Community Chat

[LTT1]

I have found some positives surprisingly.

Also there seem to be some negatives.

1) Sometimes I like to be reminded of things I have shopped for

2) Sometimes I feel like my privacy has been invaded

3) my internet searches are enhanced ...a positive

4) offers for insurance are a pain — these appear in my email messages (spam)

[ItsME]

I hate it... it's a terrible invasion of my privacy.  I use private browers and limit cookies, but I'm still tracked.  It's awful, but I need (and want) to use the internet.

ETA... I got a new hard drive two weeks ago, and upgraded my RAM.  Just looked at the cookies and caches stored since then, and it was about eight sites only.  Much better than in the past.  I deleted it all.  I just  hope that It's all showing up in my search, and I'm not missing any that need to be deleted.

[Annabellethecat66]

I absolutely hate it and try to avoid it whenever possible.  I know there are ways not to leave cookies (my grandchildren sometimes uses it).  I will see my son-in-law tomorrow and will ask him to set my new computer up so I don't leave so many.

I have comcast and I know they track what I watch.  Around 3 or 4 in the morning they will tell me they are (I think it's called 'updating' or something....the guide).  I can't remember what they ask.  But I've seen it several times.

[chickenbutt]

I would rather not be tracked at all.  I'm pretty good at knowing, all by myself, what I want and don't want.  But, also, being fairly private, it feels offensive to me.   I get why others might not be bothered by it and I don't begrudge anybody that.  For me, however - no thanks. 

I do use an adblocker and as many protections of which I'm familiar to preclude the tracking.   I don't know if we can make ourselves totally private though, so I recognize that.

I always remember that what can be used for good can also be used for bad.   If these retailers can come up with ways to track us more and more efficiently, then bad guys also can.

[Diva on The Q]

I don't like it when I "window shop" on various sites, then see those items displayed on my screen. Gives me the creeps!

[chrystaltree]

Honestly, it's spooky.  It feels like I have a virtual stalker.  I do a search or buy something or click on a link for something and after that, my inbox and my FB page are beseiged with similar things.  I don't think of it as an invasion of my privacy because I know there are no people tracking us,  "Big Brother" is just capturing bits of data to get an better idea of who I am so businesses can sell stuff to me.  But it's so incredibly spot on that it feels creepy.  However, there are some positives.  I do get directed to things that I need or want but I never would have found them on my own.

[YorkieonmyPillow]

  I don't really pay too much attention; it doesn't bother me...that's just the way cookies work, I don't find it "spooky."

[deepwaterdotter]

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@YorkieonmyPillowwrote:

  I don't really pay too much attention; it doesn't bother me...that's just the way cookies work, I don't find it "spooky."

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Since it doesn't bother me, I guess I don't pay enough attention either.

[Q4u]

....and if you feel "spooked" by the information gleaned from manufacuturers and websites trying to get you to buy something, just imagine the spooky feeling you'll get knowing what is stored in the largest Data Center in the country.... 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_Data_Center 

[Alison Wonderland]

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@Diva on The Qwrote:

I don't like it when I "window shop" on various sites, then see those items displayed on my screen. Gives me the creeps!

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It's so common now that I often don't notice, but it especially bothers me when I searched for something on one device and then the ads come up on another, reminding me that it always knows where I am and what I'm looking at. That part is creepy.