Publicize Cel Phone Numbers!!!

Here's an interesting one.

Cel phone numbers, which are currently not publishable in a directory a-la the white pages. If you are caught publishing lists of them, you can get into trouble.

The phone companies are struggling to gain acceptance to create a directory of them, largely so they can sell them.

That means your cel phone number will be as open to attack as any other listed number.

The benefits include "easy look up" and so on of course. Breaking down network barriers.

And, of course, telemarketers are very interested in it.

I don't know about all of you, but I don't even answer my home phone anymore. I get no less than 5 or so credit card, mortgage, refinancing, and other kind of offers, every day. the phone company is so innundated by it that their only real alternative would be to shut down Ma Bell.

People I know have cancelled their land lines in favor of their cel phone numbers. We made the decision in our office, which we recently opened, to not use standard land lines at the desks so that we could not be pinged by every technical sales predator and head hunter in the country.

Would you like your cel phone number published in a central directory, and be forced to pay to keep it unlisted? It's heading that way...

But hey. Lists of numbers and other bits and scraps of info are all good. Anything anybody can find out about you without breaking any laws is subject to use for any reason without your consent. I mean, nobody can get at your bank account through your cel phone number. And there will be a service to opt out.

Right? There's no theme here at all. These are all entirely isolated situations that have nothing to do with a common theme of eroding privacy and respect for individuals.

I prefered the Armstrongs Hair Clipping analogy better. Same horse, far more amusing read.

Telephone numbers have always been opt out, I don't know why cell phones are considered sacred. As long as the ability existed to have an unlisted cell phone number as it does now for regular phones, there is no reason for there to not be a directory of them. Also, on the marketing calls, I have found the privacy director service works wonders - I never get sales calls at all - zero, and I have had the same number for 10 years.

The service to block those kinds of calls, from Verizon, from what they told me (and I had a LONG conversation with a supervisor about this) costs money.

So now you have to PAY to keep these lowlifes from spamming you.

That's extortion, plain and simple. I will attack you unless you pay. If you don't pay, I will up the attack until you eventually capitulate. Verizon, who owns and enables the service, says, "it's not our fault, in any way, whatsoever".

One number was particularly bad. I mean 4+ times a day. I told Verizon I refused to pay. I was being openly harassed, there was no way to trace the call back by ordinary means (ID blocked) unless you called number they left in the message to "opt out".

I told Verizon I was going to contact the Daily News and provide a reporter with a full recording of the conversation, which I made. It clearly demonstrated how Verizon intended to leverage spam practices to make money by providing services to block them instead of taking action against these people. I was dead serious too. I was a reporter for some years, I know the routine.

Guess what.

They contacted the incoming number's owner, and very, very shortly after, it stopped.

Yes, but to use it he would have to put his personal information on some list. Who knows who'd get hold of it then!

As much as what I post seems to amuse you, I am amused by your apparent inability to see where this sort of thing is leading.

Or rather, saddened. I sorta feel sorry for you.

Cristiano, your statement that you don't know why cel phone numbers should not be openly published really illustrates our difference. Because I would fight such a practice with everything I've got, and immediately switch to the best provider that refused to do it.

So, troll away.

I will gladly publicize my cell phone number.



Call me anytime!

You can dismiss me as a troll all you want - I was expressing an opinion. I also love how you make all kinds of threats in your posts, Tcoz - it really is a charming habit - some are less thinly veiled than others.

Hey Schwanson, after validating that number, if it's yours, I'll make sure to distribute it to as many telemarketing lists as I can find. Well done!

However, if your intent is to get people to call 911 erroneously, you will be hearing from the police shortly. Because this is actually a serious crime.

Duly screenshotted, captured, logged.

I'll also inform LL of your transgression.

Cristiano, your lies regarding implied threats are really getting blatant. If I were to say "how are you" these days, you'd say my interest in your health is a threat. Get off it. I have never been issued a warning from LL, and if I was threatening people so obviously and liberally as you claim, I certainly would have heard something. So you're obviously full of shit.

woops, I accidentaly mistyped a digit.
My bad.

Nobody will buy that. Nice try though. And glad to have set you straight.

You threatened Ulrika's web with a DOS attack and also poisioning the db with invalid keys, and now you threaten Schwanson first with putting his number on as many lists as you can find, then with reporting him to the police. You can't get any more blatant than that.

Im sorry what does this have to do with SL again ?

It is interesting that you find distributing information that he has made freely available to any and all third parties that would be interested in it for any reason a "threat".

I mean, nobody else around here has done anything like that with any other public information...right?

And attempting to get people to dial 911 for no reason IS a crime.

Ah you know something Cristiano, you're fanboi ass isn't worth the ASCII text. Welcome to ignore 4ever. You consider me hysterical and threatening. I consider you weak and stupid.

So, with that, I bid you good day. And good bye.

Who are you babbling at?

Doesn't the national do not call list cover cell phones as well as land lines?

Set me straight?
Is that an attack on my sexuality?
Perhaps I should contact the authorities.
This is a serious offense.

Tcoz Bach just to remind you, these are pg forums, so keep your tone in check please. Personal attacks are also not allowed. soooooooo.... If there anything you want to post that is in the right forum and not one of the above or other TOS vialation ?

Seems the Original Poster is extremely upset about the keys being published,

In all these massive flame fests I could not see if he called Linden Customer Service.

This issue really seems to have moved beyond the per vue of the forums. Opinons to either side have already been expressed.

If Linden labs refuses to do anything about the issue, Drumming up popular support here on the forums isnt really gonna change anyuthing.

Especially since its a mixed batch of opinions anyway. LL isnt going to be swayed either way if its a mixed response.

Only 3 real avenues seem of any value to me looking at all this .. either ..

Continue compliants through the appropriate Customer Service Channels,

Cancel your service becuase of your disagreement with LL,

-OR -

Opt out of said list, throw up hands and learn to deal. Make a seperate Email for the game like many of the rest of us and let any spam go there.

Just wanted to quote that before the ever edit happy Tcoz revised it.

Yes, yes they do. In fact I added my cell number long ago.

Hmm well that is interesting. I just so happen to work for a wireless company, Cingular... and we have no plans to sell cellphone numbers or publish them without any type of consent. The public is also able to get their number on a national "Do Not Call" list, (which there is no cost) and have been for years. There are plenty of rumors about cellphone number selling that is rampant on the internet. That is what they are...rumors. Special steps have been taken to make sure that this type of number selling/releasing will not happen due to the nature of cellphone service and the costs involved. I'm not sure why Verizon is charging for the service you mentioned, probably because they are evil and charge for any damn thing they can to try to stay afloat (I worked for them awhile back)


On a side note, I read on the internet somewhere that Elvis was living with Tupac in the lost city of Atlantis and are selling Neil Armstrongs hair for $Lindens! Go Tupac! I ain't mad atcha.

Thank you, that made me laugh out loud. Isn't it weird how Tupac has had more CDs AFTER his death than he did before? And how does he keep starring in movies???

Not only is this thread way off topic but it has devolved into a series of personal attacks, thus it will now be closed.

Still fighting this one man battle?