I live in Chicago and I moved to a part of the city abutting the suburbs. This is generally where police and firefighters live, as they have to live within the city limits. Within a week, I got a phone call from a telemarketer asking if I wanted to contribute to the Fraternal Order of Police. As I hate cold calling and I do give charitably to causes I think genuinely need the help, I told him I was not interested. What followed was 20 minutes of various forms of cajoling and abuse, as the marketer could not fathom why I, a white male in his late 20s, wouldn't want to donate to the FOP. Didn't I know I'd get a sticker for my rear window? "Why would I need that?" I asked. Dead silence on the other end. Why didn't I hang up? Because, honestly, I didn't get it. I was naive as hell, and I just didn't hear the dog whistle he was blowing in my ear.

That's horrifying As if telemarketing wasn't creepy enough already!

>> ^kevingrr:

@conan
I'm no lawyer, but the camera is on his property and mostly for the security of his property. Cameras are everywhere on private property that have a view of public alleys and roadways.
There is no reasonable expectation of privacy here - the fedex guy is in public on a sidewalk. So there is no "invasion of privacy".
I am not familiar with German law at ALL, but if someone takes your photograph while you are in a public place is that a crime?
That is all secondary to the fact that his job is to safely deliver goods/packages.


Funny but 100% true: Yes, it is against German law to take a picture of a person in public space without their consent. You can however take pictures of "sceneries", i.e. without the main picture content being a single person. Say you take a picture of a roller coaster at Oktoberfest, there most probably will be several persons on that picture but that's perfectly okay. But if you take a picture of the good looking waitress you fancy, that's illegal. Yes that sounds strange and yes it is highly impractical but the law is the law.

And if you install a camera on your property to watch over your driveway it must not film the street or sidewalk. If it does (and anyone finds out) you'll be fined.

German law in this context does not focus on the surroundings (i.e. public / private) but on the privacy of persons. But anyhow: German privacy laws are extremely strict (therefore B2C telemarketing is illegal for example, i could name tons of other examples...).

I never dealt with US laws regarding privacy in detail, i only knew there nearly is no such thing as privacy outside your own home in the US. I just read up some details and the difference between these two countries is pretty stark.

8 more comments have been lost in the ether at this killed duplicate.

>> ^jimnms:


Probably caller ID. Did DHL really call you about a delivery or are you pulling my leg? I've had horrible service from DHL. I'm lucky if they bother to stop and bring a package to my door, they usually just drive by and toss it out. Ok, that's an exaggeration, but the last two times they delivered something to me, they didn't bring it to my door, they left it at the bottom of the steps and took off. One time it was a notebook, and it was pouring down rain. I stayed home to wait for the delivery because it was supposed to require a signature.


They called, although it was because my package was in customs and they needed to send me a bill for VAT to be paid before they can deliver. And delivery was fine, straight to my workplace. I've heard the horror stories, though.

>> ^grinter:

Aren't 911 operators law enforcement officers?
Isn't impersonating a law enforcement officer a crime?


Not in Australia they aren't. My sister in law mans(womans?) the 000 (Australian version of 911) phones and she is not a law enforcement officer at all.

from the YT comments, poster says "its my phone, they called me" .. he's not doing anything wrong .. think about it, how can you impersonate a 911 operator to the extent of causing detriment or harm to anyone calling your 10 digit number from a business... they weren't expecting 911, and don't need it

>> ^grinter:

Aren't 911 operators law enforcement officers?
Isn't impersonating a law enforcement officer a crime?

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>> ^FlowersInHisHair:

If only there were an equivalent technique for answering the door to doorstep evangelists at 8am on a Sunday. Other than being completely naked.


My ex-girlfriend did this at my place a few months ago. They haven't been back since.

>> ^FlowersInHisHair:
If only there were an equivalent technique for answering the door to doorstep evangelists at 8am on a Sunday. Other than being completely naked.


No other technique is necessary.

>> ^conan:

thank god we have laws that prohibit phone marketing to private households over here :-)


I haven't had a telemarketing call in a long time since the do-not-call thing went in place. I also don't have a land line any more. I always thought it was illegal for them to call a cell phone, but I found out the hard way it isn't. I now have my cell phone on the list, and it's been years since I've had one call me.

>> ^rebuilder:

That's great. How do you know beforehand it's a telemarketer, though? If I had tried this today, I would have scared off the DHL lady calling me about my delivery.


Probably caller ID. Did DHL really call you about a delivery or are you pulling my leg? I've had horrible service from DHL. I'm lucky if they bother to stop and bring a package to my door, they usually just drive by and toss it out. Ok, that's an exaggeration, but the last two times they delivered something to me, they didn't bring it to my door, they left it at the bottom of the steps and took off. One time it was a notebook, and it was pouring down rain. I stayed home to wait for the delivery because it was supposed to require a signature.

That's great. How do you know beforehand it's a telemarketer, though? If I had tried this today, I would have scared off the DHL lady calling me about my delivery.

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