Call Congress?
HILLARY
So last week we were talking about giving back on a personal level –– how one person can make a difference is someone’s life. This week, I had a friend call me to let me know that he had "called congress." What he meant was, he took advantage of a marketing tool that allows you to call several hundred or even thousands of numbers at one time and play one message. So, he recorded a message about immigration reform (a subject close to his heart – he is married to a south American immigrant) and sent it to over 1700 members of congress, for which he got over 1300 live people. I just love the idea of one person getting a message across to so many people in power. How else can we do this, as it seems like the best way to have an impact?
JACK
The idea of passing on what you believe is nothing new. The ability to dramatically explode the number of people you can contact in a single moment is what is now remarkable. If we forget for a moment what the message is, we can only wonder at our ability to expand the audience for that message. It sounds to me like your friend is using the latest telemarketing technology. The problem that emerges is that so many of the messages are not welcomed by the recipients and they begin to be regarded as so much spam; That being said, there is no time in history where we were able to do what we do now. The trick is to find ways to get around the fact that the audience begins to realize that this is random message, sent to many people rather than to a single person.
HILLARY
I think you’re right, that mass-callings are annoying. I get them all the time: for marketing and from politicians or political action groups. It’s very impersonal, and I usually don’t listen to the entire message. I wonder, however, how often the creators of those messages actually receive them. I think it was a great "turning of the tables" for my friend to use the methodology of politicians to get HIS message across. I only wonder what would happen if a 100 or a 1000 people used this system (at call-em-all.com if only for 30 seconds.) and sent messages to congress. You would think that they would have to start listening. Isn’t this the American process of representative government –– to listen to and represent constituents?
JACK
Well, frankly, most of the time, unsolicited calls/letters/emails drive most of us nuts. And there is no question in my mind that if your friend was successful then 100s or 1000s or people will use the same technique to get their message across. I see a constant battle between our ability to reach people and our ability to reach people who will be receptive to it and welcome it.
HILLARY
But Jack, isn’t it the business of congress to welcome and receive the input of the country?
JACK
Well is it my business to receive everyone who wants sell a diet plan or a penis enlarger?
HILLARY
Jack, how can you compare the two?
JACK
It’s the same technique. I do not welcome the spam on the Internet, regardless of the message. I do not welcome the phone call that interrupts my dinner or visit with my friends. But I’m really an old hand at this game, since I was one of the first to send out massive mailings of computer-generated letters to a targeted market. When people stop responding to the address "occupant" we were able to figure out a way to name them on the envelope so it did seem like a personal letter. The snail mail is pretty innocuous. Because all you have to do is through it away. And of course hitting the delete button can eliminate the Internet culprits. So now they start off with something that has nothing to do with what they are selling you. In direct mail there were so many complaints that the direct mail association installed a mechanism that allowed you to have your name deleted from mass mailing lists. But all that being said, I think that it’s all part of the progress in spreading the word. Even in the direct mail, there are millions of shut-ins who welcome anything. Once more, this is good and bad because in too many cases you come up with an instrument to reach and to cheat many innocent people. The process is great, and like anything else it’s not 100% great. The real good technology is when the recipient can sign up or voluntarily receive a message –– as, for example, the case of this very blog. People will only read what we have to say if they choose to read it. I would be very upset if it was ever forced. And, the commercial value is so huge that a technology like YouTube.com where all of this material is available to you, but is totally voluntary, if you wanted to view or listen. Overall, we’re in a very healthy arena and I can only wish your friend all the luck in the world, if he is successful in getting his message across to his chosen audience.
HILLARY
I just think in this age of mass media that the little guy can rarely have his voice heard by those in power. So I support anyone who can come with ways to make congress listen – even if only for 30 seconds.
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