"Dear Google"
Dear Reader,
This is a bit of an angry rant.
Please read at your own discretion.
Dear Google,
Really - I just want to check my emails and write a blog post without being hassled by Big Data or Big Advertising, only that seems impossible. Not just because of you but because of the culture we live in, the society we live in, the laws that society has and the values it holds dear. I'm starting to think that our relationship isn't one of friendship and trust at all. I use a secure password to log in to your services that I don't share with others and you ensure no-one gets access to my info and that I'm not hassled while using the internet. Only that's not what happens. Lately, and please forgive me for saying this my dear friend Google; lately everything about interacting with you seems geared towards More More More, Money Money Money and Spending Spending Spending.
As far as I'm concerned, dear friend Google, you really want to know WAY too much about me. And it all seems geared towards advertising, towards making me spend money I don't have on products you think I might want. You want to know what browser I use, what device I use to access the internet, my phone number, my email address, who else uses the computer I use, who I talk to or interact with, what I want to tell people, who my friends and family members are. You want to know what I shop for, what I buy, where I spend my money and really, I feel like all you care about these days is my money and how to get at it, not my friendship at all.
I do not want to have an account on YouTube or be logged in automatically when I go there. I just want to view a video now and then, that's it. I do not want to share my own content or make friends with other users or link to a profile I don't use anyway or have links to that profile on Google Plus. I really honestly sincerely J-U-S-T want to watch a video, every now and then. NO personalised content, NO personalised ads, NO bugging me to interact more, NO bugging me to spend money, NO bugging me with flashing advertisements, NO encouraging me to buy more of something I already own, NO ... Please: Just NO more of that.
Value me as a person, not as a commercial entity able to spend money. Care about me as an individual and a person, not a walking wallet. Care about what matters to me, not about making me buy your product or interact wit your sponsor or buy from your advertiser. That would make me happy - knowing that you care about me as a friend. Learn about what I want online -- privacy and security -- and help me be more private and secure online, not less so. Honestly, my dear friend Google, I don't want some advertising company to know anything about me. I don't want sites I use to know anything about me. I simply want to do what I want online without Big Data and Big Advertising continually breathing down my neck to gather statistics.
You know, Google, I do understand that you are a business, not a person. However in turn I want you to understand that I am a person, not a business or a brand. Yes, I write down what I think. Yes, I sometimes share photos online. However I do not have a business, I do not own a business, I am not a business, I do not want to sell anything online or advertise my 'services' online - that's because I don't offer any services, for crying out loud.
All I want is to use the internet to share my own personal thoughts and opinions. That's it. But even sharing my thoughts needs *your* input because just imagine what might happen if I thought for myself, instead of waiting for you to do it for me... Take Google Plus as an example. If you allowed me to use my online handle -- that's @Nimavenl -- for my Google Plus profile that'd be nice an I'd be happy with that. But noooo for some reason you think I want to put my full name on everything I write, think, do or feel like recommending. Not just on Google Plus but on YouTube, on Blogger and other services. Why? Honestly, why the HELL would I want that?????? I would much prefer my real name NOT being shared with every Tom, Dick and Harry because that would make me feel A LOT safer.
We live in a world where terrorists attack innocents simply for being who they are, for believing as they do and for expressing themselves as they choose. As someone with a mind of my own, I too would like to express myself freely and without fear of reprisals by narrow-minded men who want to silence me because I refuse to live by their rules and restrictions.
Four men were killed at a kosher store in Paris last month, killed because they were Jewish, because they chose to shop at a kosher establishment, because another man - just a human being, like the four he murdered - decided that HE was appointed as judge, jury and executioner by God Himself and that the power to decide when another human lives or dies was his. Honestly, I don't want a madman like that coming to my door or showing up where I work or able to learn enough about me (through you, dear friend!) to be able to hurt my loved ones or people I care about. No... I really don't.
Dear Google, this rant is almost over, I promise. Just hear me out. I know it is not your fault that we live in a world that cares more about money, power and influence than about people. I know it is not your fault that society cares more about Big Advertising getting my info than about protecting me from Big Advertising. My anger is directed at the system, not at you personally. I hope that after ten years of friendship between the two of us, you know me well enough to understand I love you, despite your shortcomings. But dear Google, after such a long time, I would hope you know me, understand me and care about me too. Help me stay safe and protected online because I don't want a madman with a gun to come after me too simply because I honestly say what I think or feel.
Your friend,
@Nimavenl
