On: Fight SOPA/PIPA -- let your visitors call their se...

[jroes]

I like this a lot.

My senators have a system that requires me to press 1 to leave a voicemail and 2 to speak with someone. I had to actually dial on my phone to make it happen.

Maybe a little keypad could be displayed while on the call?

[tessr → jroes]

Would you prefer an on-screen keyboard or a connection through your real phone? (i.e., we call you and then put you through)

Thanks so much for the feedback (:

- someone who is partially responsible for this

[jjcm → tessr]

Hard to say. I think many people on HN would prefer an on-screen keyboard, but that's sampling power users. Then again, it may be that the power users are the ones that are willing to take a stand.

[deserted → jjcm]

I would prefer google voice style, my phone rings and I am connected. I don't often take phone calls through my computer, despite using skype chat and having a webcam. I suspect many others are the same.

Which makes me wonder what percentage of internet users have ever had a google hangout?

[tessr → jjcm]

Yes, but would those people also be the people who would have called in already? It's a tricky question (:

[jroes → tessr]

Good point.

I think connecting me through the phone would be best. I was a little confused about how the call was going to work initially until I stopped skimming and actually read what was on the page.

Another good rationale is that the user may not have a microphone on the machine they're on. Or there could be security restrictions on the machine that prevent access. It also opens up a new world -- you could let them schedule the call during business hours for the senator's office, or a time when the user is free.

[kandalf → jroes]

Working on this.

[plasma → kandalf]

I'm not in America, but what about even just saying what key combination you should press to get through the menus to talk to a human?

I even hate waiting for the slow voice to read out the options!

[tessr → plasma]

Ooh, cool idea. It may vary from office to office but we'll definitely look into it.

[AlexeyMK → tessr]

check out gethuman.com for a service that offers menu-avoidance for other public numbers (though not necessarily the government).