This isn't the first time I've received a note like this: "Here's what I have done to discourage ALL those credit card offers from various companies. I take the envelope that they give you -the one that's postage paid. I stuff it with the offers, papers, the outside envelope it was sent in, various "flyers" advertising checks, clocks, tools, etc... You know, the crap they send you that falls all over the floor-lol... So-since it's postage paid, they have to pay to receive all the crap they sent you... It's also good if you stuff as full as possible, so they'll have to pay more postage... Since I've been doing this, I've noticed WAY LESS junk mail and "great" offers. Of course I don't sign or write on anything they send me, but that seems obvious I suppose... "

"Oh well-it's just an idea, and I have noticed it's WAY LESS time consuming than calling (and being put on hold for a long time), writing a letter and paying for postage, or sending an email to a robot-lol. All the people I've told about it laugh like crazy when I explain it... Maybe it will work for you too..."

It's time for me to respond. I don't want to sound like a stick in the mud, but I believe pretty strongly in the Rule of Law, and I try my best not to subvert the system or do anything that is illegal or unethical, and, well, I think that sending back junk just to cause the offending company a useless expense is unethical.

I'm sure that not everyone agrees with me -- indeed, the author of the above email clearly doesn't -- but I see it like telephone solicitors: they're just folk like you and me trying to make a few bucks off a job that can't be much fun at all. So why be rude or mean to them? I am unfailingly polite (and firm), in saying "I am not interested. Please put me on your do not call list." and hanging up.

And outside of the wave of political calls (that are immune from having to worry about do not call lists, alas), we receive almost zero solicitation calls in a month. The key, of course, is to use the specific phrase put me on your Do Not Call List, but the point is that if I have a problem with the company calling, I don't want to take it out on the person calling me. They're so far down the food chain in that company that they couldn't even say what state the CEO lives in, I bet.

Everyone makes their own decisions about how to life their life, but personally, I can't endorse what this reader wrote about and instead suggest strongly that you consider the consequence of your actions, not just the temporary pleasure of a naughty or nasty trick.