So in a troubling display of the power of Data we were introduced to Bill Trancer. He might be a very nice guy, obviously a very smart guy, but his use of data and trends to manipulate online users and other consumers gives men the willy's. What Willy's are I am not sure (too busy to look up the root, if you know please add a comment.) but the thought that all the key strokes online by everyone are analyzed and dissected with hopes of better being able to sell me products gives me pause.
It isn't that I am particularly naive (though in some ways I certainly am)I understand the capitol economic system and the apparent wealth and value it has given to the American people. I also understand it is the job of the marketing department to manipulate us into buying their products. What worries me is my understanding of brain studies that have shown that we are very susceptible to emotional, visual and other stimuli that bypass what we wrongly believe is our cognitive logical abilities to consider and think.
So it worries me that the Marketers will get ahead of my brain in the arms race that is consumerism. Do I really need that Ford Mustang Convertible or do I just want one? OK so I choose a bad example the Mustang is so obviously a need. In many instances our need for things may be influence with ever increasing sophistication changing our wants into needs. Thanks for reading the ramblings got a go buy some more stuff I just saw online.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
If you feel this way as a savy technology user just think about most of the rest of the world that doesn't have a clue.
ReplyDelete