I'm so old I Remember when:

[EmmaDonovan]

If I don't recognize a number that's calling me I'll look it up quickly online. If it turns out to be a known scammer I answer without saying anything then hold the phone up to my computer speakers playing whatever Youtube video I have going. I hope that messes with their algorithm. If not I still find it amusing.

 

[R2elk]

Can you tell us what happened?

Broke the rules.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Ever argue with a telemarketer? Those are special moments. Gets me giddy just thinking about the next opportunity.

I don't get those calls any more but when I did, I used to act tickled to death to have gotten a call from them. I'd be all, "Well, HI! How ARE you? How's the kids? And the husband? So glad to hear that! How's the weather where you are?" Then I'd go off, telling them all about MY exciting life and not letting them get a word in edgewise. None ever called a second time. It was fun!

They take it upon themselves to attempt to inject themselves into my life to scam me or hawk me some product. Being confrontational and frankly rude is justified in my mind.

My way is more fun and then I can live with myself. I don't want to be a rude person.

 

[jxp]

... and bubble gum cigars.

Was it something owl brand or did they just have a picture of the night bird on the band?

 

[SkyAJK]

At my last job they installed a biometric time clock. When they were setting it up you gave them two fingerprints - I suppose in case your primary finger got a boo-boo - as well as using a self-selected pin #. After 6 or 8 weeks of frustratingly never getting it to work quite right and creating daily headaches for HR, they disabled it and we went back to swiping our company ID cards.

That sound very complicated to me.
Swiping of company ID cards still widely use to this day.

 

[jxp]

And, wasn’t there a chewy candy on a stick called a ‘Black Cow’

And a banana one by the same company.
And then there's cow tails and Charleston chew and chick-o-stix. Actually most of these are still available at places like Candy-opolis (at least they were pre-lockdown - anymore, who knows )

 

[jxp]

"Hi, thank you for calling *insert name*'s Butcher Shop. You raise 'em, we slay 'em, how can we help you?"

City morgue. You kill 'em, we chill 'em. >>or<< You stab 'em, we slab 'em.

 

[notabitail]

City morgue. You kill 'em, we chill 'em. >>or<< You stab 'em, we slab 'em.

Eh. I like the butcher shop one better. Less morbid.

 

[Evadig]

I have my phone set to automatically silence all numbers not listed in my contacts. That way I don’t have to deal with scam calls.

 

[Canadian Wind]

I have my phone set to automatically silence all numbers not listed in my contacts. That way I don’t have to deal with scam calls.

Unless it happens to be the police asking "Do you know where your car is?". Happened to me last month, and they called from a private number. (my daughter had borrowed my car and ran out of gas so it was in the parking lot of a motel while she went to get some).

Call Display is a two-edged sword. I like being able to screen my calls, but miss the tingle of excitement of the phone ringing and wondering who it was and if it was for me (as a teenager).