Just had a reason to retell this story:

I remember in high school I'm sitting there on my Apple //c clicking away on my 2400 baud rockin connection and Dad comes in, doesn't say a word, and gently places a hammer on top of the $600 modem. He walks to the door, turns around and says "the next time I try to call your mother before I leave the office and I get a busy signal, that hammer goes through the modem" This was before caller id, call waiting and affordable cell phones. It was very effective!