Comments | peristaltor: "Can It and Should It Be Done?"

peristaltor

"Can It and Should It Be Done?"

Jul 08, 2012 12:16

I got another rude interruption to my podcast listening the other day, this time from The Skeptics Guide to the Universe, a podcast I've shoved in my ears now for over four years. The interruption came this time from two of the skeptics themselves schlepping wares for an online audio book purveyor. ( I'll cut the gory details of this particular campaign. )

tilting at the ad mill, culture of whores, it's podcastic!

Comments 2

bill_sheehan July 9 2012, 23:12:44 UTC

A brilliant essay, and I agree. (Though I confess to enjoying some of Dan Savage's sponsors. It's not every day one hears an ad for bondage gear.)

My problem is not that people are trying to sell me things. I don't mind that in the least. What I object to is the is the lowest, most vulgar cons invading my Personal Computer. "YOURTOWN woman 57, looks 35!" "Six Simple Tricks to reduce your belly." "100% Chance of Market Crash, Predicts Noted Economist!" "SECRET REVEALED!..."

Et cetera ad nauseam.

Where is all this fine-tuned customer intelligence gleaned from assiduous data mining of my browser, purchasing habits, and Facebook wall? It's the same fricken' crap they were pushing in the days of Punch The Monkey.

peristaltor July 10 2012, 21:09:27 UTC

Where is all this fine-tuned customer intelligence gleaned from assiduous data mining of my browser, purchasing habits, and Facebook wall?

Oh, please, Bill. That consumer info is turned into pitches you would be hard-pressed to even notice. It probably got you to buy that last impulse splurge, the one rotting in your trunk right now.

But that info is expensive because it is effective. The crap you're complaining about is the marketing equivalent of tossing half-cooked spagetti against the fridge every few seconds until its done. It's almost free . . . and worth every penny.