At 01:10 PM 7/2/2015, David Merfeld wrote:

>Over time years, I have mellowed on this one.  Years ago, I would 
>have done what you did when I got a cold call, either in person on 
>the telephone.  Although I still don't let them make a sales pitch, 
>I now take an extra 20 seconds and do it politely.
>
>A "no thanks", or a "gosh, I'm all set for office supplies", or an 
>"I appreciate your offer, but I'm happy with my ISP/web 
>hosting/copier ..." is pretty easy.  Most folks accept it and go 
>away.  If they persist, I say something like:  "I know your job is 
>tough, and I don't want to be rude.  So, I'm giving you the chance 
>to say goodbye.  Either you say goodbye and I hang up, or I just 
>hang up.  It's up to you."  At that point, almost all of them accept 
>the offer, say goodbye, and I end the conversation politely.  It's 
>one in 50 that I have to actually hang up on mid-sentence.

The only ones I'm really nasty to are the 4 big scams of the moment.....

Microsoft "support" saying your computer is infected and they need 
remote access to fix it (if I have time and inclination I ask them 
what is my IP and MAC address and exactly what infection my machine 
has.  String them along a bit then I ask them if their mother knows 
that they f*** goats.)

Senior Services (I speak demented gibberish to them)

Credit Card Services - "this is your final notice" (then why do you 
keep calling?)

IRS legal action calls (just hang up or not answer)

-m1 

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