With 3 teenage daughters, I never have to worry about answering the phone! The only thing I have to do is get out of the way as they all stampede for it. My 14 year old, the youngest and the quickest usually gets it first, so she screens all of the calls. I haven't talked to a telemarketer in years. She first asks them "what does this call pertain to?" and then proceeds to tell them we're not interested. What's great is she has a very young voice, so it sounds like they are being shot down by a seven-year-old! And yes, they do answer the phone at dinner, but we usually glare at them as they get on, and they get off quickly.