Today, as I was packing to take a trip up to Berkeley, I hear my home phone ring. My home phone never rings. In fact, I don't even know why we keep that thing around. But anyway, I say, hell, why not, I might as well pick that thing up. It's been neglected long enough.
It was a telemarketer.
He asked me if I wanted a subscription to the Pasadena Star News. I kindly told him no, but thanks for the offer… How naive I was to not know that that trick never works! He persisted to talk to me about the importance of a newspaper and how a “young, fashionable girl” like me could benefit from the many ads and deals from the newspaper. The initial question I had was why anyone would ever want to pay anything to just see the ads. But nevertheless, I kindly told him no, but thanks for the offer… I do my shopping online anyway. He says it’s not as good as the newspaper and going to the store. At the store, you can try on all kinds of clothes to make sure you have the right size. I kindly told him no, but thanks for the offer… because if I were to buy the newspaper, I’d only be buying the newspaper, not the store.
But he was quite the persistent one.
After 8 minutes of back and forth conversation, I reached an ultimatum. I said if you can answer me this one question, I will buy your newspaper. I will not only buy the Sunday edition, I’ll buy the 7 days a week edition. He says okay, go ahead. I pause. After a few seconds of silence, I asked him, what is the meaning of life? He too, struck a pause, and after a few seconds of self reflection, he answers that it is to have fun, grow old, and raise a family. All very nice things…. but wrong.
The answer was 42, my friend, 42. And with that, he accepted his defeat, wished me a good day, and hung up.
It was quite an interesting conversation - one that I don't regret having, but one that I definitely never want to have ever again. So I ask, how do YOU swat off your telemarketers?
Haha you came up to Berkeley? Cal is empty right now, everyone went home O_O
"I kindly told him no, but thanks for the offer… because if I were to buy the newspaper, I’d only be buying the newspaper, not the store." Lolllll you're not a window shopper obviously But all my girl friends buy stuff online these days, apparently it's the new thing to do. Kudos to you for knowing the real meaning of life!
On December 18 2010 20:16 bebejugga wrote: The answer was 42, my friend, 42.
Uhg ... from my understanding the question to this answer has not been found and it is most probably not "what is the meaning of life?". I haven't read all of the books yet, but this is what i was told. The answer to "what is the meaning of life?" most probalby would be:
To utilize energy potentials in the surrounding environment to map specific features of the environment into physical structures (neuronal networks also fall under this).
But hey ... it was a nice story and you seemed to be nice to the guy which is good seeing as how rude some people can become.
42 is the answer to "What is the meaning of life, the universe, and everything?". Just "What is the meaning of life?" could result in a wildly different response.
canada(or it might be just ontario) has a national do not call list, where if your name is on this list telemarketers won't call you. It been a huge success with a bit of a win/win on both sides. Telemarketers dont hav to call people that don't want anything, and the reverse for people
Anyways, awesome OP Telemarketers are somewhat annoying, but sometimes I'll listen. More often than not, however, I'll quickly hang up; once in a while, I'll troll them. I'll pretend that I have no idea what they're talking about or who they're looking for (when they're looking for my family). When they ask me how I'm doing, I won't just say, "Good thanks"; I'll actually talk about my entire day... as if my girlfriend had called and I had to spend 10 mandatory minutes flapping my gums non-stop before I could get back to grading my papers, playing StarCraft, or doing other important things.
And I'm pretty sure they know what they're getting themselves into when they become telemarketers too. They've surely experienced receiving the calls.
They interrupt people's lives to sell things that people don't want. In my opinion, they're one of the few groups who deserves to get trolled every once in a while.
The easiest way to get rid of them is to get rid of your home phone. Then not get your mobil phone number listed but instead just giving it out where and when you want it. There are still letters or visits if people want to contact you and you don't know them.
The problem comes with hospitals I guess. Kind of hard to get contacted if they don't have a number.
I used to tell telemarketers that I am underaged and my parents aren't home. But I have adopted a new philosophy, and I recommend it to everyone: Don't Pick Up the Phone! If anyone important is calling you, 9/10 they know your cellphone number.
On December 18 2010 20:16 bebejugga wrote: Today, as I was packing to take a trip up to Berkeley, I hear my home phone ring. My home phone never rings. In fact, I don't even know why we keep that thing around. But anyway, I say, hell, why not, I might as well pick that thing up. It's been neglected long enough.
It was a telemarketer.
He asked me if I wanted a subscription to the Pasadena Star News. I kindly told him no, but thanks for the offer… How naive I was to not know that that trick never works! He persisted to talk to me about the importance of a newspaper and how a “young, fashionable girl” like me could benefit from the many ads and deals from the newspaper. The initial question I had was why anyone would ever want to pay anything to just see the ads. But nevertheless, I kindly told him no, but thanks for the offer… I do my shopping online anyway. He says it’s not as good as the newspaper and going to the store. At the store, you can try on all kinds of clothes to make sure you have the right size. I kindly told him no, but thanks for the offer… because if I were to buy the newspaper, I’d only be buying the newspaper, not the store.
But he was quite the persistent one.
After 8 minutes of back and forth conversation, I reached an ultimatum. I said if you can answer me this one question, I will buy your newspaper. I will not only buy the Sunday edition, I’ll buy the 7 days a week edition. He says okay, go ahead. I pause. After a few seconds of silence, I asked him, what is the meaning of life? He too, struck a pause, and after a few seconds of self reflection, he answers that it is to have fun, grow old, and raise a family. All very nice things…. but wrong.
The answer was 42, my friend, 42. And with that, he accepted his defeat, wished me a good day, and hung up.
It was quite an interesting conversation - one that I don't regret having, but one that I definitely never want to have ever again. So I ask, how do YOU swat off your telemarketers?
Say no, hang up. Saves you 10 minutes+ a blog post.
On December 19 2010 01:32 Chimpalimp wrote: I used to tell telemarketers that I am underaged and my parents aren't home. But I have adopted a new philosophy, and I recommend it to everyone: Don't Pick Up the Phone! If anyone important is calling you, 9/10 they know your cellphone number.
so then what is the point of having a home phone then
There is no point and that's why more and more people are opting for no land line.
Caller ID. Always nice to see a Douglas Adams reference though.
There is no point and that's why more and more people are opting for no land line.
I guess because it's cheaper than paying for several cell-phones for a family? Some people just don't like the idea of being contacted anywhere at anytime by anyone who knows their number? There's a few good reasons I can think of.
when i still lived at home i would always answer in korean. they start speaking in english? talk over them in korean. 100% success rate, they're likely to hang up within the first 30 seconds lol.
Quick note about that 42 reference from guide to the galaxy. The answer of the meaning of life is not actually 42. The robot was just trolling them cause she couldn't figure out what the ultimate question was.
So everytime someone is like "dude you dont get it? go watch the movie!". I say I did and I'm pretty sure you are the one who needs to watch it again.
On December 18 2010 20:27 Divinek wrote: tell them that the people they're looking for arent here, but only because we killed them and moved in
lol this seems like a good idea ... ahha I'm going to try it next time, I usually tell them to take my number off their list and that I don't want what they are selling. If they happen to call a second time I tell them I got called last time and I asked to get my number off their list and to fuck off,
Hang up if you're in a hurry, but otherwise this is a perfect opportunity to fuck with someone. They have to keep talking to you until you hang up so take advantage. Once I got a call while reading a book so I proceeded to read out loud to the telemarketer for about 15 minutes. Now that I'm on that national don't call list I never get any telemarketers unless they call from out of the country, apparently they found a loophole by calling from Canada, so I rarely get a chance to try out some new ones I've been saving up (leaving the phone next to my headphone speaker while playing some hardcore porn, asking if whatever they're selling can be used with my balls, etc...).
I'm curious to know how the telemarketer himself felt - sounds as if he were pretty impressive in his ability to stick with a pitch (something I would have difficult caring about), and I'm more curious what his response to your meaning of life question answer was. oh telemarketers, you cutesy fellows.
-Apparently i need to be more creative in dealing with telemarketers, I'm just the good ol hangup or whatnot, though we hardly get them anymore.
On December 19 2010 18:31 bebejugga wrote: Haha the Seinfield one! I'll definitely try that next time... that is if I ever pick up the home phone ever again. =P
I think I need to rewatch that movie again. I didn't realize I messed up the phrase. Sorry TL, I am disappoint )=
Oh you only know it from the movie? My life is so sad now.
EPT
