(Re: Electronic Psychosis Reprint from Jan 31, 2017)

6-6-26

Forty-five junk mails in my e-mail this morning. And the day is still young. It is an e-mail used exclusively for family and business but only one family member uses it and very infrequently. It must be that businesses are selling my address for money.

After closing my e-bay account two years ago, this message tells me my book has not sold:

Labcorp, where my health insurance provider insists I go for lab work, has no receptionist, only a kiosk. I have difficulty reading the small screen and people coming after me get in ahead of me.

Who can I talk to about this, their kiosk? One time a person happened to be on the other side of the reception window so I told her I had trouble seeing the small print on the kiosk. “And you drive?” was her remark.

AAA Roadside assistance sends me mail to renew my coverage; three months before it is due.

Spectrum sends me e-mail on the due date telling my payment is late. It gets mailed out the day after I receive the billing, which used to go to Tampa, near my home. Now it must go to California so no wonder its late every time.

We enjoy many programs from Britbox, a British TV streaming service. One particular show we watch weekly comes in two one-hour segments. Twice in recent weeks, when we get to the second segment, we are blocked and told we must sign up for “Premier” service to watch the second part.

On the internet I view many news sources. Frequently an ad pops up, blocking the entire screen. When I employ Adbloc, Fox News and others totally prohibit me from viewing their content, telling me I have to “Sign In” by creating an account. Then what would I have? More junk mail.

On Fakebook, when visiting after several years, on the right side it indicates people messaging me. I click on it and it tells me that Microsoft has blocked my computer and I have to call support. If I call support the person has an unmistakable Asian accent so it’s a scam. I have to use Task Manager to get my computer back.

I have a device that I have to plug into my automobile in order for Progressive to change my semi-annual payment from nearly $900 to $400. It is a scam to disqualify me from enjoying the lower rate. If someone pulls out in front of me, it squeals like a stuck pig to tell Progressive I’m a bad driver and to raise my rates.

Just recently, my doctor’s office has ended answering the phone. Like many businesses now, I have to talk to an AI recording. This is seemingly every business you call now – no human – machines only.

In my e-mail today I get this from McDonald’s Customer Support:

Do you see anything references McDonald’s Corporation in the sender’s e-mail address?

The message title is “Please confirm receipt”

I don’t frequent McDonalds as it is too expensive and not nutritional.

Who gave them my e-mail? Since the mail account is via Spectrum, I suspect they are selling personal information for profit.

Several weeks ago, I closed out my LinkedIn account, since I am nearly 77 years of age and haven’t had use of it for years. I am still getting e-mail from LinkedIn. Note the date below:

Sometimes I get messages that my payment for Cloud storage has failed. I never used Cloud storage.

Sometimes I get messages that I am being billed $495 for anti-virus software – that I did not purchase.

At night when we retreat to the bedroom, we have to reboot the Roku device as it cuts us off every day, telling us, “Not Connected.” Then again when they remove the captioning I require due to hearing loss.

After my last “Update” from Microsoft, I can only access my checking account via Google?

I e-mailed my congressman years back about corruption in the Veterans Administration, saddling me with over 3,000 unwanted, unordered syringes. His team responded initially but will not respond to my follow-up inquiries. Digitally swept under the rug.

I’m not sure that America will wake up some day to the digital manipulation of our lives. To quote myself from years ago, “Technology changes, human behavior does not.”

It is simply that the electronic world allows more filth, more corruption and more manipulation to enter our lives as more time passes. Maybe it’s time to get off the grid.

CG Kellerman