Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/26/83; site ihuxf.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!eagle!mhuxt!mhuxi!mhuxa!houxm!ihnp4!ihuxf!parnass From: parnass@ihuxf.UUCP Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Intimidation by wire (slaved by the bell) Message-ID: <669@ihuxf.UUCP> Date: Thu, 1-Sep-83 16:31:04 EDT Article-I.D.: ihuxf.669 Posted: Thu Sep 1 16:31:04 1983 Date-Received: Fri, 2-Sep-83 21:06:32 EDT Organization: BTL Naperville, Il. Lines: 43 Randy Hudson, on the topic of unwanted phone calls relates: "Strange as it may seem, you are not legally required to answer your telephone. The next time you're having dinner, or using your bathroom, or sleeping, and you hear the phone ring, DON'T ANSWER IT. The first several times you try this, I realize, it will cause you great waves of anx- iety, doubt, guilt, and fear. But persevere. Eventually you may actually come to believe that the phone is for your convenience, and not the convenience of your callers." Yep, the telephone ringer can make you a slave if you allow it to! I came to the above realization a few years ago. Since then, I frequently take the telephone off hook, and disconnect the coiled cord from the handset (so as not to hear the loud warning signal). I do this before starting a nap or when I just plain want to be alone. Telephone ringing caused some embarassment a few years back. I was giving a demonstration of some new office autamation equipment to a group of Nth level company executives (N >> 3). It took place in a mock up of the typical office, com- plete with a telephone on the desk. This telephone was just supposed to be a "prop." As luck would have it, the tele- phone rang right in the middle of my prepared demo (some party dialed incorrectly), disrupting the whole presenta- tion! The opinions expressed above are those of the author.... -- ============================================================================ Robert S. Parnass, Bell Laboratories ihnp4!ihuxf!parnass (312)979-5760