To venture a guess, because I am a "boomer", boomers answer all phone calls because during the first half of their lives (or more) every time the phone rang and you were home to pick it up it was usually something important or someone you (or someone in your family) actually wanted to talk to. Telemarketing and phone scams hadn't been invented yet. We didn't have a recorder on the line to take a message so if you didn't pick up you missed the call and had no idea who called. The first phone number in my house as a child was a "party line" if anyone remembers what those were.

Today, on the cell phone, unrecognized numbers can be important (like a doctors office) or not. Usually, I don't say an actual word and just do a throat clear in case a scammer is recording my voice. If a not wanted caller (computer, scammer, marketer) starts blathering I hang up, but old habits still have me picking up the call.

Screwing with them is one of my hobbies. If they ask my age, I give it to them in days (27113 at this writing). Often they'll then ask my birthdate; I'll tell them to start from today and count backwards on the calendar.

If they ask my name, first name is Mike, last name is Rotch. Once in awhile they'll repeat the full name. . .

Occasionally the call ends with the caller telling me to f*** myself. Nice to know I've accomplished my mission.

I bought a whole new phone system because Century Link where we are still uses old technology that can't block calls or any of the other features most of you enjoy. My new system blocks every call, requiring the caller to leave a name and press a key to get through, at least until they are approved. I can then approve them or lock them out entirely. Unfortunately some of the banking fraud systems can't get through to me because their automated system can't handle the intervention unless I have pre approved their phone number. In reviewing my list of incoming attempted calls I can just delete the numbers, mark them to a permanent block list, or mark them to the approval list. It works great, it saves me from 5 to 18 robo or other freak calls per day. It even blocks the politicians begging for money, I'd give them money except they haven't fixed the DNC (DoNotCall) program yet. In the past year I've only had maybe three beggars try to break through my blocker. Being from the old school I cuss at them and ask them who gave them the authorization to talk to me. They usually just hang up, then I permanently block their number.

Yes, and I have been doing the same -- in particular if I have an extra couple minutes -- I start the slow turbine of mixing with their very limited mental capacities, then shout something unintelligible and hang up.

Have you noticed you can search the truth older folks....I being one once with the boomer title is not the same meaning anymore. People born from 1946 to 1964 is the new description perhaps you are in the group?

Maybe the callers ARE basically illiterate and read from a script (barely) after a computer selects your number from a random list. I've tried asking a question and it's like catching a deer in the headlights. I hang up.

And also this supposed food card. I have two friends who only get $800 a month from SS and they can't qualify for this dumb food card. Why are we giving Ukraine $120 Billion dollars and we have people who need food cards...American citizens?

Well, DO you want to be protected by the government or do you NOT? I personally do NOT want the government deciding what can be shown to me. Along with about a million other things I'd rather they not do. Like...."protect" me from a virus. All the nonsense about Do Not Call lists is just that. They are about as useful and effective as (being a Texan you should recognize this) tits on a boar hog. No telling, though, how much money we pay every year for the DNC lists that don't work.