1eclecticwriter

Without getting into the value and risks of A.I, I can categorically say I am beyond disgusted with the irrational, contradictory and impersonal mess that computer automation has made of so many unavoidable interactions in daily life. Speak to a person about an erroneous bill? You’re kidding, right? Accept an invitation to join the users of an online ticketing purchasing system? God forbid anything interrupts the multiple reverification steps vetting one’s efforts to complete the sign-up, as it will most certainly fail. Make an appointment to receive a phone call about seeking to obtain an estimate for a home construction project? Be prepared to be pestered by no less than 4 text messages reminding of the appointment. And the same with scheduling a medical appointment, which is then followed by a demand to rate the quality of the service received, and persistent reminders that the copay has yet to be posted.

Block the number of that pestering reminder, you suggest? Been there, done that, all it does is initiate a robo-dial from the next number in the phone bank.

Do you remember when one could, in the process of signing up for a subscription, specify that one’s contact information was NOT TO BE SOLD, or shared to any other entity? That option has long since ceased to exist. Now every request for a donation or to join the supporters of whatever cause, or even just to subscribe to a paper or magazine or online information cite carries with it the onus of also deciding how much of an inundation of more such solicitations one is willing to endure.

In tandem, offline, we now have to accept that incoming mail is 99% unsolicited demands to buy this, subscribe to that, support this, send money for that – all sent out bulk rate charges but requiring an ever more costly (over half a dollar now) postage stamp to reply. All with no guarantee the fully-paid-for envelop will arrive intact, if at all.

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While I did make a commitment to myself recently to get away from using my phone for most everything, and resume pulling out my laptop, I didn’t think I would start that process by posting a rant. But here it is. Not the first rant I’ve put up on my blog and probably, as things are going these days, not the last either. Not how I envisioned resuming writing – but then, better something than nothing.

Another day, not another dollar but maybe another mood and a more uplifting topic? No promises, but I’ll try.