Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!wuarchive!texbell!vector!telecom-gateway From: lmg@hoqax.att.com (Lawrence M Geary) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Caller ID Privacy Question Message-ID:Date: 18 Aug 89 18:39:45 GMT Sender: news@vector.Dallas.TX.US Reply-To: lmg@cbnewsh.ATT.COM (lawrence.m.geary) Lines: 35 Approved: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 309, message 3 of 8 When I first heard of Caller ID, and realized that the phone company would be sending my phone number to callers without my permission, and without giving me the opportunity to stop it, I was outraged. Now I've been on the receiving end of enough annoying phone calls to change my mind. I want Caller ID. Just the other day, I was involved in some matters of personal hygiene when the phone rang. I didn't want the answering machine to get it because I was expecting a call and had been playing telephone tag for days. I rushed to the phone and caught it in time. It was the obscene caller; the one who dials number after number in the night; if a male answers, he hangs up instantly; but if a female answers he goes into his routine. I want to stop this creep from ever invading my home again. I want Caller ID. Then there are the charitable organizations I once supported until they hired phone banks and started asking me for "an extra special contribution". And calling me at dinner time, or late at night. And they won't take "No" for an answer. $6.50/month is a small price to get them off my back. There are also new features possible with Caller ID. How about a telephone that can be programmed to give certain numbers a distinctive ring? How about a call forwarding or voice mail service that lets you single out particular numbers for different treatment? Or an answering machine that records calls from thosse people who never leave messages? How about blocking calls on your FAX line from junk FAXers? The central office can do some of these things now. With Caller ID I'll be able to buy a box from Panasonic to do it all without an extra monthly fee. The privacy issue is real, and there could be abuses. But I've changed my mind and feel Caller ID is a good thing, and I will get it when I can. -- lmg@hoqax.att.com Think globally ... Post locally att!hoqax!lmg