Anthropology 295: Anthropology of Media

I'm in the library right now writing my last paper of the semester. My phone starts vibrating, so I check to see who it is, and the phone says that the caller number is 000-000-0000. um, what? I answer it, thinking maybe it was Sprint telling me I need to upgrade my phone plan or something. Instead, a recorded message starts playing. "Hi, this is Jake calling to see if you wanted to get your carpets cleaned for only $29.99......" I hung up and the problem was over but seriously? telemarketing calls to the cell phone? Is this going to become a trend? Is this normal? I'm so irked by the idea of telemarketers calling my on my cell phone that I suddenly feel like I want to chuck my phone at the wall. At home at least, the phone feels more formal - the people in my family don't feel the need to answer the phone all the time because really, it could be anyone. My cell phone however, feels so much more personal. 99% of all the calls I get are from friends and family, and those who aren't are usually co-workers or bosses and the likes. But now this carpet cleaner guy has my cell phone number and could potentially call me back anytime. Guys, please tell me this isn't a new phenomenon that's going to skyrocket until the telemarketing jokes are back in action but this time, referring to cell phones.

Sidenote: I just remembered a comic I saw one time in which a guy is sitting on the couch watching TV and his wife is on the phone. She's saying to him, "Honey, it's a telemarketer. He said if you're not busy right now he can call back some time when you are." WIth the phone call I just received, I'm feeling a little too empathetic toward this kind of situation. ahhhhhhh.