I used to have the most perfect phone manners. It's the way I was taught. I was polite - used good grammar (this is she speaking) etc. About 10 years ago in this country the solicitation phone calls started multiplying like rabbits. You could get 4 or 5 of them during dinner in the evening - a real pain in the ass. I got so ticked off that I started shouting "**** off and die" into the phone and slamming down the receiver. I used to feel guilty about this but I don't any more.

Things have gotten somewhat better since this country instituted the Do Not Call list. Theoretically, if you register for that list, general phone sales can't call you. It has helped but not eleiminated the problem completely.

Kathleen