Proof that human telemarketers still exist, and that M. is a creature of habit

We have a landline which we never use. I can't remember the exact reason why we had the landline installed but I think it had something to do with getting cable television. The first time it rang, I looked at M. and asked him who it was, since I hadn't had the chance to give out the number to anyone I knew. He went to pick up the phone, then put it down abruptly.
"It's a telemarketer," he said.
Then the phone started ringing morning and night. Every time, M. went to the phone, listened to it for about one nano-second, then put it down and carried on as if nothing has happened. I thought this was rather rude of him - even if it is a telemarketer, they are still humans, and you should at least say "No, thank you,"? - but then he explained it was usually a pre-recorded message. So when I'm at home, I don't pick up the phone anymore. But M. still picks up the phone if it rings when he's near it, as if anyone we know would have the number to call.

This afternoon, the phone rang and M. duly got up from where he was to pick up the phone.
"Hello? No, I think you have the wrong number, there's no one here with that name....No, well why do you want to know that? Why are you calling?...No, I don't want to participate, and while you're at it, can you take me off of whatever list you found this number on?"
I was getting worried he might become rude. What on earth is wrong with me? I'm worrying about M. being rude to a telemarketer! M. was saying, "No, I actually don't know what this number is, but you called here so shouldn't you know what this number is?"
That's true, I thought. Besides, when would we have had a reason to use the number enough to memorise it?
"No, I don't want you to call me back," M. began, then he looked into the receiver. The guy had hung up on him.
"What did he want?" I asked M., as if I hadn't been listening to a word.
"He was looking for Carmen someone, I think whoever it was that used to live here," M. said.

A hundred dollars says M. will still pick up the phone when it rings the next time.