>I once got a telemarketing call that went something like this...
>
>Caller: Do you have a couple of minutes?
>Me: I don't know, what are you wearing?
>Caller: What do you mean?
>Me: Is it slinky or better yet, nothing at all.
>< click >

Nice one ! :-)

You could have answered "Well - I hope so; the doctor said I'm in good health."

(like when a bum asks you if you have any spare change - "I've no way of knowing - I haven't finished living yet")

Of course, one could always just put the phone down, off the hook, and walk away, leaving the gnat to talk to thin air and waste their phone bill.

>
>In Utah, it is illegal to use prerecorded messages for telemarketing. The person receiving the call can sue for up to $500 plus court costs. A few years ago I took a telemarketer to court for violating the law and won $250.

But what were your court costs (or did they have to pay them too)?
>
>
>>I once said to one of these guys "... how would you like it if someone phoned you during dinner ... ?" etc. and he immediately drew my attention to the UK "Telehone Preference Service" which you phone to have yourself removed from telesales "to do" lists. As a result I very rarely get one of these calls any more. I'm not sure if it's like a voluntary code of practice that they all abide by, with just a few renegades", or deletion from a hit list.
>>
>>I'd be surprised if there aren't similar service in other countries. I must admit that this is not well known in this country and at least I applaud the honesty of the caller who put me onto it.