Letters: The public vs. telemarketers

Re “How to torment telemarketers,” Business, Jan. 14

This column by David Lazarus about frustrating telemarketers inspired me to begin answering the phone in my native French.

The first guy who called, from a company that usually calls several times a day, was so frustrated by my French that he quickly hung up.

The second guy kept asking whether I spoke English, and I kept saying “Francais,” so with a loud sigh, he hung up too.

My wife speaks Cantonese, so we’re going to rotate the fun.

Maybe we’ll start having some peace and quiet now.

Alain Jourdier
Murrieta

I certainly understand the frustration with telemarketers. But really, putting an air horn up to the phone?

Few people must aspire to be a telemarketer, as in, “Gosh, I can’t wait to grow up and start this exciting career in telemarketing.”

These telemarketers are human beings, trying to scrape by in a very tough economy.

The answer to a telemarketing call, which is at most a mild irritation, should not be contempt or belittlement.

Jane Bove
Fountain Valley

I’m more than a little angry at the avalanche of mean-spirited jerks who told your columnist about their bullying strategies against telemarketers who find themselves in high-stress, thankless jobs.

More than a few seem to have lots of time on their hands to do silly things.

Besides telling those folks to get a life, I would suggest the purchase of a telephone answering device. Then you can decide whether to pick up the phone.

Oliver Seely
Lakewood

Interesting piece about how people deal with telemarketers. Just some thoughts:

The poor guy making the phone calls isn’t the one who compiles the list of numbers to be called. He’s just a pawn trying to hold down a job. The real instigators insulate themselves from the angry mobs.

If people stop buying from them, they’ll stop calling.

Rick McCarter
Burbank

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