How to tell people not to be stupid... professionally

LittleTaz · 11-17-2008, 09:41 PM

Ok, I need some help with how to word something...

I'm in charge of our company's cell phones. The company has been around for a while, but nobody ever created a policy on acceptable cell phone usage, so guess who gets to create it? Now, let me say first that I am normally not at a loss for words, but when confronted with the task of telling people how to not be stupid, the words are just escaping me...

Here's the point I need to get across. You know all the cute little quizzes, games, etc. you can play online? How much do you know about ancient TV shows? What movie star are you most compatible with? See your horoscope for the next 600 years. Yeah, those things. Well, most of them are harmless time killers, it's the ones that ask for your cell phone number so they can send you a PIN to get your results that I'm focusing on here. There are also the "Get this cool new hip hop ring tone just for texting the word DORK to 55067" ads on TV and online that are potential problems.

I have sent 2 company wide emails telling people "STOP IT!". When you send that text or give them your cell phone number, you are also agreeing to sign up for some ridiculous service that you probably don't even know you have, will never use and the only trace of it will be in the $1.99 - $19.99 month charge on the company bill. After the first email I actually had one guy tell me, "But all I did was get a PIN to get the results of my IQ test!"

Really??? Next time you want to know that, call me, I'll tell you that you're a moron for free!

So I need some way to phrase this in a document that doesn't come right out and say, "This is a business tool, stop being stupid!" And honestly, that's the best I've come up with...

Ideas?

11-17-2008, 09:41 PM	#1
LittleTaz WERA Yellow Plate Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Greenbrier, TN Moto: '00 Ninja 250 Posts: 748	How to tell people not to be stupid... professionally Ok, I need some help with how to word something... I'm in charge of our company's cell phones. The company has been around for a while, but nobody ever created a policy on acceptable cell phone usage, so guess who gets to create it? Now, let me say first that I am normally not at a loss for words, but when confronted with the task of telling people how to not be stupid, the words are just escaping me... Here's the point I need to get across. You know all the cute little quizzes, games, etc. you can play online? How much do you know about ancient TV shows? What movie star are you most compatible with? See your horoscope for the next 600 years. Yeah, those things. Well, most of them are harmless time killers, it's the ones that ask for your cell phone number so they can send you a PIN to get your results that I'm focusing on here. There are also the "Get this cool new hip hop ring tone just for texting the word DORK to 55067" ads on TV and online that are potential problems. I have sent 2 company wide emails telling people "STOP IT!". When you send that text or give them your cell phone number, you are also agreeing to sign up for some ridiculous service that you probably don't even know you have, will never use and the only trace of it will be in the $1.99 - $19.99 month charge on the company bill. After the first email I actually had one guy tell me, "But all I did was get a PIN to get the results of my IQ test!" Really??? Next time you want to know that, call me, I'll tell you that you're a moron for free! So I need some way to phrase this in a document that doesn't come right out and say, "This is a business tool, stop being stupid!" And honestly, that's the best I've come up with... Ideas? __________________ Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most