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> As a couple with troubles conceiving... it was not welcome This reminds me that Skype insists on reminding me it’s Father’s Day. My father died when I was 1

by louthy 8y ago

> As a couple with troubles conceiving... it was not welcome This reminds me that Skype insists on reminding me it’s Father’s Day. My father died when I was 11 and it’s still something that hurts even though I’m now in my 40s. I previously disliked Skype because it’s terrible software, but the lack of any consideration or even any opt out makes me actively despise Skype. If I didn’t have to use it for work I’d drop it in a second. I’m sure somebody, who’s had a perfect life, just didn’t think what effect a message like this might have. However, it does just seem like yet another example of how our industry can be so blinkered.

bigkm 8y ago
As much as I hate targeted advertising, which leaves you in a silo, categorised, with no hope of ever seeing an ad for something you would buy but didn't know existed. But if drive past a billboard or there's a poster on the door you're going through, you'll still see this and it will probably bring up bad feelings. Is that correct? Or is it just that the targeted ones are trying to be more personal, whilst getting it so wrong?
- louthy 8y ago
  No, it doesn't leave me with the same feeling, with Skype it feels really invasive and insensitive. It's also totally unnecessary. It's not a company trying to sell Father's Day cards, or a product of some sort, it's the messenger application I use for communicating with business colleagues. There is literally no need for it.
- epc 8y ago
  A billboard is impersonal. Reminding me to buy something for Mother's Day is temporarily irksome but I drive by and forget about it. In contrast, the vendors sending personalized 2-3 week flood of "HEY EPC HAVE YOU REMEMBERED YOUR MOTHER AND BOUGHT A MOTHER'S DAY GIFT YET?" emails every April/May buy themselves a permanent place in my .killfile. No, I don't expect every company I do business with to know my parents are dead, but let me opt out of this flood of crap every year.

by louthy 8y ago

bigkm 8y ago

As much as I hate targeted advertising, which leaves you in a silo, categorised, with no hope of ever seeing an ad for something you would buy but didn't know existed. But if drive past a billboard or there's a poster on the door you're going through, you'll still see this and it will probably bring up bad feelings. Is that correct? Or is it just that the targeted ones are trying to be more personal, whilst getting it so wrong?

louthy 8y ago
No, it doesn't leave me with the same feeling, with Skype it feels really invasive and insensitive. It's also totally unnecessary. It's not a company trying to sell Father's Day cards, or a product of some sort, it's the messenger application I use for communicating with business colleagues. There is literally no need for it.
epc 8y ago
A billboard is impersonal. Reminding me to buy something for Mother's Day is temporarily irksome but I drive by and forget about it. In contrast, the vendors sending personalized 2-3 week flood of "HEY EPC HAVE YOU REMEMBERED YOUR MOTHER AND BOUGHT A MOTHER'S DAY GIFT YET?" emails every April/May buy themselves a permanent place in my .killfile. No, I don't expect every company I do business with to know my parents are dead, but let me opt out of this flood of crap every year.