A Cartoon Inspires Me

"And just like that, Facebook is giving us ads for car repair, eye exams, and couples counseling."

I have experienced this type of thing. I look at a website, or buy something, and I get ads on Facebook and other websites all over the Internet for similar goods and services. The data gods are learning. And, if the New Yorker has a cartoon about it, it's not just happening to me.

I don't know how common this is, or how quickly Facebook, or any other site, could adjust, and start sending ads about events. It happens quickly with Internet connections. My wife swears she started getting ads for something she only talked about, making her think the data gods are listening through her devices. I don't know.

Mostly, I'm not much impressed with the ad choices I see. I get ads for nursing colleges. I teach aspiring nurses, and have two terminal degrees. I have no interest in becoming a nurse, or applying for a degree program. I get ads for drugs I don't need, and for reflex hammers and other medical equipment. I sometimes look up drugs to learn about mechanisms and history for my classes. I bough my daughter a reflex hammer. They last a while, so I don't see how an intelligent algorithm could expect me to buy another right away. I see quite a few ads for women's clothes. I have looked at women's clothes online, shopping for presents. Also, jewelry and bed linens. I don't pay attention to ads online, unless I am shopping, and then I look at sites that come up under the search terms I use.

Maybe I do this to allow myself to keep thinking I am smarter than the algorithms, which I can still say are not inspiring my awe and don't deserve the title of gods, even with a small g. Maybe I feel this way because I haven't learned enough about them. The book I read that inspired me to think about all this, and got me started in keeping this journal, described them as already powerful and destined to greatness and power. I maintain my superiority, at least in my own small world. At least for now. When Facebook starts to suggest items I never mention online, then I will pay more attention.