Nothing to do with Sony or Photography

[Ed (;¬ >)]

I am taking license to vent and rant.

There is no need to respond either pro or con. This message is for information only, it may prove usefull. I hope so. It has certainly given me some perverse pleasure.

Of late I, as I'm sure every homeowner and credit card holder, have been inundated with offers for instant credit. I can't just dump them in the trash or recycling because they contain not only personal information but would allow someone to obtain credit in my name.

I bought a shredder, but it never was a satisfying result. I still felt like a victim.

Then I heard of a grass roots effort to stem the tide. It's painless, almost effortless, and if enough people do it, might actually put a stop to it. Just send the stuff back.

Either black out or cut out or rip off identifying data. Conversely you can leave out that page and shred it. Then just stuff all the other crapola back into the PostagePaid envelope and mail it off.

It's elegant, really. Not only do they have to pay for the postage, they have to pay employees to open it up and sort the wheat from the chaff (just like you do at home.) It costs them the full 1st class rate.

While you're at it, take all the stuff from the bills you do have to pay and stuff it in, too. I gaurantee you'll have a lot less garbage each week.

Oh, BTW. Take all those Postage Paid cards stuffed into your magazines and mail them off too. Blank, of course.

-Ed (We might have a fighting chance) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

 

[David Pichevin]

I am taking license to vent and rant.

There is no need to respond either pro or con. This message is for
information only, it may prove usefull. I hope so. It has certainly
given me some perverse pleasure.

Ed, thanks for the idea. I will start doing that.

David.--My photo galleries: http://www.pbase.com/davidp

 

[Tom L.]

Bahahahahahaha, hahahahah!!!!!

I like this, I really, really like this!!!

Oh just wait 'til my wife finds out about my new hobby...

Thank you, Ed!!!

Tom L.

I am taking license to vent and rant.

There is no need to respond either pro or con. This message is for
information only, it may prove usefull. I hope so. It has certainly
given me some perverse pleasure.

Of late I, as I'm sure every homeowner and credit card holder, have
been inundated with offers for instant credit. I can't just dump
them in the trash or recycling because they contain not only
personal information but would allow someone to obtain credit in my
name.

I bought a shredder, but it never was a satisfying result. I still
felt like a victim.

Then I heard of a grass roots effort to stem the tide. It's
painless, almost effortless, and if enough people do it, might
actually put a stop to it. Just send the stuff back.

Either black out or cut out or rip off identifying data. Conversely
you can leave out that page and shred it. Then just stuff all the
other crapola back into the PostagePaid envelope and mail it off.

It's elegant, really. Not only do they have to pay for the postage,
they have to pay employees to open it up and sort the wheat from
the chaff (just like you do at home.) It costs them the full 1st
class rate.

While you're at it, take all the stuff from the bills you do have
to pay and stuff it in, too. I gaurantee you'll have a lot less
garbage each week.

Oh, BTW. Take all those Postage Paid cards stuffed into your
magazines and mail them off too. Blank, of course.

-Ed (We might have a fighting chance) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

--DSC-F707Sticker Orientation: OFF

 

[ZipperZ]

hahahahaa...and start making up (just moved)addresses on the other side of the world. That'll take care of that!--cheersZip - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -BFS: NOSticker Status: ON...but on upsidedownPie Chute: UnCorked Lens Cap: No dangle at any angle - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

[Howdy]

I am taking license to vent and rant.

Oh, BTW. Take all those Postage Paid cards stuffed into your
magazines and mail them off too. Blank, of course.

Umm, sorry, can't go with you on this one, they make great markers to save my page between reading sessions, and (unlike page markers made by my kids as gifts) I never worry when I lose one since they are 'abundunt' and easily replaced.

My kids used our shredder and all that useless (but colorful) junk mail, including credit card applications, to make New Year's confetti. (We're still cleaning the stuff up.) But, I do like the idea of sending back an empty/blank pre-paid envelope.

Howdy

 

[chrys]

Amen to that Ed!

Now, any idea how to get rid of telemarketers that call during dinner??

I am taking license to vent and rant.

There is no need to respond either pro or con. This message is for
information only, it may prove usefull. I hope so. It has certainly
given me some perverse pleasure.

Of late I, as I'm sure every homeowner and credit card holder, have
been inundated with offers for instant credit. I can't just dump
them in the trash or recycling because they contain not only
personal information but would allow someone to obtain credit in my
name.

I bought a shredder, but it never was a satisfying result. I still
felt like a victim.

Then I heard of a grass roots effort to stem the tide. It's
painless, almost effortless, and if enough people do it, might
actually put a stop to it. Just send the stuff back.

Either black out or cut out or rip off identifying data. Conversely
you can leave out that page and shred it. Then just stuff all the
other crapola back into the PostagePaid envelope and mail it off.

It's elegant, really. Not only do they have to pay for the postage,
they have to pay employees to open it up and sort the wheat from
the chaff (just like you do at home.) It costs them the full 1st
class rate.

While you're at it, take all the stuff from the bills you do have
to pay and stuff it in, too. I gaurantee you'll have a lot less
garbage each week.

Oh, BTW. Take all those Postage Paid cards stuffed into your
magazines and mail them off too. Blank, of course.

-Ed (We might have a fighting chance) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

 

[Ed (;¬ >)]

As long as you can find a use for it, who am I to say?

Sending the empty envelope is easier and accomplishes almost as much. Thank you.

I am taking license to vent and rant.

Oh, BTW. Take all those Postage Paid cards stuffed into your
magazines and mail them off too. Blank, of course.

Umm, sorry, can't go with you on this one, they make great markers
to save my page between reading sessions, and (unlike page markers
made by my kids as gifts) I never worry when I lose one since they
are 'abundunt' and easily replaced.

My kids used our shredder and all that useless (but colorful) junk
mail, including credit card applications, to make New Year's
confetti. (We're still cleaning the stuff up.) But, I do like the
idea of sending back an empty/blank pre-paid envelope.

Howdy

 

[Ed (;¬ >)]

Amen to that Ed!

Now, any idea how to get rid of telemarketers that call during
dinner??

1. 1. [Interrupt immediately] "Oh, thanks for calling. I... [yelling] JUNIOR! STOP THAT! Excuse me a moment." [Put phone down. Resume dinner. At earliest convenience—no less than 10 minutes—hang up phone.

1. 2. [Interrupt the speil immediately] Hi! What are you wearing? [pause] I'm only wearing my underwear. Do you like leather? [pause... Continue, interrupting if necessary] I love leather. Do you want me to take my underpants off? Can you guess what I'm doing now? [If the moron hasn't hung up yet.] Oh, gosh! It's my daughter! [Hang up immediately]

1. 3 Simply hang up the instant you recognize it is a sales call.

1. 4 Get one of those Zapper thingies.

-Ed (Remember: they invaded your privacy) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

 

[Ed (;¬ >)]

We thank you for your support!

-Ed (Bartles & Jaymes) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

I am taking license to vent and rant.

There is no need to respond either pro or con. This message is for
information only, it may prove usefull. I hope so. It has certainly
given me some perverse pleasure.

Of late I, as I'm sure every homeowner and credit card holder, have
been inundated with offers for instant credit. I can't just dump
them in the trash or recycling because they contain not only
personal information but would allow someone to obtain credit in my
name.

I bought a shredder, but it never was a satisfying result. I still
felt like a victim.

Then I heard of a grass roots effort to stem the tide. It's
painless, almost effortless, and if enough people do it, might
actually put a stop to it. Just send the stuff back.

Either black out or cut out or rip off identifying data. Conversely
you can leave out that page and shred it. Then just stuff all the
other crapola back into the PostagePaid envelope and mail it off.

It's elegant, really. Not only do they have to pay for the postage,
they have to pay employees to open it up and sort the wheat from
the chaff (just like you do at home.) It costs them the full 1st
class rate.

While you're at it, take all the stuff from the bills you do have
to pay and stuff it in, too. I gaurantee you'll have a lot less
garbage each week.

Oh, BTW. Take all those Postage Paid cards stuffed into your
magazines and mail them off too. Blank, of course.

-Ed (We might have a fighting chance) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

 

[C&H]

-Ed (Bartles & Jaymes) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

I am taking license to vent and rant.

There is no need to respond either pro or con. This message is for
information only, it may prove usefull. I hope so. It has certainly
given me some perverse pleasure.

Of late I, as I'm sure every homeowner and credit card holder, have
been inundated with offers for instant credit. I can't just dump
them in the trash or recycling because they contain not only
personal information but would allow someone to obtain credit in my
name.

I bought a shredder, but it never was a satisfying result. I still
felt like a victim.

Then I heard of a grass roots effort to stem the tide. It's
painless, almost effortless, and if enough people do it, might
actually put a stop to it. Just send the stuff back.

Either black out or cut out or rip off identifying data. Conversely
you can leave out that page and shred it. Then just stuff all the
other crapola back into the PostagePaid envelope and mail it off.

It's elegant, really. Not only do they have to pay for the postage,
they have to pay employees to open it up and sort the wheat from
the chaff (just like you do at home.) It costs them the full 1st
class rate.

While you're at it, take all the stuff from the bills you do have
to pay and stuff it in, too. I gaurantee you'll have a lot less
garbage each week.

Oh, BTW. Take all those Postage Paid cards stuffed into your
magazines and mail them off too. Blank, of course.

-Ed (We might have a fighting chance) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

I have hint for YOU, imagine phone is ringing "Can I talk to Chris?" (BTW that's my first name as well)....."Sorry, too late ...he just DIED..." --- "Oh, that's bad"...or kind of "Sorry to hear that" etc... Usually no more calls expected from same people/company....One guy I remember came with sudden riposte for that announcement "THAT'S OK".... Just listen what of word you get for your "departure", it's FUN anyway....
Chris from Florida (still in mint condition at the moment)

 

[J.R.]

I prefer to add a few cuss words in with my reply. Makes me feel a little better.

John

 

[J.R.]

If you live in Texas, as I do...

http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist2/pr01/u082001a.htm

 

[Robert Holloway]

At first my wife got annoyed at this habit and thought I was mad, now we are really excited when a telemarketer wanders like a fly into our web.

Here's what i do....

The moment I realize that it's the local paper, an insurance scam, credit card or whatever I immediately act interested.

I then pretend that I'm a little slow on the uptake and have them explain everything several times. I always talk very slowly.

I then get pretend to be confused.

Now I let them move me closer to the sale. You can literally feel their excitement, it's tangible.

Then I get confused again. But because they smell success they stay with it and round we go again. 5-10 minutes has now passed. Or as long as you want if you have the patience.

Then just as we get close to the sale I ask the killer question.

I change to my normal voice and ask them if they've enjoyed the chat for the last 10 minutes. I ask them if they enjoy wasting my time, becuase I really enjoy wasting their time and i know that their time is money.

Their reaction changes. I ask them why they phone me at home.

It disintegrates.

I never get angry. Always totally pleasant.

I can't do justice in writing to the fun I've had. My wife has literally laughed out loud at some of the latter calls.

Guess what, I used to get called every few days. A few months of this and the calls dried up.

Now some folks may think this a cruel and unusual punishment to people trying to make an honest living. Me, I have little sympathy. I was getting called 2/3 times a week at 7-9pm (I guess I hit a demographic target) at home by people who had no thought for my limited private time.

Ed, I can't wait to start a mail room in the back of our house.
Great idea!!
Rob

--Thought - The weakest part of my pictures is not the camera, lens, tripod, memory stick or editing software - it's me

 

[John T68485]

Great idea. I'm going to start from now on!

One idea I had for e-mail spammers is this. If they list a valid address for you to reply to... subscribe them to a few mailing lists that don't require confirmation.

John

I am taking license to vent and rant.

There is no need to respond either pro or con. This message is for
information only, it may prove usefull. I hope so. It has certainly
given me some perverse pleasure.

Of late I, as I'm sure every homeowner and credit card holder, have
been inundated with offers for instant credit. I can't just dump
them in the trash or recycling because they contain not only
personal information but would allow someone to obtain credit in my
name.

I bought a shredder, but it never was a satisfying result. I still
felt like a victim.

Then I heard of a grass roots effort to stem the tide. It's
painless, almost effortless, and if enough people do it, might
actually put a stop to it. Just send the stuff back.

Either black out or cut out or rip off identifying data. Conversely
you can leave out that page and shred it. Then just stuff all the
other crapola back into the PostagePaid envelope and mail it off.

It's elegant, really. Not only do they have to pay for the postage,
they have to pay employees to open it up and sort the wheat from
the chaff (just like you do at home.) It costs them the full 1st
class rate.

While you're at it, take all the stuff from the bills you do have
to pay and stuff it in, too. I gaurantee you'll have a lot less
garbage each week.

Oh, BTW. Take all those Postage Paid cards stuffed into your
magazines and mail them off too. Blank, of course.

-Ed (We might have a fighting chance) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

-- http://www.pbase.com/jmaxima

 

[Marty Scher B]

I feel your pain buddy.

Although I am in the credit card business (it's just a business), I also get tons of card solicitations from other companies, along with alot of other crud that clutters my house.

Not sure where this started, but the mail return thing won't help and will probably just make more work for the post office to dispose of it.

Most junk mail is sent 3rd class, which cannot be returned to the sender. (only 1st class can be returned).

Maybe you can relax in knowing that shredding doesn't help either since everyone probably already has your personal information : )

Hang in there.

I am taking license to vent and rant.

There is no need to respond either pro or con. This message is for
information only, it may prove usefull. I hope so. It has certainly
given me some perverse pleasure.

Of late I, as I'm sure every homeowner and credit card holder, have
been inundated with offers for instant credit. I can't just dump
them in the trash or recycling because they contain not only
personal information but would allow someone to obtain credit in my
name.

I bought a shredder, but it never was a satisfying result. I still
felt like a victim.

Then I heard of a grass roots effort to stem the tide. It's
painless, almost effortless, and if enough people do it, might
actually put a stop to it. Just send the stuff back.

Either black out or cut out or rip off identifying data. Conversely
you can leave out that page and shred it. Then just stuff all the
other crapola back into the PostagePaid envelope and mail it off.

It's elegant, really. Not only do they have to pay for the postage,
they have to pay employees to open it up and sort the wheat from
the chaff (just like you do at home.) It costs them the full 1st
class rate.

While you're at it, take all the stuff from the bills you do have
to pay and stuff it in, too. I gaurantee you'll have a lot less
garbage each week.

Oh, BTW. Take all those Postage Paid cards stuffed into your
magazines and mail them off too. Blank, of course.

-Ed (We might have a fighting chance) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

 

[Howdy]

You have much more patience than me.

I took a somewhat different approach. I would immediately (but politely) interupt and indicate that I required some information (name of company, mailing address, name of caller) before I would listen. After getting this info, I would inform the caller that, because they called a number that I pay for, I charge $50 plus $25 per minute for commercial calls such as theirs, and that if they continued their spiel or their company (or affiliate, or any other party to whom they gave or sold my info) called my number again, I would be sending my bill. Within several months after I started this, I went from several calls a week to just a few each year. (I think my last telemarketer call came last summer.)

On a different tack, (in connection with the Texas 'no-call' list referenced in a post above,) I vaguely recall hearing that the US recently enacted a law requiring all telemarketers to remove your name from their call lists if you so request during the call. I haven't followed up on this to determine whether this is, in fact, true or merely wishful thinking.

 

[Ed (;¬ >)]

Have you looked into the exceptions? There are always exceptions—even in California newspapers are exempted. Here in Alabama there are so many execptions as to make the law worthless.

-Ed

If you live in Texas, as I do...

http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist2/pr01/u082001a.htm

 

[Ed (;¬ >)]

I prefer to add a few cuss words in with my reply. Makes me feel a
little better.

John

Gotta relieve that stress

-Ed

 

[Ed (;¬ >)]

Wonderful! I don't have the patience to do this.

This is the perfect retribution. These vermin deserve no sympathy whatsoever.

-Ed

At first my wife got annoyed at this habit and thought I was mad,
now we are really excited when a telemarketer wanders like a fly
into our web.

Here's what i do....

The moment I realize that it's the local paper, an insurance scam,
credit card or whatever I immediately act interested.

I then pretend that I'm a little slow on the uptake and have them
explain everything several times. I always talk very slowly.

I then get pretend to be confused.

Now I let them move me closer to the sale. You can literally feel
their excitement, it's tangible.

Then I get confused again. But because they smell success they stay
with it and round we go again. 5-10 minutes has now passed. Or as
long as you want if you have the patience.

Then just as we get close to the sale I ask the killer question.

I change to my normal voice and ask them if they've enjoyed the
chat for the last 10 minutes. I ask them if they enjoy wasting my
time, becuase I really enjoy wasting their time and i know that
their time is money.

Their reaction changes. I ask them why they phone me at home.

It disintegrates.

I never get angry. Always totally pleasant.

I can't do justice in writing to the fun I've had. My wife has
literally laughed out loud at some of the latter calls.

Guess what, I used to get called every few days. A few months of
this and the calls dried up.

Now some folks may think this a cruel and unusual punishment to
people trying to make an honest living. Me, I have little sympathy.
I was getting called 2/3 times a week at 7-9pm (I guess I hit a
demographic target) at home by people who had no thought for my
limited private time.

Ed, I can't wait to start a mail room in the back of our house.
Great idea!!
Rob

--
Thought - The weakest part of my pictures is not the camera, lens,
tripod, memory stick or editing software - it's me

 

[Ed (;¬ >)]

Great idea. I'm going to start from now on!

One idea I had for e-mail spammers is this. If they list a valid
address for you to reply to... subscribe them to a few mailing
lists that don't require confirmation.

Could you give me the names of a couple that don't confirm?

-Ed

John

I am taking license to vent and rant.

There is no need to respond either pro or con. This message is for
information only, it may prove usefull. I hope so. It has certainly
given me some perverse pleasure.

Of late I, as I'm sure every homeowner and credit card holder, have
been inundated with offers for instant credit. I can't just dump
them in the trash or recycling because they contain not only
personal information but would allow someone to obtain credit in my
name.

I bought a shredder, but it never was a satisfying result. I still
felt like a victim.

Then I heard of a grass roots effort to stem the tide. It's
painless, almost effortless, and if enough people do it, might
actually put a stop to it. Just send the stuff back.

Either black out or cut out or rip off identifying data. Conversely
you can leave out that page and shred it. Then just stuff all the
other crapola back into the PostagePaid envelope and mail it off.

It's elegant, really. Not only do they have to pay for the postage,
they have to pay employees to open it up and sort the wheat from
the chaff (just like you do at home.) It costs them the full 1st
class rate.

While you're at it, take all the stuff from the bills you do have
to pay and stuff it in, too. I gaurantee you'll have a lot less
garbage each week.

Oh, BTW. Take all those Postage Paid cards stuffed into your
magazines and mail them off too. Blank, of course.

-Ed (We might have a fighting chance) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

--
http://www.pbase.com/jmaxima