As one of the many who are annoyed by telemarketing calls, I am not annoyed enough to support a statewide ban on them [“Unlisted Numbers,” September]. The telephone is only one of many vehicles that businesses use to market their wares; I am also annoyed with billboards and commercials, but advertising makes many things we enjoy possible, like TV shows, news, radio programs, and an awareness of products and services we would otherwise not know about. For some people, it’s the opportunity to buy a timeshare or get a discount on aluminum siding. There are lots of ways to reduce the number of telemarketing calls. Don’t buy products or services from businesses that sell your contact information. Get an unlisted number. Add that great feature to your phone service that asks solicitors to remove your name from the calling list and hangs up. But most important, it’s silly to make a law forbidding something that is “annoying” — especially something that can be easily modified by the one who is annoyed. Using the telephone is optional. If folks don’t want calls during dinnertime, the most reasonable thing to do is take the phone off the hook, turn the ringer off, or let their voice mail pick it up until they’re finished eating. It’s simple. I’d rather see our state invest that money in education and community development.
Rebecca St. Martin
Robbinsdale
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