Hmmmm...no compassion, eh? Kendall, I love your answering machine message!

Your phrase their lack of marketable skills makes me wonder at your judgement, though. They may be single mothers, quite young, who have not had the money or time to go to college, etc. to improve their skills. And, remember, they could be single moms for many reasons, not just through carelessness.

They may be a person with a physical handicap which keeps them from other types of jobs which they may have skills for...

finally, like a lot of other people in our country and elsewhere, it may be the only "decent," i.e. NOT on their feet slinging hash at McD's, job available to them.

Also, some people really love being telemarketers. They are good at their job and enjoy it. THOSE types will be good listeners and really hear what a person is saying on the other end of the phone.

I still say a person can screen their calls, quite easily, using an answering machine and/or caller ID. OR, gawd forbid, turn their phones off, go digital and not give the number out to many, etc. If phones have become too intrusive in our lives, it is because we've allowed it. Each one of has the freedom to turn it off, not answer, get a private number, etc.

I know this is not a popular view, but i think it is as important to try to understand the teleworker's point of view, as it is the pay attention to the opt-out numbers.

Tig, good luck to Firecat!

kat