What Would You Ask A Random Person on the Phone? - General Discussion Discussion

[–] Catbookss (13664) 7 years ago

You've posted some excellent threads here, so this thread -- and your responses to others who disagree with your doing this -- puzzles me.

To answer your questions, this isn't something I'd do, because I get enough survey and telemarketing calls as it is, and it annoys me, so I wouldn't want to annoy someone else. Not interested in retrieving any information or trying to influence either, so no.

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[–] db20db (16573) 7 years ago

He just started revealing his true colors over time, Cat, as people often do.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 7 years ago

Maybe, Db. But I prefer to think of this as a one-off.

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

Yeah, I don't get the hostility here either from both sides... Mort has been a good poster... and then when people questioned him about this idea... they got mean and so did he. Let's squash this and talk about films instead.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 7 years ago

Good idea.

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[–] db20db (16573) 7 years ago

If you'll take a closer look, you'll see he resorted to name calling me first. And out of all the negative responses he got prior to mine, including yours, it appears he really lashed out at me for some reason.

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

I don't blame you for being taken aback at being called chickenshit... but creepy is a pretty harsh adjective too. You both have the right to react as you see fit... but I feel like some buttons got pushed and it escalated farther than it should have between otherwise good posters. I didn't mean to offend the OP either... I think he thought he came up with an interesting topic and when we all didn't react the way he expected he lashed out defensively. I know he doesn't mean any harm... and I see his point that it's cool to be adventurous and that we'd even cheer this type of character in a film... but in the world of reality if someone called you or tapped you on the shoulder to ask you random questions... it could also be frightening to some. Another issue I'd say would be the intent of the caller... if the caller actually wants to make new friends... I can see some value to that call... but if he doesn't care about the target and only wants to use them without any genuine intent to get to know the person better... it is the same as using someone... feigning a certain intimacy to gain access to that person's thoughts. On the other hand, if he actually intends to follow through and be a true friend... the behavior doesn't seem as rude.

It could have been an interesting discussion but sadly it kind of turned to crap.

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[–] db20db (16573) 7 years ago

Well, there's got to be a reason why there's been such a predominantly negative backlash to this thread from the very beginning.

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[–] actionkamen (23176) 7 years ago

So, is the OP like the most elaborate Ben in disguise?

If this is true then I'm not even mad, it's amazing! The sheer dedication!

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 7 years ago

[laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 7 years ago

"I think he thought he came up with an interesting topic and when we all didn't react the way he expected he lashed out defensively."

That's what I think.

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[–] db20db (16573) 7 years ago

In other words, he was too vain and obstinate to admit he made a mistake.

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[–] napsdufroid (2077) 7 years ago

Yup

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 7 years ago

Well, you could put it that way :)

I don't think he thought through what it could be like for those receiving his calls, and therefore thought it was no harm, no foul. So he was surprised and taken aback at our responses. Hopefully he'll think better of doing it now.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 7 years ago

Okay, having read his newest responses, I'm changing my mind. Too bad he's not thinking the better of his behavior, both in his OP and in his responses. Oh well.

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[–] db20db (16573) 7 years ago

Your attempts to be diplomatic are commendable , Cats but I've learned to rely on the dependability of the concept of ' true colors ' over decades now.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 7 years ago

Thanks, Db. I appreciate the appreciation :)

Giving others the benefit of the doubt -- only IF warranted -- and the old do unto others has worked well for me over the decades.

In this case, Mort has contributed any number of threads about film/actors/shows that have been good. This has been his first foray into posting an off-topic (if you will, although this is the general board) thread, and it's been a train wreck. Had his previous contributions been mixed, I'd agree with you.

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[–] Popcorn Kernel (2368) 7 years ago

I would never call random people. I have enough to occupy me without resorting to harassing strangers for fun. And if you called me I would just hang up.
We used to do crank calls as kids ( like, under the age of 10). most people grow put of this before they are adults.

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[–] R_Kane (15828) 7 years ago

What she said. I try to avoid doing stupid things.

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[–] MortSahlFan (257) 7 years ago

I'm not "crank calling"

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[–] MissMargoChanning (6630) 7 years ago

Yes you are. If it's for your entertainment that is exactly what that is.

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[–] Popcorn Kernel (2368) 7 years ago

Strangers are not in this world for your amusement. They have their own lives to lead and you are interrupting that to entertain yourself. I thought you were over 30? Can't you find another way to entertain yourself that does not infringe on other people's lives?
You might wake someone's baby they just got to sleep. You might wake a night worker who sleeps during the day. People have a right to be left alone.

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[–] napsdufroid (2077) 7 years ago

It's crank calling, no matter how you try to semanticize it. Sad an so-called adult has to resort to this for amusement.

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[–] MortSahlFan (257) 7 years ago

I pity your lack of curiosity in human behavior. After all, you are one.

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[–] Catbookss (13664) 7 years ago

I understand your curiosity about human behavior; I share it.

What I don't understand is why you think it's okay, or harmless, to interrupt another's life by asking what amounts to be frivolous questions to satisfy your curiosity.

Not too long ago I was taking care of TWO dying family members. I had no choice but to answer the phone every time it rang because it might be ER people, or doctors, or nurses, or hospice workers, or whatever. The situation was stressful and bad enough without telemarketers or political calls, but I'd have lost it if it were someone calling frivolously in the way you were.

Please put yourself in the shoes of others, or those in whose shoes you've never walked, but may some day. As someone else pointed out, you may be disrupting the sleep of someone who works at night, or any other of many scenarios, simply to satisfy your curiosity.

The feedback of your OP is overwhelmingly against what you're doing, and with good reason, which should by now be clear to you. I don't think you're a bad person, or that you've intentionally tried to disrupt people's lives, only that you haven't thought through the ramifications of your actions.

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[–] MissMargoChanning (6630) 7 years ago

Cat, thank you. and others who have tried to explain this to the OP far more eloquently than I could have. I was too angry! I have had horrible encounters with people who do this and never think twice about how intrusive they are. I hope this gives him/her food for thought.
I hope the OP will come to understand that there are far better ways to amuse one's self than to disrupt other's lives in such a childish way.
with all of the entertainment we have these days, why would anyone want to play around like that on the phone?

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[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

I keep thinking of elderly relatives who find taking phonecalls confusing at the best of times.

It would be quite cruel.

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[–] Sentient Meat (1509) 7 years ago

This is actually the most convincing argument against as the elderly are the most likely to answer an unidentified call and each trip to the phone is an adventure that could result in a broken hip.

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[–] MissMargoChanning (6630) 7 years ago

You are right! It would be quite cruel.

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[–] MortSahlFan (257) 7 years ago

Interruptions? Your country is probably bombing thousands of people...

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[–] napsdufroid (2077) 7 years ago

What the F does that have to do with you making crank phone calls?

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[–] MortSahlFan (257) 7 years ago

hahahahhahaha -- very expected response.. :)

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[–] napsdufroid (2077) 7 years ago

Way to avoid answering the question, Morty. Not surprising you'd take the coward's way out.

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[–] napsdufroid (2077) 7 years ago

I pity your lack of understanding period that what you're doing is childish, asinine, a major ass-pain, and, frankly, quite stupid.

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[–] MortSahlFan (257) 7 years ago

Your response shows you are nothing but a Fascist...

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[–] napsdufroid (2077) 7 years ago

Actually, it shows nothing of the sort. But it does, unfortunately, underscore your stupidity once again. Thought you had more intelligence and maturity than that, Morty. Apparently not.

Tell you what; why don't you post your number here, so anyone reading it can call YOU to ask ultimately meaningless questions? You think there's nothing wrong with it, so start by making yourself available.

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[–] MortSahlFan (257) 7 years ago

If someone randomly calls me, I'll talk, I promise not to go nuts like yourself, who seems so offended -- I live by my philosophy. I don't believe in your bumper sticker mentality, you let others dictate your narrow existence.

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[–] napsdufroid (2077) 7 years ago

First, I didn't "go nuts"; I simply called you out as I see you in MY philosophy, which is no better or worse than yours. Sorry, Morty, wrong again; I don't let others dictate anything to me; I just don't appreciate stupid and/or useless calls. Second, again, if you have no problem with getting random calls, post your number. Seems like you're afraid to, Morty, despite all your posturing.

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[–] klownz (478) 7 years ago

Me and one of my mates I used to go to school with, we would get stoned & prank phone limerick's... we found it hilarious (obviously since we were high as fuck)

We targeted my mums friends and his mums friends.

They worked out it was us & the ones who had a sense of humor had jokes for us as well & played along :)

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[–] April-151-CT (10210) 7 years ago

What are you wearing?

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[–] MortSahlFan (257) 7 years ago

pajamas

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[–] April-151-CT (10210) 7 years ago

::::click::::

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[–] [email protected] (1295) 7 years ago

lol april

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[–] MissMargoChanning (6630) 7 years ago

Is your refrigerator running?

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[–] MortSahlFan (257) 7 years ago

What a stupid question.

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[–] napsdufroid (2077) 7 years ago

No more stupid than calling a complete stranger and asking him/her their favorite film or pretending you know them, Morty. And you STILL haven't posted your number, coward. After all, you think random calls are a great idea, and you've been hostile to anyone who doesn't agree. But when it comes to you getting them, it's a different story.

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[–] MortSahlFan (257) 7 years ago

You've been obsessed for 2 weeks... Please keep posting.

Go ahead and randomly call me.

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[–] napsdufroid (2077) 7 years ago

You posted this 5 days ago...how does that translate to 2 weeks in your mind? Guess math isn't your strong point, along with consideration for others. And the only one "obsessed" is you, Morty; you can't stand that nobody agrees with you, so you act like a spoiled child.

For the 4th time, coward, post your number so everyone who wants to can randomly call you. Too much of a chickenshit, Morty?