Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!uunet!looking!brad
From: brad@looking.on.ca (Brad Templeton)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Subject: Re: Caller ID problems
Message-ID: <1991Apr01.051101.3386@looking.on.ca>
Date: 1 Apr 91 05:11:01 GMT
Article-I.D.: looking.1991Apr01.051101.3386
References: <1991Mar29.220816.8305@ima.isc.com> <1991Mar30.043415.7314@odin.corp.sgi.com> <1991Mar31.003440.8270@rand.org> <13952@helios.TAMU.EDU>
Organization: Looking Glass Software Ltd.
Lines: 30

In article <13952@helios.TAMU.EDU> byron@archone.tamu.edu (Byron Rakitzis) writes:
>You make it sound like telemarketing outfits are organizations whose
>sole intent is to harrass you.

Why shouldn't he make it sound that way.  I do not desire to receive
telephone solicitations at home, period.   I would be glad to have my
number in any database which indicated this.  Any attempt to push
products on me by calling my home phone number is harassmment.

The solution in this case is simple.   Just as you can place a "no
solicitors" sign on your door and charge solicitors who ignore it with
tresspass, so you should be able to place such a sign on your residence
phone.

The telco should maintain such a database -- it's only one bit in their
files, and sell it to phone solicitors.   With caller ID, no phone
solicitor will be able to get away with breaking the rules, since a firm
record is left behind.

This might well mean the end of most phone solicitation.  I know of few
who wouldn't say "good."  As much as you may hate junk mail, I believe
that junk mail and junk e-mail are the proper ways to make an
unsolicited solicitation.  I do not mind advertising that is there when
I go to look through it at my convenience.   (And in the case of junk
E-mail, my computer will sort the junk e-mail from my regular e-mail, so
that I am not bothered by it when I read my important mail)

I do mind advertising that regularly wakes me up or interrupts my dinner.
-- 
Brad Templeton, ClariNet Communications Corp. -- Waterloo, Ontario 519/884-7473