Reply #1: I NEVER answer any kind of survey or give ANY information by phone

[niyad]

I tell the caller so, and hang up. Unless it's a political survey, in which case I demand to know for whom the poll is being conducted. generally, the caller does not know, at which point I inform the person that, since it's probably some reich-wing group, I absolutely will not answer.

the docile giving over of personal information to complete strangers always bemuses me. years ago, I was in a pier 1, and they wanted my zip code, which I refused to give. I pointed out that I was paying cash for the item, and consequently, they needed none of my information. the people in line behind me questioned me, and I explained that, as far as I was concerned, it was just one step in a softening-up process, accustoming people to handing over all sorts of personal information, until we finally arrive at "where are your papers?" without a whimper. several of the people behind me followed my example. a small victory, but it made me feel good.