A random phone message rant

[pomtzu]

I don't usually have the answering machine turned on unless I am going to be out of the house. I don't have all the services offered by Verizon, so I never know who is on the other end when I pick up a call. However - who ever they are (other than a recorded message), had better answer or they are in for a surprise. I'm sure you've all had annoying or harassing calls - who hasn't??? I just deal with them in a surprising (for them) way. You've probably all heard of the "blow a whistle" treatment - not a very pleasant sound to the ear of the person on the other end. Well I took it a step beyond that. If I get a call and have to say "hello" more than twice, and still get no response, then they get my version of that treatment. I keep one of those personal safety alarms that gives out an ear-splitting scream of mega decibels, by the phone. If no one answers and I know that the line is still open (as indicated by a light on my phone), then they get an earful of that. I can only imagine what it must feel like to get that directly in the ear, as it is piercing and uncomfortable to hear, even at a distance. It has cut down drastically on unwanted calls............

[phesina]

Oh, what a good idea! I may have to try that, at least with a whistle.

I feel kind of bad for the person on the other end, because let's face it, NO ONE would take a job like that unless they were REALLY desperate for money. But at the same time, I don't feel it is my responsibility to make their job more painless when their job happens to be invading MY privacy.