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From: arisco%cadillac.cad.mcc.com@mcc.com (John Arisco)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Busy Signals: Are 900 Numbers a Waste of Money?
Message-ID: <telecom-v09i0323m11@vector.dallas.tx.us>
Date: 24 Aug 89 23:19:14 GMT
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X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 323, message 11 of 11


	Last night, I was watching Nickolodeon and I observed what has to be
the sleaziest 900 number scheme I've seen so far. The service was called
something like "Kid's Talk Line", and it encouraged kids to call this number
to speak with other kids (or maybe to hear recordings) about problems faced in
growing up.

	It implied that counselors would be online occasionally to give advice
about things like divorce, family violence, substance abuse and sex.  From what
I saw, it looks very similar to the "Women's Private Confessions", since most
of the examples shown were kids (mostly confused, upset, tearful kids) pouring
out their hearts on the telephone.

	I would be the first to say that every city in the US needs to have
telephone counselling available for kids (and anybody else who needs help),
but to take advantage of this situation is the ultimate in scummy tactics.  Of
course, the commercial ended with "Kids, get your parent's permission before
calling."

--
 John Arisco, MCC CAD Program | ARPA: arisco@mcc.com | Phone: [512] 338-3576
 Box 200195, Austin, TX 78720 | UUCP: ...!cs.utexas.edu!milano!cadillac!arisco