Operation "Screw Up Google's Data Mining"

[The Doctor.]

3. There's another perspective here.

Sure, they're snooping for personal info that might be used to influence a prospective consumer to buy, buy, buy.

I get it, but I really don't see it as 'evil' at all.

For example: I've studied sword technique for a while now. My facebook profile makes some small mention of that. I get ads for swords on my facebook page. I click them on occasion. What I find are items that I can instantly recognize as garbage. I don't click on them after that. One ad did show up that interests me. 'Shock knives' for CQC knife training. I'd like something like that, but I did the research and I'm not sure if the 7500 volts is high enough to make an impression. A basic stun-gun can be >100,000 volts. So I need to figure out what kind of amperage these things can deliver.

I'm interested because for me, they have a very novel and practical utility. I'd like to go from 'Indian Rubber' to 'Shock' if the price can justify it.

What am I saying?

I don't mind being 'targeted' as a consumer if it helps put me in touch with a product or service that I might be genuinely interested in. It opens up possibilities for me. I like that.

Now, if someone is not a savvy shopper, I can understand how such a thing might appear to be 'predatory', but it's not.

The only one who can convince you that you need something is you. If someone else can convince you that you need something you do not, then you do not know yourself or your needs.

That's your problem.