NRA, Planned Parenthood, Etc....

[Gary Sisco]

File this under: If you're not going to give us money.

Last week, I got a fundraising call from the NRA (which I've left). As soon as I objected to the party line in any way, the woman hung up on me. No discussion, no debate. Toe the line and write the check or "Go Fuck Yourself."

Last night, Bronwyn got one from Planned Parenthood. Same thing. Hysterical, irrational to the point of insane predictions about the imminent end of the world. When Bronwyn objected and tried to reason and explain why she'd *stopped* sending them money (after years of being a monthly donor), the woman just stopped her, with: "If you're not going to send us money, I have other calls to make." And hung up.

[Ennis Snavely]

What's your objection to Planned Parenthood? I take this personally since I was their poster child when I was a kid.

[patricia]

I don't think that Gary meant that he and Bronwyn object to Planned Parenthood, as much as the tone of both their fund-raising call as well as the NRA fund-raising call.
As Gary described the calls, they seemed to be borderline rude and presumptuous, with no discussion, should the prospective doner wish to air their views about either organization.
They sounded almost like gentle extortion, rather than a plea for needed funds for a worthwhile cause.
Either organizations which depend on private funding don't care what their members think, as long as they give them the accustomed financial support, or, perhaps, the solicitors are being poorly trained.
I would have been hesitant to give either group my money too, had they approached me in this way.
Boils down to poor public relations. I'm not surprised at the reluctance of those who agree with the groups' work to support them, in response to calls like this, rather than a more diplomatic and polite request.

[Gary Sisco]

I don't have one. Bronwyn does. She's been giving them money every month for years and years, but the woman who called was going hysterical over how many women didn't vote in 2000 and how they needed a new ton of money to "get them to the polls" this time. Bronwyn said she thought it was a dumb call, so close to the election, and that in any case, there was no logical reason for her to assume that anyone not registered to vote by now, woman or not, was going to vote any less brainlessly than the ones who are. That was as far as the attempted conversation went.

But she decided to quit sending money because of being hung up on while she was trying to explain that she *is* sending them money and *does* send them money but thought that particular phone campaign was stupid and irrational.

I can't argue with her. Getting unregistered (at this point) women to the polls doesn't seem a pressing enough matter to invoke a hysterical fundraising campaign that insults one's intelligence (as the NRA's did mine), and then hanging up when offered any dissident comment whatever, is both dumb and disrespectful. Like me, Bronwyn doesn't give money to people who insult and diss her by hanging up.

But my overall point is the *likeness* of the two campaigns. Neither brooks any dissent. Neither shows any respect for people who aren't locksteppers.

Watching American politics today, as an outsider, makes it much easier for me to understand things like Stalinism, which wouldn't have been possible without Stalin*ists* and this kind of brainless herd mentality, but worse: both represent a politics that seeks to purposefully manipulate people by playing on their fears of the Boogeyman (who I thought had died with John Lee Hooker but wtfdik).

[patricia]

Scary attitude, for sure. I think it's just an extention of the "with us, or against us" attitude of the present administration. It works for them, so some misguided doofuses may think that it's an effective way to run a railroad.
Stalinism is a good way to describe this feeling that seems to have taken over the country and it can't continue without negative reprecussions.

Everybody here knows how I feel about, not just women, but everyone voting. It's the only real power they have to get the clown-car out of the White House, but there will still be tons of people who won't bother.

[Enforcer]

I take it a step further, Gary. I've had these experiences so many times that I simply won't conduct any business on the phone. I'm unabashedly rude with anyone who calls my home phone to solicit me. I work at my job and then I come home. When I come home, I'm done with answering phone calls from people I don't know. I have only so much time to spend with family or enjoying leisure activities, and the last thing I have any patience for is some motherf**ker calling me while I'm scurrying around, trying to fix dinner, rush out the door to drive a child somewhere or even watch the hockey game. That's my time and I'm not going to be bothered.

Those who visit my door get an equally cold shoulder. I don't care what they need or want, they have to find some less intrusive avenue to conduct their business if they want me to listen. I have a mailbox. They can mail it to me. Not just put it in, but take the time and spend the money to affix a postage stamp on it and send it through the post office. I can read that stuff at my leisure, and not sacrifice my personal time doing something else. These talking heads they hire are rude and uninformed. Most are just plain stupid. I have no problem raising my voice and telling them plainly to just f**k off. I scared the sh** out of a poor kid who was at our house for a sleepover when one of these phone solicitors called me to try and persuade me to switch cable TV companies. I was practically screaming into the phone I was so pissed off.

I have a lot of funny stories I could tell about things I've said to the phone solicitors over the years, but I've already ruined your thread with this rant so I'll leave well enough alone now.

Getting pissed just thinking about those lame f**kers,
Larry

[stonemonkts]

Originally Posted by Larry Nagel

I have a lot of funny stories I could tell about things I've said to the phone solicitors over the years, but I've already ruined your thread with this rant so I'll leave well enough alone now.

Getting pissed just thinking about those lame f**kers,
Larry

I do too. Several of those callers probably needed a stiff drink after I terrorized their ass.

I'm a little funny when it comes to phones and doorbells. Hearing either almost causes a psychotic episode.

In fact I haven't answered a phone in many years. I let the machine get it.

[Tom Storer]

Originally Posted by Gary Sisco

the woman just stopped her, with: "If you're not going to send us money, I have other calls to make." And hung up.

What's wrong with that? That's what I say all the time when I call my friends and family.

[Gary Sisco]

I have the same pyschotic episodes when the phone rings, probably because I ran a homeless shelter for ten years and was hence required to be available 24/7. That's when I started screening calls with the old answering machines. Now I normally allow the voicemail to do my screening and if no message, then star 69, as I do have horses to worry about, an elderly mom, Bronwyn's homehealthcare, her elder family, and etc. Nevertheless, I only very answer a call but when I do, I can also go berserk if it's a marketer or solicitor.

(By the way, we've been on the no-call list from the beginning and it worked ... for a time. Marketers are calling again, now, including huge ones like Verizon. I guess the Bushites must be not enforcing of the enforcement is worth it in a cost/benefit analysis. In any case, the no-call list doesn't seem to be working anymore.)

My real issue is with the -- and I think it's fair to generalize now, given objective experience over a long enough term -- lockstep nature of American politics today. It's not just the parties that are "with us or against us," it's seems to be the prevalent mentality.

For example, the NRA woman told me flatly that if Kerry were elected, he'd have a "free pass" to reintroduce the Clinton ban and seize my firearms (three out of four of which are listed in the ban but I bought them prior to it). I told the woman that that was an absurd, fearmongering statement and reminded her that even if Kerry was elected, there was still a Congress, no? Still two parties (at least) in Congress, no? And, failing that, there is still an NRA, the biggest and most powerful citizens' organization in the US, no? She flatly stuck to her statement as if it were not only true but self-evidently so. Just like a Stalinist.

She didn't hang up until I told her that frankly there is more than one amendment in the Bill of Rights, and I'd appreciate it if the NRA remembered that once in a while, especially since Asscroft doesn't seem to know it or if he does, he doesn't like or support them very much.

She hung up when I reminded her that her position was doubly absurd because George Bush himself has said, repeatedly, that he supports an extension -- more accurately, now, a revival -- of the Clinton ban. Indeed, he reiterated only a few weeks ago that he'd sign a new ban law if Congress sent him one.

Click.

That's the NRA's most dread public secret. Again, just like Stalinists, all of whom knew that the show trials were bullshit and went along with it anyway. In this case, apparently if no one mentions the president's support of the ban, it means he doesn't support it. Again, a perfect Stalinoid illogic.

[Enforcer]

Originally Posted by Gary Sisco

My real issue is with the -- and I think it's fair to generalize now, given objective experience over a long enough term -- lockstep nature of American politics today. It's not just the parties that are "with us or against us," it's seems to be the prevalent mentality.

You and me both, Gary. You and me both. I know you don't watch TV, but the thread here that discusses Jon Stewart's appearance on the program Crossfire contains a clip of the show. Stewart hosts a comedy show and has repeatedly ridiculed Crossfire for passing itself off as serious news journalism and debate. On the show, he confronts the hosts themselves for their partisan hack arguments and it makes for good entertainment.

[jazzy mary]

Tom, LOL!!!!!!!!

I don't answer the phone either, I let the machine pick up and then if it's someone I want to talk to, I run and pick up. The few times I HAVE answered the phone and it's someone asking for Mary Gleeeenon or Mary Gleason or some such, I say there's no one here by that name (true). I know if someone is mis-prounouncing my name, I don't know them in any way and I don't want to.

[Chris D]

You have to renew the "no-call list" every so often; I think it's two years. I know we just had to re-register.

[Tom Storer]

I have no idea what the legislation is in France that might apply to telephone marketing etc., but although I'm in the phone book and not an any kind of list, I get unsolicited calls maybe two or three times a year. Works for me!

[Pete C]

I don't know about the particular organizations that Gary mentions, but don't assume you're getting a call from a true believer. Many nonprofits use commission phone solicitors, so they indeed have the personal incentive to move on to the next call if you're not biting.

[Ennis Snavely]

I always try to be polite with these folks on the phone.

As far as PP (and as their former poster boy) I think that their wanting to get out the vote is entirely reasonable given that Bush will, if re-defeated, appoint one ore more people to the supremes. Maybe the person who called your partner was hysterical (and rude for hanging up), but if we are serious about keeping abortion legal in this country we've got to get rid of Bush.

[Enforcer]

Originally Posted by Jazzzoline

*taking notes: NEVER call Lawrence*

Erase those notes! That's not what I meant!

[Gary Sisco]

Snavely -- And you think no women -- esp women who haven't even bothered to register to vote yet, never mind not voting in 2000 -- are going to auto vote against Bush, just because of their genitalia? There are no women in the christian right? No repub women? No anti-abortion women? My take on it, truly, is that anyone who hasn't even registered themselves yet, if adult, ought to be left alone in their privacy. What the woman objected to was Bronwyn's refusal to equate biology with politics, and Bronwyn is right. Women don't vote in lockstep and there is no logical reason to presume that an adult woman who hasn't registered yet in the US today is going to vote for Kerry ... or for Bush ... or even to vote.

And in any case, it's rather late in the game for a voter registration drive.

And, finally, they've been told, repeatedly, that we don't respond to telephone calls. If they want to send us something in the mail, go ahead. Call us on the phone and you get no money, no matter what outfit you're with.

As for the NRA, don't worry about it. That woman was a True Believer, iron clad. She wasn't a pay-her-to-call.

In the end it matters not. Refusing to engage someone you've not only called at home but called at home to hustle for money is unacceptable behavior. I don't care who you are or why you're calling or how important it is.

Never mind that people are hardly likely to send money if you insult them. This would seem to be clear enough, but, then, this is American after all.

[Ennis Snavely]

Gary: note that I said "abortion rights" supporters, not womens. There are plenty of stupid women who are goung to vote for that festering appointed pus-bag, I'm sure.

BTW, I send money to PP even though I have a penis.

I was going to say "though I have a dick" but I decided against it.

[Gary Sisco]

Good one, Snidely. :-)

We (note, we) sent them money monthly for many years. That's done now.

I'd already left the NRA when I received that call, so apparently their computer lists aren't up to date. That bread savings alone will probably make the difference in being able to afford the annual NYC run next year. I'd been a charter/founder member of their most militant faction for years, and we paid up big time compared to regular members. (I was going to say dicks but thought better of it.)

"Try not to remember
the president's member..."

[saltwatersnow]

talking about the telemarketers not the nra or planned parenthood- anyone else have any badass cool stories about scaring the piss out of someone doing the crappiest job on the planet so he or she can eat or pay rent. im sure its by choice they habve taken that job just to piss you off. Its not like the last 55 people havent done the same thing to them that day. You could just save time for them and you by hanging up, but letting off some steam at a poor person who im sure really wants to be selling that shit he is forced to sell im sure makes you feel real good. for shame. for shame.

[Gary Sisco]

I am. I'm deeply shamed. Truly.

[stonemonkts]

Yeah, I feel real shitty about fucking with the assholes who refuse to acknowledge my exasperation at being called and blathered to non-stop about whatthefuckever.

I'm polite until I realize they're not.

Fuck them a thousand times, and then once more with a twist.

[Ennis Snavely]

[QUOTE=stonemonkts...I feel real shitty about fucking with the assholes...[/QUOTE]

And why shouldn't you?