Question: I frequently receive telephone calls from people I do not know who say they are conducting a survey and would like to ask me some questions. I invariably find that I have absolutely no interest in participating in such a survey, but I wish to avoid hurting the feelings of the caller. What is the right thing to do?

Answer: Your sensitivity of the feelings of the caller is certainly to be commended. This does not necessarily obligate you to waste time answering questions in an area of which you have no interest.

The right thing to do is to avoid rudely hanging up but to rather tell the caller that you appreciate being selected for participation in the survey but feel that you are unable to answer any questions to an unknown caller. Then just say a polite goodbye and hang up.

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