Cell Phone Users as a Protected Class

[sterlingice]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp
Was bumping around on snopes, saw this on the most popular, and decided to post as it's one of my larger pet peeves.

How did cell phone users get this protected class at all? How is it that telemarketers cannot target them but it's not illegal to target land line users?

As for the obvious cell phone user retort of "it's my choice if I go on a list" or whatnot- then why did I, as a land line user, not have a choice? Why do I go in directories so I can get calls when I'm eating dinner or whatever? What gives cell phone users their special treatment that they enjoy?

To not get calls, I have to opt-in with the no call list. But a cell phone user, it's already illegal to call them- you have to opt-in to not be called.

(Never mind that I don't understand why cell lines can't be given their own area code in a large metro section so everyone else doesn't have to change their numbers but I suppose that's another story for another day)

SI

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp
Was bumping around on snopes, saw this on the most popular, and decided to post as it's one of my larger pet peeves.

How did cell phone users get this protected class at all? How is it that telemarketers cannot target them but it's not illegal to target land line users?

As for the obvious cell phone user retort of "it's my choice if I go on a list" or whatnot- then why did I, as a land line user, not have a choice? Why do I go in directories so I can get calls when I'm eating dinner or whatever? What gives cell phone users their special treatment that they enjoy?

To not get calls, I have to opt-in with the no call list. But a cell phone user, it's already illegal to call them- you have to opt-in to not be called.

(Never mind that I don't understand why cell lines can't be given their own area code in a large metro section so everyone else doesn't have to change their numbers but I suppose that's another story for another day)

SI

So you are complaining that cell phone users should be called by telemarketers?

[John Galt]

I think it is because cell phone users pay for incoming calls. While annoying, landline telemarketer calls cost you nothing.

edit: BTW, "protected class" is usually a legal term of art for groups defined by race, gender, religion, etc., so your description reads a little funny to a lawyer. There is nothing wrong with that, but it might create some confusion.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by John Galt

I think it is because cell phone users pay for incoming calls. While annoying, landline telemarketer calls cost you nothing.

edit: BTW, "protected class" is usually a legal term of art for groups defined by race, gender, religion, etc., so your description reads a little funny to a lawyer. There is nothing wrong with that, but it might create some confusion.

Bingo... on both counts.

Basically you'd be making cell phone users pay for telemarketing calls.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by John Galt

I think it is because cell phone users pay for incoming calls. While annoying, landline telemarketer calls cost you nothing.

edit: BTW, "protected class" is usually a legal term of art for groups defined by race, gender, religion, etc., so your description reads a little funny to a lawyer. There is nothing wrong with that, but it might create some confusion.

Ok, makes sense to me.

As for "protected class"- not all of us are lawyers and that seemed to be the best way to phrase things.

Originally Posted by Desnudo

So you are complaining that cell phone users should be called by telemarketers?

Actually, more what I'm complaining about is that I'm not on equal footing with those who have a cell phone. Make telemarketers have to call none or call all, not some wishy-washy inbetween.

SI

[mgadfly]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Ok, makes sense to me.

As for "protected class"- not all of us are lawyers and that seemed to be the best way to phrase things.

Actually, more what I'm complaining about is that I'm not on equal footing with those who have a cell phone. Make telemarketers have to call none or call all, not some wishy-washy inbetween.

SI

I think the idea is that your time (to tell a caller to go to hell) is not worth as much to the government (society?) as your property (cash to pay for your cell phone bill after receiving 25 calls a day asking if you want to consolidate your student loans).

[John Galt]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

As for "protected class"- not all of us are lawyers and that seemed to be the best way to phrase things.
SI

I didn't mean any offense. I was just trying to stave off any confusion before it started. I don't know how well-known "protected class" is as a term of art. Once you learn to speak like a lawyer, you stop knowing what lawyer-speak sounds like.

[Shkspr]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Bingo... on both counts.

Basically you'd be making cell phone users pay for telemarketing calls.

Well, hell, I'm all for that. Can I kick 'em in the nads too?

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by John Galt

I didn't mean any offense. I was just trying to stave off any confusion before it started. I don't know how well-known "protected class" is as a term of art. Once you learn to speak like a lawyer, you stop knowing what lawyer-speak sounds like.

JG is guilty of applying strict scrutiny to his review of your post.