All my calls are screened at my work.
At home, the mystery callers usually mispronounce my last name, so I know to go down the check list:
1. Who is calling?
2. What is this regarding?
Then,
1. If I am interested: "This is [my first name]."
2 If I am somewhat interested: "Now is not a good time. Can you call me back another time soon?" (If, when I get the second call, my interest level has not risen, I move on to the "not interested" reaction.
3. If I am not interested: "Sorry, I am not interested." Click.
The first time I saw "L.A. Story", I hated everything about it except one bit. The Steve Martin character answers the phone and says:
"This is [character name], I am home right now, so at the sound of the tone, please speak to me" Then he hits this little beeper that sounds like an answering machine tone. One day I will use that on a telemarketer.
MotionMan