Imagethief has been getting more telemarketing calls to his mobile phone recently, suggesting either that I should stop throwing away my old business cards (we recently changed our logo) or that China Mobile has peddled my phone number. Here, only slightly paraphrased, is the dialogue I had today:

Telemarketer: Hi, I represent the American Annoying Finance Company. I'd like to tell you about a seminar we...

Imagethief: Hey, could you slow down a little bit?

Telemarketer: Sorry. Do you speak Chinese?

Imagethief: A bit.

Telemarketer: OK. I'll speak more slowly. I represent the American Annoying Finance Company. We're having a seminar on personal finance this Saturday. Would you like to attend?

Imagethief: Well, I'm really kinda busy. I don't think so.

Telemarketer: It won't take that much time. Why don't you come?

Imagethief: No, I'm too busy. Sorry.

Telemarketer: Say, you speak pretty good Chinese.

Imagethief: Not so much.

Telemarketer: Look, you must be really busy, huh?

Imagethief: [Losing patience.] Yeah. I am.

Telemarketer: But it's on Saturday. Don't you rest on Saturday?

Imagethief: Sorry. I'm not interested.

Telemarketer: First you're too busy. Now you're not interested. Which is it?

Imagethief: *Click*

Isn't refreshing to see that, like venereal disease and warfare, blindly obnoxious telemarketing crosses all geographic and cultural boundaries? Thirteen years living abroad and not receiving many telemarketing calls has dulled my reflexes. I'm dispensing with courtesy. Next time I'll hang up first and ponder my missed opportunities later.

Please hold for your hapless victim!