibrate, but I could still hear it, and it was annoying. Finally, I got irritated and called them back at lunchtime.

"Thank you for calling Sprint, my name's XXXX, how can I help you?"
"Hi. You can explain why I've gotten a phonecall a day for the past two weeks from Sprint. I pay my bill on time, don't I?"

That seemed to throw him off balance. He went and looked in my records and saw, yes, I had been called that many times but there was no notation on my file why. His explanation was, well, uh, sometimes we just do an automated call to see if the customer is satisfied with their service.... and it's supposed to not call you anymore after the second time it's missed, not two weeks later...

I then pointed out that if I were dissatisfied with the service I would not have signed another 2 year contract with them, and that in future they could be assured that so long as they don't hear from me, everything is fine... if they do hear from me (as with this phone call) they could be assured that I was not a happy person.

So what happened?
Two days later, I get another automated call from Sprint, on another number.
I ignore it, and get another. That one I answered....

"We'd like you to take a survey on your satisfaction with your recent call to Sprint customer service..." prattled a taped message.

"Piss off," I explained, and hung up.

Oddly, no more automated Sprint calls since then.... ;)
I've found the PERFECT way of dealing with them.

We keep getting calls from Internet service providers trying to get us to either switch our service or upgrade to fiber optic lines. They drive my wife nuts but I usually handle them fairly quickly because right after they launch into the sales pitch and pause to ask me the very first question, all I have to say is "Sorry, I don't speak Japanese, do you speak English?"

Puts the panic into them that not only are they talking to a gaijin who doesn't understand Japanese, but one who is demanding that THEY speak English. The ends about one second after that. :tongue: