Some telemarketer just called offering 0.000001 per cent interest if only I'd ...

I exaggerate for effect, and truth be told, I didn't hear much of the spiel.

My standard tactic for some time has been to put the phone down when the person starts talking and then go on about my business.

I continue to be amazed when I return several minutes later and they're still there. "Hello?" this particular guy asked as I picked up the phone before quietly hanging up.

My question for these guys, should we ever speak on a non-commercial basis, would be, "at one point did you realize I wasn't listening to you at all, and why didn't you hang up when you clued in?"

I sympathize with people working for a living, but I place telemarketers and traffic cops on about the same low plane of existence.