Earlier today, April Fool's Day, I received an automated message on my land line from a company that peddles medical alert systems. Among the options they offer is a pendant equipped with an alarm that can alert emergency personnel with the touch of a button. A potential life-saving device, right?
But get this! The message, which lasted about two minutes tied up my phone for the duration of its playing time. I could not make an outgoing call. There was no way for me to disconnect or delete the message. Suppose someone receiving a lengthy robo-call was having a real medical emergency and was wholly dependent on that land line.
Precious seconds could make a difference between life and death. Imagine someone having a heart attack while being held captive by a robo-call hawking medical emergency devices. Imagine that hapless person being dispatched to a permanent slumber because that robo-spiel kept him from reaching 911.
In the wake of this morning's incident, I signed up with the National Do Not Call Registry, operated by the Federal Trade Commission. I urge my friends to do likewise.
P.S.: This is not an April Fool's joke.
