A guy's outrage over how robocalls have ruined phone calls has struck a chord with people

Anger at robocalls is a thing.
An anonymous Twitter user with the handle BusinessmanLego is getting a lot of love for pointing out a sad fact of American life: The phone call has been nearly killed by scammers.
We can all remember a time when getting a phone call from a number you didn't know would be exciting. A long-lost friend could be getting in touch. It could be a new opportunity. You may have won the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes.
But now, a call from an unknown number is most likely from a scammer or an autodialer. They're distracting, annoying and feel like harassment. The fact that they've become so common seems like another example of how so many of our institutions have stopped working in the best interests of the public and have kowtowed to special interests.
I love that there was a period of time when it was like 'grrr someone should fix these robocalls' and then they nev… https://t.co/yadzeW6zOl— Lord Businessman (@Lord Businessman) 1634048356.0
A lot of people feel that robocalls have basically ruined the concept of the phone call.
It's incredible. I regularly think about how stupid modern bullshit completely invalidated an entire medium of communication. Like this isn't a technology becoming obsolete over time. Phones were actively murdered.
— Zane Schacht, Voice Ghoul 🎃 (@VoicesByZane) October 12, 2021
We really just had a whole new method of communication killed because people wanted to make money from it, I'd say I'm surprised in humanity but I'm not
— Rosa 🏳️⚧️ (@SquapiShoo) October 13, 2021
Our leaders have failed.
@VoicesByZane Negligently allowed to wither on the vine, while crying out for attention at every moment. They even… https://t.co/NAPKhEgVQN— Lord Businessman (@Lord Businessman) 1634070718.0
Nobody wants to pick up the phone anymore.
I should change my voicemail message to this. I never answer calls from numbers I don't recognize, people are legit calling me for a real reason leave a message and I can call them back if I want to.
— steph 😷 (@seleonard310) October 13, 2021
Started a new job & my supervisors were like "Give us your # in case we need to call you directly"
& I responded "Sure, but give me yours if you want me to actually answer"
— Southern Gothicc (get the vaccine) (@anomalyalice) October 13, 2021
i have to call people as part of my job and it's honestly so annoying cause people won't answer so i'll leave a message to tell them their stuff is ready and then they'll come in mad saying we didn't call them even though we did
— gordon peeman (@cherriblood) October 13, 2021
People never used to ignore phone calls.
@behaviorben @BusinessmanLego Ignoring a ringing phone was like ignoring a knock at the door. Hard to believe, now.— Mortal Trash (@Mortal Trash) 1634089406.0
It seems like we've all sacrificed a great mode of communication and our sanity for a few opportunists to make a buck.
God, this has been my last month. So many phone calls with nobody on the other line, so many voicemails that are 5 seconds of silence. Who the fuck is benefitting from this?
— DiGiornot my real dad (@HashtagShrid) October 13, 2021
It's just a numbers game. If at least one person falls for the scam it will be worth bothering 100,000. The gullible among us insure the greedy will always thrive
— Diogenes (@Diogene67153452) October 13, 2021
It's not just calls.
I also get 5-6 spam texts a day . This is just for a person named Sarah who must have his this number before me, like 4 years ago at minimum. pic.twitter.com/u0s6SO1k0V
— Zap “Spooky" Robs-dower 👻🎃 (@RobuShiro) October 13, 2021
OK, now this was funny.
@JennyBwood @BusinessmanLego Jenny I know your number. It's 867-5309.— Jamison Malkovich 🇺🇦🇮🇹🇺🇲🌊🌊🏖️🍺 (@Jamison Malkovich 🇺🇦🇮🇹🇺🇲🌊🌊🏖️🍺) 1634130736.0
Now, here's a solution: We could charge people for unsolicited calls.
@google_result @BusinessmanLego This is a great idea and would solve the problem. Wouldn’t even need to be 20c, cou… https://t.co/LDOdHJDWvM— Jason Harris 💉💉 (@Jason Harris 💉💉) 1634081353.0
America has been plagued by robocalls over the past few years. The Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission identified them as the No. 1 complaint in 2020 and Americans are on track to receive 48 billion this year.
How does this happen?
Robocalls usually begin abroad in counties such as India, the Philippines and Mexico. Scammers route their calls to smaller U.S.-based telecom carriers who are happy to pocket their fees. The calls are then funneled to the largest carriers who send them directly to your phone.
In 2019, Congress passed the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (or TRACED) Act but the shadowy audio-dialing industry has been able to keep ahead of the law. Fortune says that blame can also be placed on big businesses for their "tacit support for robocalling" and federal agencies whose "foot-dragging" has allowed scammers to get off scot-free.
What can you do to stop auto-dialers?
1. Talk to your phone company. Most major telecom companies have call-blocking tools that can help shut down scammers on their end.
2. Register your number on the Do Not Call Registry.This won't stop illegal scammers but it will save you from hearing from bothersome legitimate telemarketers.
3. Block spam calls from your smartphone:
iPhone—iOS 13 has an app called Silence Unknown Callers, which blocks any callers that aren't in your contact list, you haven't been in contact with or haven't texted, and sends them straight to voicemail. Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers
Android—To turn on Block Calls From Unidentified Callers, tap the phone icon on the bottom of your screen. Tap the three dots on the top right of the screen, then: Settings > Blocked Numbers. Enable Block Calls From Unidentified Callers by tapping the toggle switch on the right.
Google Pixel—When you receive a call from any number, tap Screen Call on your home screen and Google Assistant will answer it for you. If the caller responds, you'll receive a transcript of their response.
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.