Almost by accident -- almost -- I think I may have discovered the secret to dropping, and staying, under the advertising-driven surveillance radar. Here is how

Almost by accident -- almost -- I think I may have discovered the secret to dropping, and staying, under the advertising-driven surveillance radar. Here is how I did it, if I did. Mid-1990s telemarketing. For me at least, it was mostly roofs. At least one call a day, often more. As soon as I identified them, I hung up (no courtesy earned, none given). But once, on a bloody whim, I let one talk himself out, all the way out. When silence fell, I said "no". He asked, "why not?!?", and I said, "because I haven't got any money." Of course he hung up, but not only that: the calls stopped. All the calls, like a light switch, and ever since, thirty years and counting. Deduction: There's a broke list, and I'm on it. Ever so much better than the do-not-call list, because of the incentives. Get you on the broke list.