From: utzoo!watmath!kpmartin
Newsgroups: net.jokes.d
Title: Obscene phone calls
Article-I.D.: watmath.2984
Posted: Fri Jul  9 21:02:46 1982
Received: Fri Jul  9 23:33:35 1982


In the "General Regulations Governing ... telephone service ... by The Bell
Telephone Company of Canada" (which appears in the front of the phone book),
Rule 20 states:
	"The use of [Bell]'s service or equipment for annoying any person
	and the use of offensive language while using or conversing over
	[Bell]'s equipment are prohibited."

They cover usenet-style stuff by the word "using", while "conversing over"
covers normal conversation. Of course, I find receiving a phone call annoying,
since it is usually either a wrong number or a sales pitch, so all the people
making these calls are breaking the rule, too (unwittingly, in some cases).
Also, swearing aloud (like after typing "rm *") while on dialup would
also violate the rule: I am using the equipment and offensive language.

But the computers are actually the ones "using" the equipment (sort of),
can they be charged with violating this rule?
(the last question is merely a bit of gasoline to help produce flames, but
don't bother)