DEBRIS.COMgood for a laugh, or possibly an aneurysm

David Lazarus, tech columnist for the SF Chronicle, tells an interesting story about telemarketing in his 11/5/01 column, No free PC, no comment. In brief, a particular telemarketing company leaves voice mail messages promising free computers, and explains only after gullible victims call back that there are significant strings attached to the “offer.”

“I know it’s misleading,” Greg [an employee of the telemarketing firm] said quickly, “but it’s not illegal. It’s just a marketing ploy. It’s just a way to get you to call back.”

The marketing ploy to which Greg is referring is commonly known as lying.

So, I know it is commonplace, so much so that we generally ignore it, treating it as an unfortunate but harmless case of free enterprise going too far. But why do we stand for it? Is it enough to simply opt out, or should we be fighting back?