I'm like Anon...off with that answering machine. Caller ID gives one more than enough information to decide if you want to answer the phone. If you're not home...caller ID still works and you can call someone back if you feel like it. If you actually answer these sort of phone calls, they know they have reached an active number and they will sell that information and you will get even more crap calls. Now I'm just wondering this, but if I located their calling facility and threw a bomb in the window and killed all of their worthless a**es, would I get in trouble if the authorities actually located me? Hypothetical...of course :)
Chris...if you push TALK and the END while your phone is ringing, you're actually answering the call and hanging up, just not speaking. By doing that, you let the caller know they've reached an active phone number. Just let it ring.