Invasion of Privacy
Mar 16 '00
My Hewlett Packard Pavilion feels like a live thing, and I don't like it. Starting several days ago, the wretched machine began sending a good-sized rectangular bar shooting onto my screen offering to help with my taxes. It says something like "Get Help With Your Taxes Today!" And it stays right there on the screen until a button is clicked.
The really infuriating part of this horribly unsubtle advertisement is that there is no way to make the box go away permanently. It offers its victims two choices: "Yes, Indeedy!" or "Show me this message later." Those are not the exact words, but that is the gist of it. There is no "Go away forever" button. There is no way to close the box. I just keep clicking "Come back later." It is either that, apparently, or agree to suffer through a sales pitch.
There were similar goings on shortly after I bought the computer about four months ago. Then HP was trying to sell me Internet service. I finally gave in, and clicked through the sales presentation until I came to a "Definitely No, and Don't Ask Again" button. I suppose I will soon have to go through the tax preparation spiel too, but I don't think it is fair. It is clear that there will be more of the same. Perhaps "Plan The Perfect Summer Vacation" is next, followed by "Get a Deal on Snow Tires."
With the increasing ability of merchants to track personal information, I would not be surprised to see "Out of Cat Food Again? I Can Help" scroll into sight any day now.
I am embarrassed to ask this, but I will go ahead anyway. How does HP do it? Channel into the computer, I mean. If I peered into the machine's guts would I see all the messages stacked up there, waiting for the proper moment to pounce? Or do they come over the wires? I suppose it is the latter. And while I love being connected to the outside world, sending forth orders for books and delivering work in seconds rather than taking it to Mail Boxes and paying $17.95 to overnight it, I don't especially like the world coming in to me. At least not without knocking.
I don't like the idea that by paying for the computer I was entering into a symbiotic relationship with it. I prefer forking over cash for an object and having it remain an object, just sitting there waiting to do my bidding. So, go away HP messages, please. I would like to retain the illusion that I am alone in my office.
And, no, I don't want help with my taxes.
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