I have been very surprised by how effective the 'Do Not Call' law in California has been in deterring junk phone callers. Those characters who call you at dinner time and ask you how you're doing as if they knew you.
There have been a few breaches--occasional market pollsters who are actually slimeball telemarketers and the Benevolent Police Associations that seem neither benevolent, nor like police officers.
But I was pretty surprised when some guy called me, identifying himself as "Andy." That's a good name because I know a few Andies. It took about 10 seconds before I realized he was trying to sell me a new subscription to the San Jose Mercury News. When I politely declined, Andy got aggressive resulting in my advising him to go to the window, open it up and to plunge to his death, before I hung up the phone.
The sad part for me is that the mighty Mercury has sunk to this low level. You probably already know that it's on the auction block and that its reduced journalistic force is likely to be further gutted by whoever takes it over. But to have to ignore the law to try to boost its sales is just a wart on the face of its integrity.
Comments