I was on the Do Not Call list at my house too. Anywhere with an answering machine, I just let it pick up and hear who's calling. If it's a telemarketer, I don't pick up, unless they start using the machine as advertising space. In that case, I pick up, and hang up a second later, without a word.
It's easier on phones with caller ID, of course. If the caller is identified, and I know who it is, I can pick up without waiting for the answering machine. "Out of area", "toll free call", "Cell phone NY", etc, get the same treatment as above.
Without an answering machine, I hang up if I don't hear a response within 2 seconds of saying "hello". If it's a human telemarketer (rather than a recording), I say, without any regard to the voice at the other end: "I'm not interested. Thank you for calling. Goodbye." *Click* If it is a recording which happens to kick in quickly enough, I hang up.
I'm not going to make a dent in the abuse of private phones by these vermin. All I can do is minimize the portion of my life that I allow them to waste.
