4 ms·
Here's my story, for what it is worth. I'm an American. I don't normally go into places like Starbucks. I recently went to a "juice bar" and was one of only
by Amadou 13y ago
Here's my story, for what it is worth.
I'm an American. I don't normally go into places like Starbucks. I recently went to a "juice bar" and was one of only two customers there. I paid with cash as I always do nowadays because of Visa/MC/etc data-mining. The one and only person behind the counter asked for my name. It really got my hackles up, I involuntarily scowled and I said I pay cash so I won't have to tell you my name. The poor girl said they only ask for names so orders won't get mixed up - which makes sense from a rote point of view, but was ridiculous given that there were only two customers in the entire place.
I guess if I were used to places asking for my name, I would have simply just made one up on the spot and things would have gone smoothly -- although I dislike being 'forced' to lie on a casual basis like that, if I have a choice I simply won't frequent a business that puts me in that position. I haven't been back to that juice bar since, despite it being only a few blocks from my house.
It seems the "marketing types" really don't get me - walmart greeters disturb me, makes me feel bad for them rather than "welcome" by reminding me how much better off I am than the person who has to take such a dreary and unproductive job. Bathroom attendants totally creep me out with pervo vibes rather than make me feel like I'm in a high-class establishment. My gym forces the people at the front-desk to say goodbye when you leave, which makes me feel like I have to choose between being an asshole and ignoring them or being fake and responding to their corporate-enforced fakeness.
I would really like to know what percentages of the population actually likes this stuff versus simply tolerates it or like myself feels put on the spot by it.
- jonny_eh 13y agoDo you honestly believe that by giving your first name when making an order that data mining will ensue?
- Amadou 13y agoWho knows? Some little mom-and-pop juice-bar, probably not. Megalocorp like Starbucks with millions to spend on such a project, quite possibly. After all, birth-date + gender + zip-code is enough uniquely identify 87% of the population - what's the chance that I've inadvertently let slip some information in addition to my name? Maybe gender, plus first name plus zip-code of the point-of-purchase is similarly revealing? The thing about privacy is once you've lost control of it, you can never get that control back so staying vigilant is important. http://www.forbes.com/sites/adamtanner/2013/07/22/how-just-a-zip-code-can-tell-a-marketer-exactly-who-you-are/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/adamtanner/2013/07/22/how-just-a...