When the Do Not Call list debuted, I quickly signed up. I’m not a fan of solicitors and I think the list is a great idea. I understand that non-profit organizations are exempt from the Do Not Call list. As I occasionally donate to organizations that I think do good work, we receive many phone calls from all sorts of crazy charities. Last night though, a new strategy was employed on me. 

While I was baking cookies and enjoying football, the phone rang. Silly me got excited thinking it was a friend calling to talk about either 1) How much I hate the Steelers or 2) How awesome the Joey Porter touchdown and smooch of Bill Cowher was. Sadly, it was neither. It was a lady calling to talk about Hollywood and the decline of entertainment standards in America. She started out by saying that this call was not to ask for money. Great, I think, because at this moment, I really want to just talk to some stranger about the decline of moral values in America. Our conversation goes something like this: 

Lady: Do you agree that Hollywood has gone too far and children are put at risk by watching movies today. Me: No. 

Lady: Oh. Let me convince you otherwise. Blah, blah, blah, Hollywood controls all movies. Blah, blah, need more family values movies that are safe for children, but Hollywood throws away any script that contains family values. Blah, blah, blah. What do you think? Me: I think parents should decide what their kids can and can’t watch. 

Lady: Parents should be responsible, but there are no viable options for them. We don’t believe in censorship. We at non-profit organization X support company Y as they are pushing to make movies with proper family values. Can they call you back at a later date? Me: No. 

Lady: Even if you don’t agree, their message is important, blah, blah, blah, fund-raising, blah, blah, blah. It will only take three minutes of your time. Me: No. 

Lady: Three minutes isn’t a lot to ask. Me: No thank you. I’m not interested. Bye. (hangs up phone) 

Now, I know I could have ended the call sooner, but I am both nice and a pushover. I will hang up on a solicitor before they start talking, but once they start talking, I will listen politely for far too long. When it comes down to it, this “organization” was created to skirt around the Do Not Call list. They call and don’t ask for money, but instead ask if the other for-profit company can call you and ask for money. This is the first time this has happened to me, so I’m not sure how new the tactic is. Has it happened to you? Do you think it will become more popular? Is it ethical? It seems to be an abuse of the List, but is no doubt legal.