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You can always setup an Asterix box and put Lenny on the case: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLduL71_GKzHHk4hLga0nOGWrXlhl-i_3g https://www.youtube.com

You can always setup an Asterix box and put Lenny on the case: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLduL71_GKzHHk4hLga0nOGWrXlhl-i_3g https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLduL71_GKzHHk4hLga0nO... "Lenny" is a hilarious set of recorded messages designed to waste telemarketers' time." On a personal note, I have to say that there is something so satisfying about a robot answering these calls. A caller normally has the advantage that you can't see them, have no idea who they are, and they can do it at scale. Lenny turns those very advantages against them.

afarrell 11y ago
Of course, most people can't do this for reasons similar to why Johnny can't Encrypt.
- anon4 11y ago
  Would it be possible to set this up for others? If yes, I see a business opportunity...
nicholasjarnold 11y ago
These recordings are pretty amazing. I've recently experienced an uptick in spam-call volume (despite being very cagey about who/what gets access to my real phone number), and I think this video just tipped the scales on whether or not I'll be setting up my own Asterix box this weekend. Thank you for this!
earlz 11y ago
This really makes me curious as to how this works and how complicated it was to setup lol
- medmunds 11y ago
  The Lenny algorithm is quite simple: wait for silence, play the next recording. That's it. The recordings are always played in the same sequence. There's no speech recognition involved. The cleverness, of course, is that Lenny's script (and vocal delivery) seems brilliantly designed to keep telemarketers and scammers going on and on and on...
anon4 11y ago
How do you tell between telemarketers and legit cold calls? Maybe something like "if they say the word offer within the first minute, it's a telemarketer, keep them occupied"? Also, it's a bit dishonest to outright have the robot pretend to be the person, maybe they should say "Hello, I am Lenny, the phone secretary of so-and-so"? And once you pass the equivalent of a verbal CAPTCHA, you are allowed through?
- ghaff 11y ago
  There's a difference? As far as I'm concerned, there is no such thing as a legit cold call to my home number.
  - anon4 11y ago
    I only have one number, so people from work call me from time to time. Though I largely agree - in that case I just have their numbers in my address book copied from the company register, even though they've never called me.
    - ghaff 11y ago
      Ah. "Cold call" as in "not in your contacts list." Cold call usually refers to a sales call to someone who you don't have a prior relationship with (i.e. isn't current customer or hasn't requested information).
- iamsohungry 11y ago
  > How do you tell between telemarketers and legit cold calls? If you're calling someone who didn't give you their phone number with the explicit intent of doing business with you, your behavior is ethically disgusting. Stop smearing your crap in other people's ears and get a real job.
  - Spivak 11y ago
    I assume you would take the same position in regards to internet advertising which is quite a bit more controversial. Sure, you could argue that you've agreed to be advertised to by using whatever service, going out in public, or whatever, but you could make the same case for cold calls or since you've agreed that anyone is able to call you. I think it's interesting how telemarketers, door-to-door salespeople, and certain forms of direct mail are universally hated but creepy, manipulative, tracking, and malware infested internet ads are "supporting creators." There seems to be quite a lot of, "well the scummy way I make money is ethical" whenever the debate come up. Do you see a meaningful difference between the two? I honestly want to understand.

afarrell 11y ago

Of course, most people can't do this for reasons similar to why Johnny can't Encrypt.

anon4 11y ago
Would it be possible to set this up for others? If yes, I see a business opportunity...

nicholasjarnold 11y ago

These recordings are pretty amazing. I've recently experienced an uptick in spam-call volume (despite being very cagey about who/what gets access to my real phone number), and I think this video just tipped the scales on whether or not I'll be setting up my own Asterix box this weekend. Thank you for this!

earlz 11y ago

This really makes me curious as to how this works and how complicated it was to setup lol

medmunds 11y ago
The Lenny algorithm is quite simple: wait for silence, play the next recording. That's it. The recordings are always played in the same sequence. There's no speech recognition involved. The cleverness, of course, is that Lenny's script (and vocal delivery) seems brilliantly designed to keep telemarketers and scammers going on and on and on...

anon4 11y ago

How do you tell between telemarketers and legit cold calls? Maybe something like "if they say the word offer within the first minute, it's a telemarketer, keep them occupied"? Also, it's a bit dishonest to outright have the robot pretend to be the person, maybe they should say "Hello, I am Lenny, the phone secretary of so-and-so"? And once you pass the equivalent of a verbal CAPTCHA, you are allowed through?

ghaff 11y ago
There's a difference? As far as I'm concerned, there is no such thing as a legit cold call to my home number.
- anon4 11y ago
  I only have one number, so people from work call me from time to time. Though I largely agree - in that case I just have their numbers in my address book copied from the company register, even though they've never called me.
  - ghaff 11y ago
    Ah. "Cold call" as in "not in your contacts list." Cold call usually refers to a sales call to someone who you don't have a prior relationship with (i.e. isn't current customer or hasn't requested information).
iamsohungry 11y ago
> How do you tell between telemarketers and legit cold calls? If you're calling someone who didn't give you their phone number with the explicit intent of doing business with you, your behavior is ethically disgusting. Stop smearing your crap in other people's ears and get a real job.
- Spivak 11y ago
  I assume you would take the same position in regards to internet advertising which is quite a bit more controversial. Sure, you could argue that you've agreed to be advertised to by using whatever service, going out in public, or whatever, but you could make the same case for cold calls or since you've agreed that anyone is able to call you. I think it's interesting how telemarketers, door-to-door salespeople, and certain forms of direct mail are universally hated but creepy, manipulative, tracking, and malware infested internet ads are "supporting creators." There seems to be quite a lot of, "well the scummy way I make money is ethical" whenever the debate come up. Do you see a meaningful difference between the two? I honestly want to understand.