Got half an hour? Don’t mind small print? No pretty pictures? Want to read my jaded Thoughts Become Words? This opinion piece has been brewing for several months and what better than my zodiac Year Of The Dragon* to launch a strongly worded blog post.

Recently I was about to enter a website to check on some stuff when the following information popped up. Most of us vaguely realise that our activity on the WWW is monitored. But here (below) is a rather more comprehensive look at what “they” glean from my device. Of course “You can change or withdraw your consent any time from the Cookie Declaration” but by that time it is too late. I have well and truly been identified.

Oddly enough, I always felt safe when I knew my paper documents and personal details were archived in a filing cabinet or locked safe. But we all know both can be stolen, copied, photographed, or open to various forms of physical damage.

I AM NOT WRITING THIS TO INSTIL FEAR OR ANGER, I SIMPLY WONDER IF OUR DETAILS WILL EVER TRULY BE SAFE, NOT FROM THE GATHERER BUT THE ILLEGAL HARVESTER?

The modern cyber criminal, whose grubby hands only touch a keyboard, can easily steal a person’s savings and ruin lives within seconds. Do not trust unsolicited links, odd emails, text messages, requests for your details, funds transfer or anything that immediately makes you query where it came from. Go with your prehistoric gut instinct and throw that metaphorical spear, i.e. click Delete and empty your rubbish bin. It may stop the rampaging beast.

So, how many people comprehensively read the Terms and Conditions?

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT PROMPTED MY THOUGHTS:

QUOTE “We and our 800 partners process your personal data, e.g. your IP-number, using technology such as Cookies to store and access information on your device in order to serve personalised ads and content, ads and content measurement, audience insights and product development. You have a choice in who uses your data and for what purposes.” (As if…)

“If you allow, we would also like to:

1. Collect information about your geographical location which can be accurate to within several metres.” (Good grief!)

2. “Identify your device by actively scanning it for specific characteristics.” (Fingerprinting)

3. “Find out more about how your personal data is processed and set your preferences in the details section.” (More personal input)

4. “You can change or withdraw your consent at any time from the Cookie Declaration.” (Yep, withdraw your consent, no mention of stored details)

“We use Cookies and similar technology like Cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes essential functionality, performance and for (mainly unwanted) advertising purposes.” Question: Why, in their arrogance, are they so confident they can improve my experience?

In reality, I guess it is already too late to stop my details circumnavigating the world “for advertising purposes”. Similar to the flawed decision to allow Vaping into Australia, “Oh dear we are in a dilemma now, what can be done to fix it? Let’s throw more money at it and see what happens.” Probably nothing, just more young lives ruined by lung-corroding chemicals before the Government approves the next pleasurable yet ultimately destructive addiction.

If computer technicians, programmers, web designers, A.I. (colloquially known as Artificial Interference) and geeks-who-tinker are reading this blog post, I can sense your derision from here. And I don’t care because I am older than you and have experienced a lot more bad decisions in the world.

Ultimately human nature rules as in “Yeah, I like that,” or “Nah, I don’t like that” and the market is fickle thus you are trying to make it very appealing, very engrossing, so that you get paid for all your keyboard work. Are your fingers insured?

Therefore, my question is “Do I splather* myself around the globe?” Or do I clamp down on my details, put a tightly fitting lid on search engines, phishing, and those ubiquitous Cookies? Probably wouldn’t get much access, nor much done, because I wouldn’t be compatible or recognised, etc, which neatly supersedes the use of one’s own initiative.

Internet technology takes time to develop and test new stuff and (don’t tell them) it can be pretty hit and miss. Entertainment seems to be safe to use, after you have signed up, signed in, ticked the boxes, unticked the Not-applicable ones, fast scrolled down countless Clauses and Regulations, ticked the Declaration which state your details are safely stored, etc, etc, finally arriving at Preferences knowing they will ignore your settings anyway—every time you log in! Even WordPress has been known to drop a few blog functions.

SIDE-TRACK
Don’t get me started on Goodreads, and have you read the juicy gossip about Amazon?
Wired – “Scammy AI-Generated Book Rewrites Are Flooding Amazon” Kate Knibbs reports: “Authors keep finding what appear to be AI-generated imitations and summaries of their books on Amazon. There’s little they can do to rein in the rip-offs.”
Real books on a real shelf in a real library – I am such a Luddite*

https://www.wired.com/story/scammy-ai-generated-books-flooding-amazon/

And what is it with this Unsubscribe Button? Apparently it is consumer law that an Unsubscribe Button should appear on emails/notices/newsletters/businesses to stop regularly unwanted stuff (spam) in your inbox. However, it sometimes takes weeks for the Unsubscribe notice to take effect. Oh, don’t tell me someone has to physically click to delete your data…

ALWAYS MORE CAN BE QUESTIONED AND QUERIED. IF AND WHEN I DECIDE, NOT WHEN I GET AN EMAIL, NOT WHEN I GET AN ALERT, NOT WHEN THE INTERNET TELLS ME IT’S FANTASTIC EVERYONE IS SAVING MONEY DOING IT, AND NEVER ME ON SOCIALS WHEN SUPPOSEDLY EVERYONE IS DOING IT, ESPECIALLY NOT THEN. GBW 2024.

Life cannot be lived backwards, but it will never revert now anyway. The downturn in skilled tradespeople is proof of that. Not enough keen young apprentices for physical job training. Sure medical research and sciences have taken a huge leap forward, but can humans live as truly independent thinkers when an artificial intelligence shares the same room?

FOR ME, DECLARING LUDDISM IS NOT A NAIVE EMOTION BUT A GENUINE STANCE ON TECHNOLOGY AND OUR ALL-ENCOMPASSING RELIANCE ON IT INSTEAD OF SEEKING THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF REAL HUMAN ADVICE FIRST.

Maybe keep looking back over your shoulder at old skills because a thinking life is fading fast. Perhaps internet safety controllers have vacated the building and a rag-tag crew is left patching the patches. (Nothing personal, guys, your brainpower got you this far). As for the rest of us, keep safe, keep deleting, query everything. Most of all, don’t let internet searches give you the wrong information, go to genuine websites in your own country. Of course, it is fun reading and writing blog (weblog abbreviation) posts and every device has a settings/close/shutdown button.

Finished scrolling? “But I like scrolling” says Person. “Of course you do. It’s designed that way.” Put down the electronic device, push away that keyboard. Grab a real book or pencil and paper to sit quietly for awhile. Challenge: Can you manage being an independent human being for half an hour?

Thought so…Gretchen pensive face emoji 😔

❤ Gretchen Bernet-Ward 2024

*YEAR OF THE DRAGON Lunar New Year begins on 10 February 2024. This marks the start of the Year of the Wood Dragon.
*SPLATHER (noun): 1. : ungainly 2. : rambling. Sends a long splathering telegram. UK author J. B. Priestley (1894–1984)
*LUDDITE (noun) Definition: 1. A person who is opposed to the introduction of new working methods, especially new machines. 2. Jathan Sadowski The Conversation Review “I’m a Luddite. You should be one too.” 9 August 2021.