telephone solicitors and why i don't like 'em

i'm sure you are not allowed to call them 'solicitors' anymore.

there's probably a newer, better, more-fitting-for-the-21st-century label.

"telemarketers?"

a rose by any other name....

still stinks.

they call at the worst of times.

they don't take no for an answer.

they seem insulted when you say it's not a good time at the moment or that you don't want to/don't have time to answer their questions/don't need what they're selling, thank you.

they are often rude and when they say "thanks, have a nice day" i don't think they really mean it.

they practically force you into being rude when you think about it

and that doesn't make me feel good.

i was going to vent my spleen here on telemarketers all, but i just learned a new technique to solve the problem once and for all.

it's a no brainer and it's painless all round.

nobody gets hurt.

i don't get mad.

they don't hang up on me and feel bad about themselves, or vice versa.

i am of course referring to the H.O.P. method

it's very simple and i will share it with you now,

when you get on the phone, you don't often realize that it's a telemarketer/solicitor rightaway. but as soon as it becomes apparent that the caller has an ulterior motive in asking, "and how are you today Mrs B______?"

as if your welfare was of their utmost concern, (yeah, right) that's when you use the H.O.P. method.

simply say:

"Hold on Please" and then put the phone down and walk away.

come back in five minutes and the problem is solved.

dead air!

hey, time is money.

not yours, theirs that is.

how simple is that?

and if you have a portable phone, then just take it to the other room for a minute or two.

i'm thinking i'll put mine next to the radio and let them listen to music for a while.

jazz funk maybe.