Leaving politics out of it, I think we can all agree probably on one thing: the world is certainly NOT headed in the right direction. This statement alone could spawn about 500+ entries in this blog and I feel like every day of my life a new entry gets added to the list.
I'll say this - this is certainly not the "future" I was promised while visiting Epcot Center in the 1980's :) I still remember riding Spaceship Earth as a child, seeing supposed glimpses of the future, one I think of an older man floating in the air while using some sort of computer device, and then I look around me today and think in a very David Byrne styled way, "...this is not my beautiful life...how did I get here?!" Same as it ever was...
One thing I've learned is that pretty much all roads of modern "ick" lead back to one thing; the internet. Now, I'm not going to sit here and say that the internet is "bad", etc., because it certainly isn't and it's brought about tons of improvements in day to day life. Since we never as a group or society have ever really talked about "how" to implement the internet and what regulations there should be around it, that's a different story...and I believe that's exactly how we got here. What do we do now? No freakin' clue for it's a mess and only growing day by day, having spawned into a thousand mini threads.
Let me burden you with just one very minor example, if I may. About 2-3 years ago, I was expecting an important phone call at any moment from an institution that I had never talked to before, meaning I would have no way of knowing what the incoming number would be (I think it might have been a doctor's call but I don't remember exactly). I just happened to be driving at the time and a call came in, and like a fool, I answered it...you know, using my paid for product (cell phone) for exactly what it was intended for. A crazy thing to do, right?! When I answered the call, there was a pause...and then a voice said, "Kenneth?! I'm calling you about your loan application..."
Well, this was a big mistake. I've been plagued now with repetitive phone calls and texts, usually 2-3 times a week and 2-5 times per day, where I'm being hounded about some supposed loan application for my business (I have no business, btw), with promises of anywhere between 40k - 600k at a 7% interest rate. Yeah, I know...you know exactly the calls I'm talking about, right? That is, if you've answered and used your phone for what it was intended for as well. Worst of all, every call and text begins with "Kenneth"...and if you haven't picked up on it already, my name is not Kenneth nor anywhere close to it.
At first, I was boggled because these calls and texts were coming in from every area code under the sun and yet it sounded like the same verbiage. I then learned about how it's legal apparently to do call spoofing. Why?! Well, not sure. As of late, these calls have a few classic styles of robot voice, where the voice uses different tones, I guess to see if the receiver will respond based on the gender and tone? I don't know...I'm guessing because I really don't understand it myself. The latest one has a slight exhausted tone to it, like "I've really been trying hard to get ahold of you but you're not answering" kind of thing, perhaps so that I'll feel sorry for the bot and call back?
This of course has rendered my phone basically useless, meaning I can't really ever answer the phone unless the number shows me exactly who's calling and I recognize it. I just want to reiterate...this is a PAID FOR service...not something I'm given for free...and I'm hounded nearly every day for it. Hmm. Meanwhile, the government apparently doesn't see this as an issue, but then again they don't see many things as an issue so I'm not sure why I'm shocked by this.
The worst part is that I don't even understand the scam. I mean, who the hell are they trying to get a hold of and how would this work?! The message says "we've received your application.." but there clearly isn't an application, nor do I have a business like I already mentioned, so how would this work exactly? I mean, if I did actually call back, wouldn't the first comment out of my mouth be, upon being asked for personal info, that you already have that info based on my "application"? See, I don't even get it. More than anything, I just want to scream at someone that I'm not f***in' Kenneth, for crying out loud, and this of course has spawned a thousand plus comments from me over the years about "Kenneth...what's the frequency??!"
Anyhow, this is just one measly example in a world of 10 million. Maybe I should start a podcast about the stupidity of day to day life. Not a bad idea. I've often thought about making a "rant" website where people could call out various businesses and processes that drive them crazy. These are all good ideas, of course. Maybe I should start that business...but of course I'd probably need a loan...and then somehow I'd end up actually being Kenneth after all. Sigh.
