Deactivate Per Call Blocking

self | 9/17/01 | self

[VA Voter]

The phone company service provided to those wanting to remain anonymous is called PER CALL BLOCKING.

I recommend that Congress and the President require all phone companies in the U.S. to immediately deactivate this "service" so that the crazies and terrorists alike cannot hid from where they are making their threatening phone calls.

Likewise the phone companies should be required to provide CALLER ID to all phones so that all incomming calls can be traced.

VV

[Right Face]

Hmmm. Comments?

[riley1992]

Hmmm. Comments?

Politely put? I think it's asinine.

[William Terrell]

I've always had a problem with callers not willing to tell me who they are before I pick up the phone.

A friend of mine has two phone numbers. One of them he doesn't want people to know; it's unlisted. Would you have a problem with that? Would you force him to only use the phone with the published number?

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

No thank you---they are free to reject anonymous calls. My phone is set up that way. But do not take away MY right to remain anonymous (i.e. privacy). I block my number--that is my perogative. It is your perogative whether or not to answer.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

With all due respect, why are you so eager to give away something you will probably never get back? I ask that question sincerely.

I was always taught our country was different because of those who were willing to die for our freedom. Freedom was so precious our forefathers were willing to lay down their lives for it. Yet, now I find so many of us are willing to sacrifice our freedom and our liberties (what few we have left) for a false sense of safety.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Crypto technology is one genie (excuse the figure of speech) which can't be stuffed back in the bottle.

[Drawsing]

This brings up one of my pet peeves. When you call someone, the first words out of your mouth should always be, "This is (your name)." NOT doing this is the equivalent of going up to someone's door with a hood over your face. And what makes me even more angry is the person who calls and not only does not identify himself, but has the gall to say, "Who is this?"

Please don't tell me I am violating one of your precious freedoms to expect this courtesy.

[backhoe]

I learned to do that a long time ago in business- identify yourself! Nobody likes a disembodied, anonymous voice over the phone.

[DouglasKC]

However, there are pay phones etc that allow this sort of stuff to occur.

Yeah, but I bet there are cameras aimed at nearly every pay phone in America.

[FreePaul]

Any calls I receive without proper identification do not get answered. They can leave a message (most don't) and if they properly identify themselves I may return the call.

As long as the phone companies can sell call blocking to one party and a method to defeat it to another party we will always have these unidentified calls. Our phone company now wants customers to buy a service that will not put calls through unless they are identified. As soon as enough people subscribe to this they will sell a method to defeat this type of call blocking.

[steve-b]

This is riduculous. Block or no block, the record exists and can be obtained by the police with proper authorization. As long as the authorizations aren't passed out wantonly, that's not a problem.

[Cyber Liberty]

An ignorant concept. If there's a threat involved, the police can get the number, blocked or not.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

My philosophy is when someone calls my home, they are asking permission to enter. I would not open my door for a stranger. I would not open my door without looking to see who is there. I will not answer anyone who refuses to identify themselves via caller ID. Likewise, I prefer to keep my telephone number as private as I can. I keep my number blocked. When I get a message that says "Your call has been delivered, but this line does not accept calls from anonymous numbers" I either unblock or do not call again--it depends on the circumstance.

This is very important. Calls to toll-free numbers deliver your phone number even though you block delivery of your number. Likewise, if anyone wonders why "out of area calls" get through, it is usually because they come from toll-free numbers. I never use a toll-free number.

None of us are aware of the many ways we unwittingly give our privacy.

[jlogajan]

I bet there are cameras aimed at nearly every pay phone in America.

Doesn't matter. You can walk up to most houses in the US and, if carrying a couple of allegator clipleads, attach a phone and make a call -- all in a matter of seconds.