The totally off-topic thread

[Skyring]

Theft?

I don't have anything to hide but it cannot get much lower than using my browsing history to show me the same boring ads over and over or asking me if I know someone or not.

Reminds of parasites....

Sometimes those ads aren't boring. Sometimes you have a need for - I dunno, a camera tripod, a gold ring, a motorcycle helmet - and here's an ad for the very thing you need, with a bonus points offer and free postage.

These things are getting better and better at knowing what we like. I've got to spend my money somewhere; I don't mind too much if a smart computer program is doing its best on how to give me what I want.

 

[Hvr]

I use ccleaner at the end of every internet session to remove the pollutants aka cookies.

 

[Austman]

And to note that when you are using (eg free) wi-fi somewhere or logging on to public computers somewhere, it's not your own ISP that you are using.

 

[Hvr]

And to note that when you are using (eg free) wi-fi somewhere or logging on to public computers somewhere, it's not your own ISP that you are using.

A good reason to use a VPN.

 

[drron]

They really are getting good.yesterday i was researching a new camera.nearly everywhere i went pop up ads for the cameras I looked at appeared.

But what got me was I had been on line to request some missing flights at aa.com and when I went to You Tube and did a couple of searches on the side were other videos you may like and near the top each time was one of the AA videos.

 

[Skyring]

But what got me was I had been on line to request some missing flights at aa.com and when I went to You Tube and did a couple of searches on the side were other videos you may like and near the top each time was one of the AA videos.

That's new. It used to be just cough.

 

[JohnK]

most likely reason IMHO is that the other party has uploaded their contacts to linkedin. it has now seen the link and suggesting that you might want to connect.

Aha. That is the most likely explanation.

I remember once being asked by LinkedIn to import Hotmail contacts. Early on I realised that LinkedIn wanted to take control of everything so I did not go any further.

 

[Hvr]

That's new. It used to be just cough.

What sort of cough?

 

[SeatBackForward]

What sort of cough?

TK have already got Miles & Smiles

 

[feezable]

I just discovered planefinder.net I'm excited.

 

[Pukka]

What sort of cough?

Oh just your run of the mill Craig Thomson stuff

 

[medhead]

I can't believe there are people who can't block out website ads. I know they're there but I can't even see them. Stop wasting eyesight on cough people.

 

[Flashback]

Mr? Mrs? We will never know

 

[JohnK]

Sometimes those ads aren't boring. Sometimes you have a need for - I dunno, a camera tripod, a gold ring, a motorcycle helmet - and here's an ad for the very thing you need, with a bonus points offer and free postage.

These things are getting better and better at knowing what we like. I've got to spend my money somewhere; I don't mind too much if a smart computer program is doing its best on how to give me what I want.

I see these so called "smart ads" no different to cold, spam calls trying to sell me something.

If I want to buy something I will go out and buy it. I do not need some @rse telling me what to buy.

 

[Skyring]

I see these so called "smart ads" no different to cold, spam calls trying to sell me something.

If I want to buy something I will go out and buy it. I do not need some @rse telling me what to buy.

I hear what you are saying - I detest cold callers.

Phone calls take my time and attention away from what I choose to do. Worse than television commercials, which time I generally use for ipadding anyway. When Amazon digs up a list of things I might like, I can look at their suggestions or not. My choice.

Depends how much money I've got and how keen I am for new stuff.

 

[Pukka]

I see these so called "smart ads" no different to cold, spam calls trying to sell me something.

If I want to buy something I will go out and buy it. I do not need some @rse telling me what to buy.

Mrs Pukka has a kindle that suggests new books based on what you read, she finds it really useful so in the right place a smart ad can be ok

Most of the time I'm against them though I made the mistake of looking into solar power and now every web page I look at is covered in solar power ads

 

[Skyring]

Most of the time I'm against them though I made the mistake of looking into solar power and now every web page I look at is covered in solar power ads

Interesting piece in The Oz today about solar power. Basically those who could afford to install them are getting a cheaper ride than those who couldn't. The poor subsidising the rich.

Power companies are being forced to buy solar power when they don't need it, and also keep baseline generators operating beyond load to allow for clouds sweeping over the rich suburbs.

Inefficiency and inequity abounding. The Greens, of course, claiming the exact opposite.

 

[Pushka]

Re Solar, I hear one Greenie say that the plan to impose a fixed levy on people who had installed solar to pay for the rebate and which non solar users are having to pay for, was like charging adopters of emails to pay for postage stamps. Just gobsmackingly stupid. Where did these greens come from. I think I'll call them mushies from now on.

 

[Pukka]

I didn't order the solar panels because the rules are changing all the time, I'll look into it again next year.

What really irritates me is the lack of information re the carbon tax on my electric bill. All I get is a note at the bottom that says the average family pay (from memory around) $370 pa in carbon tax. Well I'd like to know what I'm paying because my electric bill is $10000pa and even more at work so how much am I paying in carbon tax on my electric bill.

Is this a government directive to keep us all on the dark or just my electric company. Does anyone get the carbon tax itemized on their bill?

 

[JohnK]

Most of the time I'm against them though I made the mistake of looking into solar power and now every web page I look at is covered in solar power ads

I have had Hotmail since 2000. I know it is not great but I am used to it and slowly getting used to Outlook which I do not like.

Anyway I hate the compulsory ads I keep seeing. Agoda, Zuji etc rehashing the same ads for the hotels I just researched/booked over and over.

Yes I know I can pay a premium to remove the ads but that is not the point.