Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

wallinbl · Aug 30, 2006, 07:04 PM

I'm getting pretty sick of the automated calls with recorded messages from politicians. It's nice how they excused themselves from the do not call lists. I'm getting several of these calls a day anymore.

Spliffdaddy · Aug 30, 2006, 07:13 PM

I just add them to my 'do not vote' list.

turtle777 · Aug 30, 2006, 11:46 PM

And write them an email, telling them that they just lost your vote.

-t

vmarks · Aug 31, 2006, 02:18 PM

They also wrote themselves out of all anti-spam email legislation.

KeriVit · Aug 31, 2006, 02:23 PM

It actually got to be pretty humorous when I lived in NH. I would have messages from George Bush, John Kerry, and every other candidate for the primaries.

Jawbone54 · Aug 31, 2006, 02:24 PM

"Hi, my name is Ro-"

*click*

This is the way every automated message has gone for me lately. It is annoying getting them, but they only waste about 1 second of my time.

vmarks · Aug 31, 2006, 02:38 PM

The argument they used to keep themselves out of the anti-spam and no-calling-list legislation was that theirs is "protected political speech" -- never mind that it's a theft of a resource I'm paying for.

The advertisers tried to make a similar claim, that theirs was free speech, but that fell flat on the legislator's deaf ears.

wallinbl · Aug 31, 2006, 07:45 PM

My wife must have registered Republican because I keep getting calls that start off with 'We have a Republican alert...'.

nredman · Aug 31, 2006, 08:15 PM

i made the mistake of putting my name on a list because i wanted a free john kerry sticker - now i get all kinds of calls for democratic meetings and door knocking. stupid john kerry screwed me again

Gossamer · Aug 31, 2006, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by nredman

i made the mistake of putting my name on a list because i wanted a free john kerry sticker - now i get all kinds of calls for democratic meetings and door knocking. stupid john kerry screwed me again

Hope the sticker was worth it

turtle777 · Aug 31, 2006, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by nredman

i made the mistake of putting my name on a list because i wanted a free john kerry sticker - now i get all kinds of calls for democratic meetings and door knocking. stupid john kerry screwed me again

LOL

-t

itai195 · Aug 31, 2006, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by nredman

i made the mistake of putting my name on a list because i wanted a free john kerry sticker - now i get all kinds of calls for democratic meetings and door knocking. stupid john kerry screwed me again

Just hold out, it will stop after 4 years and 2 moves or so

I never get calls from politicians, but that's probably because we don't have any contested races here. Instead I get lots of mail asking for political donations.

ghporter · Sep 1, 2006, 09:03 AM

My first thought at seeing the title of this thread was "Oh no! They're reproducing!!!" Sorry.

Anyway, I like spliff's take-if I get an unsolicited campaign call, I immediately consider that candidate unqualified for my vote.

Their antispam exemption is good for a few candidates, in a few situations. But when the "machines" start marketing their guys (that's all it is anymore-marketing) then it's no longer "political speech" in my mind. It's trash and filth, and an example of how degenerated U.S. political mechanisms have become.

USB HUB · Sep 1, 2006, 10:29 AM

Get a air horn. that'll work!

wallinbl · Sep 2, 2006, 06:36 AM

Originally Posted by USB HUB

Get a air horn. that'll work!

It's a recorded message - no one will hear it.

Eug · Sep 2, 2006, 07:29 AM

If they call me in person... I consider that OK, if it's at a reasonable hour and they are courteous.
If they have a campaign worker call me... Lame but not a complete deal killer.

If they spam call me... They are instantly crossed off my voting list.

BTW, if they do call me in person and I'm not at all interested, I just say I'll vote for them. Gets them off the phone immediately, without p!ssing anyone off.

torsoboy · Sep 2, 2006, 08:27 AM

you guys are kinda funny that have this attitude:

You're the best candidate that we have, but since your marketting team sent me some spam phone call I am going to vote for the next best one that missed my house with their spam phone calls that every candidate uses. I am voting for the less thourough marketting team... that's my strategy for picking a winner!

Eug · Sep 2, 2006, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by torsoboy

you guys are kinda funny that have this attitude:

You're the best candidate that we have, but since your marketting team sent me some spam phone call I am going to vote for the next best one that missed my house with their spam phone calls that every candidate uses. I am voting for the less thourough marketting team... that's my strategy for picking a winner!

If their marketing team is stupid enough to use spam voicemail, they deserve to get fired, and that candidate deserves to lose. Any candidate with any sense of decency (or who wants to come across as decent at least) would not use it IMO. Interestingly, of late NONE of my local candidates have dared use automated spam phone calls. I think that says something right there.

I also make it a point NEVER to buy anything from a company that sends me spam faxes.

euchomai · Sep 2, 2006, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by Eug

If their marketing team is stupid enough to use spam voicemail, they deserve to get fired, and that candidate deserves to lose. Any candidate with any sense of decency (or who wants to come across as decent at least) would not use it IMO. Interestingly, of late NONE of my local candidates have dared use automated spam phone calls. I think that says something right there.

I also make it a point NEVER to buy anything from a company that sends me spam faxes.

I have a hard time believing that they didn't use t use calls. Maybe you just weren't on the target list. Calls are still considered one of the top ways to get name ID up really quickly and pretty inexpensive.

Two points:
1. To not vote for someone because you were on a target list is absolutely ridiculous. Vote on issues and on the candidate. Nearly all candidates do automated calls, again, you just might not be on the target list.
2. People always say they won't vote for the guy because they got too much mail, or too many phone calls. They always SAY it, you know who wins? The person who did the most calls and sent the most mail pieces. It is the name you remember in the voting booth because you had so many contacts with that person.

Eug · Sep 2, 2006, 09:33 AM

Maybe things are different in the US, but up here in my riding in Toronto, NOBODY uses them. They had used them a few years ago, but then abruptly stopped using.

I think this may be directly related to the the fact that everyone here hates automated phone spam. I feel sorry for you if you feel you must accept that kind of crap.

Calls from an actual human are a different story. At least we know this way they are making an effort.

wallinbl · Sep 3, 2006, 07:28 AM

Originally Posted by torsoboy

You're the best candidate that we have

I wish I could find a candidate worth voting for - regardless of phone spamming. I would like to be able to cast negative votes. If all candidates receive more negative votes than positive votes, then the seat/office goes empty until the next election.

When faced with a choice between a green ass and a purple ass, one will end up winning. Then, you'll see really stupid statements like "well, voters showed that they really prefer purple asses". There never seems to be any chance to say "we don't care about green or purple, but please drop the ass part!"