Have you changed your telephone talking habits, maybe even in jest?

[Philosoraptor]

I have. Recently when talking to friends on the telephone, certain comments and words will make us suddenly pause and say things like, "uhhh, I'm not really gonna punch the president in the mouth, I was just joking", or, "I'm not a terrorist by the way" and the like.

I've always been aware that any phone may be tapped, being naturally paranoid and involved in certain criminal activities participated in by millions of otherwise law abiding citizens. Now people of all stripes are wondering, "Is someone listening"?

This is what it's come to, and worse is to come, speaking pessimistically.

[Kerrytravelers]

1. When I talk to Mr kt and others who I know are like-minded, we always

say "Hi" to Agent Mike or anyone else who is listening.

[niyad]

2. since I know they are listening, I just tell them hello and that they are

probably going to be bored to tears.

[Turbineguy]

3. I only speak Dutch

and not very well at that. Nobody has a clue what I'm jabbering about. But that's not new either.

Saying "hi" to those listening in is a good idea. It makes them feel like they are part of the conversation. That's nice.

[Kerrytravelers]

4. I'm all about making people feel welcomed. I'm just warm hearted that way.

Even NSA tools have feelings, don't they?

[acmejack]

5. Reverted back to MILspeak?

"MOTU2, this is a non secure line, may I help you?" I need to think up a good name for my civilian self, since that was my military alter ego. I haven't felt compelled to warn anybody about a lack of security on a telephone for years until lately. But now the know all my dirty secrets, well done with extra cheese. And about that chocolate chip cookie, you don't think they would supply this information to my Doctors do you? After all the VA is a Government agency...

[mmonk]

6. I thought about calling some Iranian

friends I had in college in the 70's.

[Divernan]

11. I don't call an old grad school friend from the middle east anymore.

We occasionally exchange very bland emails. Too bad because I'd love to be talkin politics with this person. (Sorry, Agent Mike - won't reveal gender to ya)

[mmonk]

15. I understand completely.

The friends I had live here now and became citizens, but they still have family back there and I'm willing to bet they are watched.

[CoffeeCat]

7. I now speak in "code" to my friends...

A typical call...

Hello Birdman...this is Butterfly. Owls bark in the stone. Can you see the magnifying glass?

Yes, Butterfly girl...owls are molting tonight. Lamp kitty?

Positive on the Lamp kitty, Birdman. Football fields ignite cave Fritos. Are you cross polinating doorknobs with ketchup?

Negative Birdman. Mustard. Hot mustard. Quartz meets feldspar at the disco cork. Yarn portico?

Negative Butterfly. Rowdy ceramic skips the pandora when the Wookie eats the daffodil.

Gotcha Birdman. Water the stone penguin.

You too, Butterfly. Molars to the wind.

--------------
Yes, it's cumbersome. But we do what we have to do.

[cliss]

8. No. I haven't changed my habits.

I think about it every once in a while, but it doesn't matter: I still hate Bush. I never say anything provocative, other than "Wow, isn't it great to live in Bush World?"

Now when I called Verizon to complain about the wiretapping, after I let her have it I said, "And Bush if you are listening I'm switching to Q West".

I wanted to make sure she heard that.

[1monster]

9. Yeah. If I'm on the phone talking and it is time to pick up my son

from school (or whatever), I no longer say, "Time to pick up the donut," or ask my husband, "Did you get the donut?" ... :eyes:

I also try to make sure I say "Hi!" to Agent Mike.

I'm a little worried about the two phone calls to 800 numbers I made when my new computer crashed last month. They were routed to India... :hide:

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. No more home phone for me

All it took was this:

[Cha]

12. "Dial M for Moron"!

Priceless! :rofl:

[crickets]

17. Dial M for Moron

Hee! Best laugh of the day so far.

[titoresque]

13. I answer the phone "Whoopi Goldberg"

and then I try to say "girl on girl action" and
"farsi" a few times during the conversation.

It's the least I can do.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. LOL Whenever anyone called my dad and asked

"Who is this?" he would say "Bill Clinton" or whoever the current prez was.

[slackmaster]

14. I became much more cautious when Caller ID became widely available

Other than that, no. I've always been mindful of the fact that anything I say on the phone, just as anything I send over the Internet, may potentially be recorded, archived, and/or used against me at some point in the future.

[Jack Rabbit]

18. "Hello. Impeach Bush and repeal the Patriot Act."

Hi, Agent Mike.

[Breeze54]

19. I could care less if someone is listening but --

-- I don't use my phone very much at all to talk to anyone.
I use it to get on the internet though and I'm always online. ;)
Usually I only get sales calls anyway and I just hang up.












Did you hear the Bush?? I said FUCK YOU!!!!!
:rofl:

[kineneb]

20. hell no!

I don't care if Agent Mike and Agent Julie are both listening in. Most of my conversations on my cell phone, so no secure land line there. If I want to say that Bush is pond scum and Cheney needs to look down the barrel of his loaded shot gun, I damn well am going to. I once had an Iranian passport, as did most of my (living) family, so I am sure there is a fat file on me somewhere. I hope they are absolutely bored with my life.

So Agents Mike and Julie, have a good one, and oh, that intestinal crud is still bothering me...would you like to hear the details???
:evilgrin: