I know this one isn’t political, but it was funny so I thought I’d share it.
Pulitzer Prize-winning humor writer Dave Barry devoted a recent column to the national “do not call” list and his frustration with telemarketers.
At first, he invited his readers to contact him with ideas on how “resolve our differences with the telemarketing industry.”
Then he thought better of it. “No, wait, I have a better idea,” Barry said. “Call the American Teleservices Association…and tell them what you think. I’m sure they’d love to hear your constitutionally protected views!” Barry included the ATA’s toll-free phone number in his nationally-syndicated column.
Apparently, thousands of Barry’s readers took his advice and shared their thoughts on telemarketing with the ATA. Some of the readers’ suggestions for the ATA, shockingly, were unpleasant.
For some reason, the ATA is not amused.
As the Miami Herald reported this week, “[Barry’s readers] called. And called. And 10 days later, they’re still calling.”
Tim Searcy, executive director of the ATA, told the Herald, “It’s difficult not to see some malice in Mr. Barry’s intent.”
Of course there was malice in his intent!
Apparently, Barry singled out the ATA for this abuse because the group is leading the legal challenge to the new law creating the national “do not call” list.
As a result, Barry didn’t seem troubled by the fact that the ATA was getting flooded with calls from his readers.
“I feel just terrible, especially if they were eating or anything,” he said. “They have phones like the rest of us have phones. Their attitude seems to be if you have a phone, people are allowed to call you.”