Author Topic: Awesome stuff you have to share  (Read 268439 times)

Offline brujon

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Re: Awesome stuff you have to share
« Reply #840 on: November 05, 2012, 06:30:35 PM »
So lately we've been getting a very persistent telemarketer. Eventually, when mom seemed at her wits' end, I took the phone from her.

"I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you're looking to sell us something, I can tell you I don't have any interest. But what I do have is a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you stop calling and erase our phone from your registry now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you."

"[long pause] ...we won't be calling again, sir. *hangs up*"

Having been in the industry making cold calls for charities (against my will), let me tell you how to avoid this in  the states.  When these people call you they have a screen, and they click one of several buttons when they end your call.  They have call completed, call again later, and do not call again.  They're only allowed  to click call completed if they got what they want from you.  They're told by the employer not to click do not call again unless you specifically say the words "Under state and federal law it is illegal for me to call me if i tell you to stop doing so, and I am doing so at this time."  See under the law they cant call that number again for 10 years, and you could move potentially losing them access to whoever moves in.  So if you make a request "please stop calling me" or a statement of anger "Fuck you guys, quit calling me", they click call again later.  You have to specifically declare "I am using my rights under the law, blah blah blah" because all those calls are recorded for the dozens of metrics they use to micro manage their employees.

It's basically the same here, but you can also request them to erase your number from their database, as well as figure out where they're getting their information from, all legally. It's called Habeas Data, and it's a constitutional right to have free access to your personal information stored in any database, with exceptions for ongoing criminal investigations and a few others. If anyone, anywhere, has your personal information stored in their database, you have the right to know, and request that information, while also having the right to request them to take down that information. Sometimes, that's linked to some site you inadvertedly subscribed to, or a newsletter, that has fine print on it allowing them to sell or distribute that information to their partner, which you automatically agree to when you subscribed. BUT, that can also be argued in a courtroom.

All in all, getting call-centers to stop calling you is very much easier than it was a couple of years ago, because the courts have now a wealth of cases regarding the matter, and a consolidated view on such cases, which is always in favor of the consumer, as per Brazilian Consumer Law.

There's no 10 year limit, or ban, but unless they acquire your personal information again from a new source, they cannot call you again. And if they don't stop, then it's harassment and liable for a civil suit. You can always get a restraining order against them if you are being harassed hardcore, and that often entails a daily fine for every day of violation, which is often very very high.

BUT! And there's always a but... The amount of red-tape involved here is WAY, WAY, WAY bigger than it is in the USA, and it involves being aware that any action you bring to justice is a FULL TIME commitment on your part, and it may take YEARS before the process is concluded. Even if you go to small-claims, it's upwards to a year before your request is granted by the judge, even if you require immediate effect on your requests. That's because of the courthouse backlog, and not always the judges are to blame.

Of course, Kuro already knows all this because his mother is a Judge, so he has way better legal representation than i could provide even if i was already a bachelor.
"All the pride and pleasure of the world, mirrored in the dull consciousness of a fool, are poor indeed compared with the imagination of Cervantes writing his Don Quixote in a miserable prison" - Schopenhauer, Aphorisms: The Wisdom of Life

Offline bhu

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Re: Awesome stuff you have to share
« Reply #841 on: November 05, 2012, 07:53:44 PM »
Also some of them will stop calling you if you get offensive.  And by offensive I don't mean foul language, I mean saying something way outside acceptability.  Way waaaaaaay outside acceptability. 

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Awesome stuff you have to share
« Reply #842 on: November 05, 2012, 08:01:53 PM »
Also some of them will stop calling you if you get offensive.  And by offensive I don't mean foul language, I mean saying something way outside acceptability.  Way waaaaaaay outside acceptability.
I once had a room mate who was one of the angriest, offensive, foul-mouthed assholes I've ever known. Really. I still remember the time that he talked so harshly to a telemarketer, just happening to get lucky that some of the insults he used hit home, that the guy hung up on him, and then called him back, crying and cursing. I actually felt a little bad for the telemarketer, but damn... I have to admit that it was epic. :D
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Offline Kuroimaken

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Re: Awesome stuff you have to share
« Reply #843 on: November 05, 2012, 08:04:39 PM »
the Brazil part could be a problem...

Unfortunately, for the most part, you're right. Most of the time they don't give a flying fuck about the law. The whole damn thing is sketchy and skirting legality as it is - and they can afford lawyers, even if they don't win, it's not like they're bleeding money. Hell, getting them to even identify themselves is a major chore.

Which is why I'm actually surprised that worked. Maybe my Norio Wakamoto impression helped.
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Offline ariasderros

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Re: Awesome stuff you have to share
« Reply #844 on: November 05, 2012, 08:05:38 PM »
Also some of them will stop calling you if you get offensive.  And by offensive I don't mean foul language, I mean saying something way outside acceptability.  Way waaaaaaay outside acceptability.

I wasn't going to say this, but I have relatives who use that method to get rid of them.
"Are you a ****? You sound like you're a ****. Are you a ****?"
*click*

**** = any racial slur that you don't think the person is.
As I understand it, my aunt stopped doing that when the person on the other side started screaming back at her, until a manager cut in, apologized for the employee, and then hung up.
Making telemarketer hang up = cool
Getting person who has to work crappy job so pissed they get themselves fired = not cool.


EDIT: Sorta ninja'd by phaedrus.
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Offline bhu

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Re: Awesome stuff you have to share
« Reply #845 on: November 05, 2012, 08:08:17 PM »
Actually I didn't mean racist so much though I suppose that would work.  I meant convince them you aren't a sane human being. 

As in "I'm sorry I'm trying to keep a 12 year old in the basement alive while I peel the skin from his back, and you need to call another time."  You would think it would get you in trouble but a lot of people don't want involved and just hang up because they don't want to repeat it to their boss who will get pissed at them and scream at them not to get involved.

Your goal isnt to get them to scream at you.  Your goal is to so repulse them they never want to speak to you again.
« Last Edit: November 05, 2012, 08:11:48 PM by bhu »

Offline sirpercival

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Re: Awesome stuff you have to share
« Reply #846 on: November 05, 2012, 08:16:49 PM »
My favorite thing is to start asking questions and getting into philosophical debates about whether or not telemarketing is a valid and useful form of selling and/or surveying things.  After about 15 minutes of discussion, they tend to say "well, this was interesting, but i have a job to do, and my supervisor is getting annoyed, so have a good day".  Then they never call again.

Also, starting with "so, why is it that your company ignores the do-not-call list? how many times have you been reported to the FCC?" sometimes gets them to hang up immediately.

The real problem is when they call with a recording.  I have a policy that I don't listen to recordings for more than a second, no matter what it is.  If it wasn't important enough to them to call with a real person, it's not important enough for me to listen to.
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Offline radionausea

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Re: Awesome stuff you have to share
« Reply #847 on: November 06, 2012, 08:17:04 PM »
In the UK we have Telephone Preference Service which if you sign up for (it's free - and there's a Mail Preference Service for junk postal mail too) makes it illegal for anyone to call you.  But my favourite was when I kept receiving calls at a new address for the previous occupants.  I used to make up such wonderful stories about why John/Jane/Whoever couldn't make it to the phone but if you hold on just 5 minutes I'm sure they'll be with you...oh hang on, they just sent me a text/shouted downstairs, hang on 5 minutes more.  And just talk and talk and talk at the person.  If they were willing to call me and waste my time and I'm damned sure going to waste theirs too.
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Offline Jackinthegreen

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Re: Awesome stuff you have to share
« Reply #848 on: November 07, 2012, 08:07:48 PM »
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld5heDbzOC8

Lately I find myself listening to a lot of what Adam Savage says and agreeing with it.  Alas, I don't think I've yet learned how to work my ass off under my own motivation.

Offline sirpercival

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Re: Awesome stuff you have to share
« Reply #849 on: November 08, 2012, 01:06:53 PM »
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oHWvFrpocY

For phaedrus & brujon, you guys need to get on the ball here.
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Offline brujon

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Re: Awesome stuff you have to share
« Reply #850 on: November 09, 2012, 10:05:14 AM »
HAHA! That's awesome! CGI is getting awesome!
"All the pride and pleasure of the world, mirrored in the dull consciousness of a fool, are poor indeed compared with the imagination of Cervantes writing his Don Quixote in a miserable prison" - Schopenhauer, Aphorisms: The Wisdom of Life

Offline trappedslider

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« Last Edit: November 09, 2012, 06:08:59 PM by trappedslider »

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: Awesome stuff you have to share
« Reply #852 on: November 09, 2012, 11:24:28 PM »
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oHWvFrpocY

For phaedrus & brujon, you guys need to get on the ball here.
lol, I just happened to see that last night before seeing this link. I think my little girl could take him. ;)

(click to show/hide)
« Last Edit: November 09, 2012, 11:30:05 PM by phaedrusxy »
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline nijineko

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Offline brujon

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Re: Awesome stuff you have to share
« Reply #854 on: November 10, 2012, 10:24:47 AM »
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oHWvFrpocY

For phaedrus & brujon, you guys need to get on the ball here.
lol, I just happened to see that last night before seeing this link. I think my little girl could take him. ;)

(click to show/hide)

Huhh, that pinky nail is rather long... Better clip that before she scratches herself!

Also, mega cute!

Also

I JUST FOUND THIS!

http://heroesinthenight.blogspot.com.br/2012/11/mutual-kombat-fight.html

I HAD to share this. Come on, that's got to be the coolest thing i ever saw in a loong, looong time. How many of you knew Washington had a mutual combat law? Shit's crazy!
« Last Edit: November 10, 2012, 08:40:10 PM by brujon »
"All the pride and pleasure of the world, mirrored in the dull consciousness of a fool, are poor indeed compared with the imagination of Cervantes writing his Don Quixote in a miserable prison" - Schopenhauer, Aphorisms: The Wisdom of Life

Offline Nicklance

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Re: Awesome stuff you have to share
« Reply #855 on: November 11, 2012, 05:04:43 AM »
This is coming from the Anime Festival Asia 2012 @ Singapore

**Warning: Loads of Pictures**

(click to show/hide)
Will add later

Offline Kuroimaken

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Re: Awesome stuff you have to share
« Reply #856 on: November 11, 2012, 08:28:12 AM »
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oHWvFrpocY

For phaedrus & brujon, you guys need to get on the ball here.
lol, I just happened to see that last night before seeing this link. I think my little girl could take him. ;)

(click to show/hide)

Huhh, that pinky nail is rather long... Better clip that before she scratches herself!

Also, mega cute!

Also

I JUST FOUND THIS!

http://heroesinthenight.blogspot.com.br/2012/11/mutual-kombat-fight.html

I HAD to share this. Come on, that's got to be the coolest thing i ever saw in a loong, looong time. How many of you knew Washington had a mutual combat law? Shit's crazy!
We need that law around here.

Or at least I do. >.>;;
Kami darou ga akuma darou ga, ore no michi ni tateru mono NASHI!!

Give me internets. Now.

Offline brujon

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Re: Awesome stuff you have to share
« Reply #857 on: November 11, 2012, 12:18:57 PM »
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oHWvFrpocY

For phaedrus & brujon, you guys need to get on the ball here.
lol, I just happened to see that last night before seeing this link. I think my little girl could take him. ;)

(click to show/hide)

Huhh, that pinky nail is rather long... Better clip that before she scratches herself!

Also, mega cute!

Also

I JUST FOUND THIS!

http://heroesinthenight.blogspot.com.br/2012/11/mutual-kombat-fight.html

I HAD to share this. Come on, that's got to be the coolest thing i ever saw in a loong, looong time. How many of you knew Washington had a mutual combat law? Shit's crazy!
We need that law around here.

Or at least I do. >.>;;

There's something like that on the Brazilian Penal Code. It's under Art. 129, § 5° "O juiz, não sendo graves as lesões, pode ainda substituir a pena de detenção pela de multa, de duzentos mil réis a dois contos de réis:

I - se ocorre qualquer das hipóteses do parágrafo anterior;

II - se as lesões são recíprocas."

(Quick translation: It means that if the injuries are not severe, the judge can replace the sentence with a fine, in the hypothesis of the previous paragraph ( I ), or if the injuries are reciprocal( II ) )

Bolding mine. There's also the fact that if the injuries are not severe enough to count as actual injuries, than it's no longer a crime, but a contravention (which i believe in the US they call minor misdemeanor), called "Vias de Fato". Which is what happens when there's no exchange of blows, only pushing around and yelling, and it's described on the appropriate law... (Lei das Contravenções Penais).

So basically what that means is that it's pretty hard for anyone to actually go to jail for a street fight, as long as both parties were not severely injured (Injuries that result in a inability to perform work-related duties for over 30 days, permanent disability, early child birth, or puts said person's life in danger, as per §1º). So, you can wail on a guy until he passes out, just so long as all he gets is a black eye and a headache when he wakes up, with no broken limbs or fractures, or at least none that take more than 29 days to heal, and NOT go to jail, just so long as you can A) Prove that he fought back and that you didn't initiate the assault, but it was something that occurred on the heat of the moment B) Convince the judge that you're a regular individual and that it's an isolated occurrence, which means it's best for all parties involved that the sentence be converted to a simple fine.

So it's not like you're going to have the police watching you wail on the guy just waiting to break up the fight when one of you hits the ground, but there's ways of not going to jail because of a street fight.
"All the pride and pleasure of the world, mirrored in the dull consciousness of a fool, are poor indeed compared with the imagination of Cervantes writing his Don Quixote in a miserable prison" - Schopenhauer, Aphorisms: The Wisdom of Life

Offline veekie

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Re: Awesome stuff you have to share
« Reply #858 on: November 11, 2012, 01:48:19 PM »
This is coming from the Anime Festival Asia 2012 @ Singapore

**Warning: Loads of Pictures**

(click to show/hide)
Best Hayate cosplay seen in a while.
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Offline Nicklance

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Re: Awesome stuff you have to share
« Reply #859 on: November 12, 2012, 06:02:40 AM »
This is coming from the Anime Festival Asia 2012 @ Singapore

**Warning: Loads of Pictures**

(click to show/hide)
Best Hayate cosplay seen in a while.

And the cutest Youmu ever!
Will add later