I Am Furious (Yellow)

[ron_newman]

OK, actually just mildly annoyed. But still: why did you dump at least 96 Yellow Books in the lobby of our 50-unit apartment building? Is there someone we can call to make you pick them back up?

These aren't even the real Verizon Yellow Pages.

Comments

[upsidown.livejournal.com]

Probably because the people who deliver the phone books are paid by the book. When I last met someone who did that, it was something like 7 cents a book and there wasn't any reimbursement for gas/mileage.

I agree, they're annoying (when was the last time anyone with the internet looked something up in a phone book?!), but I say recycle them today.

Maybe tomorrow we can lobby for an opt-in system.

[misterthorn.livejournal.com]

We have about a half dozen of them strewn across our triple-decker's front porch. I personally haven't touched a phone book for any purpose other than throwing it away since 2004 or so.

[dial-zero.livejournal.com]

So you and your roommate can each have one, of course!

Are there at least any good coupons in the back?

[lunarcamel.livejournal.com]

When the power/internet goes out and you need to contact the people in charge to ask them wtf is going on and if they're going to fix it and all your bills are online, a phone book comes in handy. Either that or the foresight to write NStar's number on a wall somewhere. Just sayin.

[ron_newman]

I'm one of the few people who actually picks one up and occasionally uses it. But we certainly don't need twice as many phone books as there are apartments here.

(When the power goes out, I find an NStar bill and call the number printed on it. If any of you want to jot it down right now, the number is 800-592-2000)

[bangie24.livejournal.com]

http://pastie.org/1432293

This has been circulated via Twitter. I think it's a great idea. See below for text. :)


Hey guys!

For anyone who receives/received a phonebook this week/recently, and dislikes the fact that phonebooks continue to be printed & distributed en masse:

I've reserved a ziptruck for this Saturday morning 1/8, and will be parking it someplace prominent (I'll have signage) on Mass Ave in Central Square between 11 - 2 to collect unwanted phonebooks. I'll then drop whatever is collected either on Yellowbook's stoop in Burlington* or at the Cambridge DPW to have them recycled.

Feel free to forward. Thanks!

Becky


*pending Ben telling me I will be fined/jailed for trespassing/littering

@beckthis

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

One phone book per year per household is ample, though.

I love my phone book, but I hate getting bazillions of them (we got 6 at our 3-unit building, so I feel Ron's pain).

[spatch]

This title wins the Best davis_square Post Title in a Long Time award.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

this; i understand ron's pissed offness, but still chuckled at the title.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

Does 411 still work/exist?

I know everyone doesn't, but it's actually quite handy to keep your computer's address book updated with all your important contacts (like landlord, credit cards, etc.) and sync that to your phone, etc.

I can't remember the last time I've used a phone book for something other than propping the front door on moving day.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

hee, this is awesome and i'll gladly contribute to the bail fund :D

[ceo]

Ron, I am in awe of your subject line.

[redcolumbine.livejournal.com]

I think Rebekah Gewirtz was trying to do something about this.

[intuition-ist.livejournal.com]

what clevernonsense said.

"hey guys, we have some books you mislaid. stop doing that."

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

OMG YES!! I want to help get the books back out to Yellowbook! I had no idea they were in Burlington. Awesome. I'm in!

[lizzielizzie.livejournal.com]

I programmed NStar's number into my cell phone for this very reason. Also, because I recycle phone books the minute they appear on my doorstep.

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

when the power goes out, you can BURN THEM for heat :)

actually, i wonder if anyone burns stuff on purpose, would want them :>

#

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

She can try, but as long as they make billions on advertising and listing, it's not going away without a fight.

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

yup

[redcolumbine.livejournal.com]

She was sniffing out interest in a city ordinance that would actually impose fines for unwanted phone books and other "porch spam." I'm not sure what became of it.

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

I am pretty sure these are from a distribution center based out of the old Ames Envelope Factory on Tyler St. They have a big sign "Now Hiring!" and the books look like those described. Hadn't looked for a number though...I'll snag one if I see it tomorrow on my way in to the gym.

[yagagriswold.livejournal.com]

Hells yeah.

[maelithil.livejournal.com]

We got four for our single family on Day St. That's two each for my partner and I, just in case we need to look up four things at once and have misplaced our internet and both our smart phones.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

Best. Title. Ever.

[vonelftinhaus.livejournal.com]

Sorry if this has been posted already, but I actually meant to post this before they dumped a large oak tree worth of yellow books at your door(yes I know they might be recycled material:))Its is http://lifehacker.com/5663256/how-to-opt-out-of-yellow-book-delivery, I did this a while ago but still received one of these pesky little things, so I am not sure which one it works for and will go back myself and do it again:(
Good Luck,on to a pesky question how the heck do you create a hyper-link in live journal?

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

Would the gas you burn driving the truck have less of an environmental impact than that of not recycling the books?

Why not just encourage people to recycle them at home?

[ron_newman]

That link might be useful for people living in single-family houses, but I don't see how it will stop Yellow Book from bulk-delivering twice as many phone books as there are apartments here. (They are not individually addressed to any apartment number or name here.) I can't and shouldn't opt-out my neighbors without their permission, even if this form allowed me to do that.

[juldea.livejournal.com]

how the heck do you create a hyper-link in live journal?

Using HTML. Simple explanation here. (http://www.hyperlinkcode.com/make-hyperlink.php)

[juldea.livejournal.com]

This should be posted as its on post on b0st0n.

[ron_newman]

If people drive to Central Square to drop the books in your truck, that likely wipes out any ecological benefit from your recycling them.

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

i also just look at the bill.

i agree in perhaps a few very specific scenarios they could be useful, but the larger point being that it should be opt in. i think they should simply send out postcards, and, if you want a phonebook, check the box and one will be sent to you. (obviously this still creates some waste, but a fraction of it, and then you could do it by email/website.)

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

well, i think it's clearly more of a point-making exercise first and foremost.

[vonelftinhaus.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the hyperlink explano and Ron good luck with the phone book situation, if you talk to your neighbors and a good few of them want to return them let me know and I can help cart them away-cause I know you don't have a car :).

[crschmidt.livejournal.com]

We got 7 at our two-unit apartment. Stupid.

Does not work

[shana-lyons.livejournal.com]

I hate to burst your bubble, but this does not actually work. I opted out two years ago and still got two dropped on our step last year. So, last year I opted out again and called their advertiser number to be 100% sure I was opted out. They swore I was. I'm 100% certain it was Yellow Book. Now, it's January again and I have two more on my doorstep AGAIN. Grrr. . .

I'd be really supportive of any kind of city-led measure that forces phone book vendors to ask people to opt in. It would be easy and ecologically better to send each household a postcard asking how many phone books they wanted and then deliver books accordingly.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

yes yes yes

[dibalh.livejournal.com]

I imagine if you can be fined/jailed for trespassing/littering for this, then Yellowbook can be fined/jailed for trespassing/littering at your house?