iPhones with iOS6 have a feature called 'Do Not Disturb'. It's a limited function that allows you to block all calls between scheduled times when the phone is locked. You can also make a list of favorites that are not blocked. Not as good as a block feature, but you could get some sleep at night.

Verizon is a better deal--and you can block up to 5 numbers for free.

This may help: assign a silent ringtone as the default, and then assign important contacts a non-silent ringtone. Yes, that is an annoyance, you'll have to remember to add people to the important list.

Sadly, there doesn't seems to be Shush app like for Android phones. You mute the sound, and Shush will come up and ask you for how long. 8 hours for over night, or just an hour and 30 minutes for that meeting.

On my Android/Verizon phone I can send specific phone numbers directly to voicemail.

I have a regular cell phone and I am starting to get robo calls too. I think it is just something that marketers have figured out how to do. No less annoying though. I find that I rarely answer my home phone anymore because it is more often than not a toll free call.

Just a little off topic, you are right about the text writing. I text all the time (I have a 13 year old daughter) and you are right, when you go to write something real the temptation to hit "u" for you is hard to override. It is scary to see how quickly bad habits set in.

People sometimes marvel at how I type everything out,...

I do this all the time, because I can't stand the abbreviations and the laziness it fosters. I also enjoy doing it when it pisses people off who can't be bothered to form a coherent word when they text!

Bonus: my older daughter is the same way. I love it! She told me she hates it when people use things like 'ppl', 'h8', 'u', and 'l8r' as if those are real words. She says it bothers her especially when people do that on their Facebook pages. Me too.

If you know the inbound number of the caller, add them to your contacts as say... Wrong Number. Then set the ringtone for Wrong Number to silent.

I had this exact same experience just last month. Someone with a (very mild) Hispanic accent called me claiming that I called them first. They asked "who is this" repeatedly. Since, like you, I only use my cell phone to call close family (and do so from the contact list rather than dialing a number direct) I knew this was complete BS. I refused to answer their questions and told them they were lying outright.

I have been wracking my brains trying to figure what possible motive people would have for this behavior. I'm still a bit baffled, but I wonder if there's a bounty out there for personal information linked with cell phones. I know that phone books don't automatically list cell phone numbers and I wonder if there's a value for verified name/number combinations that would make this activity pay enough for people to make the effort. I can't see that being economical, myself, but it's just possible enough that I wonder...

Last year I kept getting texts from a number I didn't recongnize, of the "Who is this?" variety. I suspect that it was from some kid that was included on a group text that I responded to. (I assume that it was a kid because of the "ur"-type shorthand, and they asked if I "knew Billy" or something like that.) Anyway, it annoyed the crap out of me and after several back-and-forths I threatend to "call your parents." So it stopped.

I really hate group texts on Iphones, because sometimes you don't realize it's a group text and if you respond it defaults to "reply all." So, when one of my idiot cousins sends out a "What's everybody up to" message to everyone in her contacts on a Friday night, I start getting a bunch of random texts from people.

My voicemail greeting on my phone doesn't give my name. It says, "You've reached XXX-XXXX, please leave a message." If someone doesn't know they're calling me, they shouldn't be calling.

Oh, and the texty-shorthand I hate the most is "ur."

I use the Android version of this app:

http://www.ollapp.com/app/extreme-call-blocker-invisible/iphone

You can configure it any number of ways: Block all numbers not in your contacts list, block all calls except for specific numbers you whitelist, etc. You can tell it to send them directly to voicemail, or do the equivalent of answering and hanging up so they don't even get your VM. Works with texting too.

There are other apps that do the same thing. Definitely worth the one time fee of $6 for unlimited use.

I have Sprint, and it took me forever to block a number, which I desperately needed thanks to a psychotic stalker lady. Wish I was more tech savvy to offer some assistance.

By the way, I love how you insert little hat tips to Gregg regarding the things he does for you. It's so sweet. Many women I know bitch about their men, like my neighbor, who doesn't work, doesn't make herself look good, doesn't do anything but sit on the porch and smoke all day. Her boyfriend takes care of her and her son by working multiple jobs, donating plasma, and working on projects around the house. She gets pissed when he comes home exhausted and falls asleep. Says he's lazy.

You have mentioned in the past that based on your requirements or demographic or something, there might be 8 people alive who would be an ideal partner for you. I think you mentioned a researcher along with this. Is there a book or a study or a website or something? I'd really like to learn more about this. I've been trolling the internet for a few days. Some of the men-oriented sites have been a bit useful, but not anything else I have found.

My new Samsung has a blocker mode built-in... I haven't yet hated anyone enough to try it.

Time, time...

My friend had a one night stand with this guy and his roommate began to stalk me via the phone.

He would call me like 20 times a day, text me at all hours. He would send me pics of guys and pretend he was a guy that I had just met. He would also text me in Spanish which I thought was hilarious as he was a black American guy.

It lasted a while and people told me to change my number. Here is the thing, this guy was tech savy so he used multiple numbers. There was no "one" number to block. And I was not about to change my DAMN NUMBER.

My number is super easy to remember, it looks like it's a fake number because it's just a bunch of zero's. It's great.

Anyways I ended up not changing my number, I've had experience with alot of stalkers (guys I never date but just casually met once or twice).

I guess cuz my brother is a 6'3" mercenary, I feel safe. He WILL track you down and beat your ass.

Apropos of nothing—

I'm struck by this story... Perhaps it describes a very American response to celebrity and children's culture, but it didn't actually happen here. I love that!

America isn't actually the hometown of evil.

However, we'll welcome anyone.

My new Samsung has a blocker mode built-in... I haven't yet hated anyone enough to try it.

Doesn't someone have to want to call you first?

Fucker ☻

LOL

But, j/k.

;>P

I got an app called Groups from Team Broken Ninja for my iPhone that allows you to create groups of phone numbers. I named mine "Annoying Telemarketer" and set it to a silent ringtone (which I had to download - WTF Apple?). I just keep adding the suckers to the list and I never have to deal with them again.

Amy,

TWICE I've had to change my phone number because I was getting calls at all hours (literally every single hour block) from people. By "people" I mean dozens of different numbers. Only a few of which ever called more than once. All were either public pay phones or registered to some one with a Hispanic name.

Some people were apologetic - one woman in particular was very nice in her broken English. Many spoke no English. One guy had very good English and insisted he was calling about the work on "the house" but wouldn't believe me when I said there was no house, no work at that number. He called back twice (I get that, in case of mis-dial), but then called back a few weeks later. Some of the people just started rapid-fire Spanish (I assume Spanish) at me.

Whenever there was bad weather, it would get markedly worse - especially around 4 AM.

Once, I get. Some one makes a flyer with the wrong number, but it's happened twice in the last 5 years.

I did start getting one no-one-home call repeatedly, which I've blocked (it was free on my plan w/Cox).

I mentioned this to some one who suggested I record the three tones at the beginning of those automated messages ("we're sorry, your number can not be completed as dialed. Please check your number and call again."). He said it would get rid of robo-callers. I don't know if it'll work (and it definitely would require letting all your friends/family know), but it might be worth it.

Good luck!

Being trained as a statistician, I tend to take surveys when I get the "random" calls. But, after the last election season (swing state, not affiliated w/either party), between the campaigns and surveys, I stopped. I actually got a political survey two days after the election (seriously?).

Then fundraising season started. Be it the alma (your money) maters or XYZ foundation - I'm now picking up and hanging up immediately.