If I Want More Information, I’ll Ask For It
One of these days I’ll learn not to give personal information like my email address or phone number to any more websites. Every time I do, I’m inundated with bullshit. With some of the ones I’ll mention here, though they by law must say you can opt out, and provide a method to do so, I’m finding they don’t honor those requests, and continue to fill my inbox or blow up my phone with text messages even after I’ve opted out via their website, or texted STOP several times.
Sadly, for the ones who are texting, as fast as I block their number, they send texts using different ones. I suspect they’re not above cloning numbers to do so. Do they not realize being obnoxious is a sure way to lose my business forever? Here are the worst of the worst in no particular order.
Have These People No Shame?
Shaw Academy: I made the mistake of filling out their form for a free trial, including my phone 
number before getting to the part where they wanted my credit card number before they’d initiate the free trial. That’s a HUGE red flag in my book, and a guarantee I’ll go no further. Unfortunately, the damage was done. They text me from a different number every day to tell me it’s my last chance to take advantage of their offer—and they’ve been doing it for weeks. I gave up texting “STOP”, and instead, block another number and get on with my life.
Home Depot: I made the mistake of ordering something online for store pickup a few weeks ago. The result was twice- and thrice-daily emails offering their latest “surprise deals”. Though I’ve opted out several times, the emails persist. I even ignored the conversation with Outlook, but they seem to have extensive variations on their email address. Since I have Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, and Home Depot about equi-distant from my house, they will be my last resort, and only if I can’t find what I need online.
Loral Langemeier Live Out Loud: I was introduced to Ms. Langemeier at a speaker’s conference a couple of years ago. She’s a dynamic speaker, and extremely charismatic, but though I signed up for one of her seminars, I asked to pay later (mostly because I wanted to think about it after the glow of her speech wore off). What followed was a series of phone calls that convinced me I wasn’t interested in trusting her with my financial future. Unfortunately, her representatives don’t understand the word “no”, and kept harassing me until I blocked their numbers.
They were quiet for awhile, and I mistakenly assumed they’d finally gotten the message. But recently, the texts (and subsequent blocks) resumed. In the meantime, I’d used a feature on my phone that blocks any number it doesn’t recognize, sending the call straight to voice mail. I only wish the feature worked for text messages as well.
Burying the Masses in Political Noise
As this is an election year, the last, and perhaps the most obnoxious group are those who are pounding the phone lines for votes. I’m particularly annoyed by the ones who say “can we count on you to vote for {insert candidate or proposition here}? I want to tell them who and what I vote for is no one’s business but my own. Unfortunately, these, too require multiple blockings as the calls come from the personal phones of the issue or candidate’s most passionate supporters.
I can only be grateful COVID is preventing them from knocking on my door this year, though the sign I put up a couple of years ago, and revise periodically was remarkably effective at keeping the door knockers at bay.
I realize getting annoyed only hurts myself, but maybe remembering how much it annoys me will make me more cautious about things like free trials, or shopping online with someone who’s not already on my list of preferred vendors. It makes me wonder if this constant badgering is actually effective enough to make it worth their while to piss off a few would-be customers, especially those who, like me, are not exactly silent with their displeasure and annoyance.
Learning Who to Avoid Like the Plague They Are
This isn’t the first time I’ve called someone out for abusive behavior, and I guarantee it won’t be 
the last. Whether it’s misleading advertising, shoddy customer relations, or refusing to go away when asked, I feel it’s a violation of my privacy and yours. Since when did “no” mean “maybe”, or worse, “keep bugging me until I get so annoyed I say yes just to get you off my back”? As far as the last one, it’s pretty clear saying yes will actually make the situation worse, not better. Anyone can see they’re the type who want to get you in their clutches so they can siphon off more of your hard-earned cash.
Some people are energy vampires, and I’ve learned the hard way to avoid them. Learning which companies are vampires is an on-going process, as the red flags aren’t as obvious as they are with human beings. Though they’re using humans, the companies themselves are robotic in nature because they’re not only using technology, but seem to have an endless supply of sycophants manning their phones and email accounts.
The worst of the worst are those who are now leaving messages via email through my website. I’ve yet to determine how I can block these exceedingly creepy individuals, but believe me, when I do, I’ll share it for everyone to see. In my opinion, there is nothing worse than cold callers, and people who abuse the email accounts of others. Denying them access to the internet forever is the most generous of the punishments they deserve.
What Happened to Good, Old-Fashioned Respect?
It all comes down to respecting people’s privacy, be it in person or electronically. Just because you visit a site, or request information, or simply offer a means for contacting you for information doesn’t give anyone the right to abuse the information. Yet we live in a society where privilege and entitlement have become normal.
In some ways it makes me long for simpler times; times when you knocked on someone’s door only if you had a valid and acceptable reason for being there. When “no thank you” was enough to send a salesperson on their way. But I know those times pre-dated telephones in most people’s homes, much less cell phones in everyone’s hands. They pre-dated regular mail service too, although the preponderance of junk mail may be a little more recent. I shudder to think how many trees died supplying the reams of paper and card stock that end up in trash and re-cycle bins every week!
I guess I’m looking for a kinder, gentler time when these tactics weren’t necessary; when corporate and political greed weren’t, if not accepted, at least tolerated. There’s nothing wrong with giving people access to information, and letting them know it’s there, but to hound them, or inundate them with it will, in my opinion, never end well for anyone.
About the Author
Sheri Conaway is a Holistic Ghostwriter, and an advocate for cats and mental health. Sheri 
believes in the Laws of Attraction, but only if you are a participant rather than just an observer. Her mission is to Make Vulnerable Beautiful and help entrepreneurs touch the souls of their readers and clients so they can increase their impact and their income.
If you’d like to have her write for you, please visit her Hire Me page for more information. You can also find her on Facebook Sheri Levenstein-Conaway Author. And check out her new group, Putting Your Whole Heart Forward.
Be sure to watch this space for news of the upcoming releases of ” Rebuilding After Suicide” and “Sasha’s Journey”.
