A Great 2021

With their end-of-year update on my blog-hosting account, my provider wants me to know that they appreciate the 11 years I’ve been their customer. OK, fair enough, I guess.

With their awkward end-of-year video of photos I posted online in 2021 — awkward because the video has no coherent story line or theme — Facebook wants me to know that they’re still keeping track of me in a slightly creepy way. OK, it’s hard to see how to avoid that.

But with their end-of-year update on my new videos and the views thereof, YouTube wants me to know that they think I had a great 2021, creating and posting. And with their end-of-year update on the PC Optimum® points I’ve earned and redeemed, Loblaw (Where/when/why did the “s” go from “Loblaw’s”? And is it too late to change it back?) wants me to know that they also think I had a great 2021, getting and spending.

The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;—
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!

OK, enough. Unlike Queen Victoria, I am not amused. Who asked these businesses to report on my year?

For me, the slow creep of these unsolicited, intrusive, and presumptuous retrospectives just crossed a line. What’s next?  My local pharmacy congratulating me on a year-over-year drop in chocolate purchases? The LCBO totting up my annual wine consumption?

News flash: Attention all organizations.

Butt out.

I know that I can’t keep you from collecting data on me. Have the courtesy to keep it to yourself. Don’t rub my face in it.

Moreover, I do not mark, measure, or value my year in the narrow ways that you can track, count, or assess and I do not appreciate you presuming to do so on my behalf.

I do not need, want, or value your year-end summaries and commendations.

If I ever wonder how much activity I engaged in with your entity, I’ll be in touch.

Over and out.

 

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12 Responses to A Great 2021

  1. Mary Gibson says:

    Love this one! Well done!!

  2. Tom Watson says:

    There is an option. Don’t use Facebook. Then you can butt them out.
    It’s one of the reasons I refuse to use Facebook.
    Tom

    • Isabel Gibson says:

      Tom – You’re entirely right. Facebook is relatively easy to shut down, but other companies have learned their tricks and are a little harder to get rid of as they are my regular suppliers. Of course, if I didn’t collect their points, they’d only be able to track me by my credit card number. Which I fully believe they would do.

  3. With convenience comes unwanted intrusion, but I am sure they’ll claim in the very fine print, you can opt out by clicking on some well hidden choices……

  4. Ken from Kenora says:

    Moi aussi. I have no time for Anti-Social Media.

  5. Jim Taylor says:

    As an IFTP, I should probably adopt “Butt Out!” as my motto.

    Jim T

  6. barbara carlson says:

    I only get the — FB notifications of THIS IS WHAT YOU POSTED 3, 2, 1 years ago!!

    My MAC spammer just catches all the rest. Or, I am not a great consumer or video maker or worthwhile member of society.

    But it could be worse — in China you get points for being socially active and demerits for keeping to yourself!

    • Isabel Gibson says:

      Barbara – Oh, let’s not go there. Governments managing our culture/community is about ten bridges too far.

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