"are You Revolting To-day...or Are You Just Being Mugged?"

By Author: Roger J. Burke
Total Articles: 4
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Here is my latest article. It may be freely used in ezines, on websites or in e-books, as long as the Resource Box is left intact.

I would appreciate notification of where it was used, and if possible, a copy of the ezine or newsletter that it was used in. Please send notification mailto:webmaster@online-wealth.com

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A funny thing happened to me on my way through a website today...I got mugged! And, it wasn't the first time either...in fact, it's been happening more often than I care to admit.

What do I mean? Well...just bear with me, for a few moments, while I recount a similar event, but in an entirely different environment.

On the main street of our town, a new hardware store opened a few weeks back. Being the type of guy who regularly watches Tim the Tool Man, I just hadda go, right?

When I get there, it looks all very nice, new paint, bright lights, lotsa great adverts onna windows, all very enticing. So...I go in, bbbzzzzzzzz, fall through the darn buzzer (usta be 'tinkle, tinkle' on the door...much nicer in those days), and meet this ...
... guy standing there, pad in one hand, pen inna other...

He smiles thinly - and I wonder why I think of a wolf - as he says,"G'morning, sir, and what is your name, address, post code, city, country, phone number, occupation, number of children, marital status, type of car you drive, how old is it, blah, blah, blah..."

By this time, my head's spinning, and I'm sure I'm having a daymare - as my daughter likes to say - as I hear him, dully now, droning on and on, and I finally manage to turn and stumble outta there, eyes glazed, gasping for air...

Rest easy...that didn't really happen to me, of course, at that new store. In fact, the exact opposite...I was totally ignored! ;-((

However, all too often now, whenever I arrive at some websites these days, there seems to be a thought that we all must give up a mountain of personal information before we are allowed the privilege of buying their products! Name and email for an ezine subscription, fine; ask for any more and that's just plain arrogant.

Well...we ain't gonna be mugged anymore...we're revolting! And so should you!

Now, before anybody accuses us of being Luddites, be it known that we are among the most vocal about using new technology and methods. The problem is, some - perhaps many - of those who are introducing and using all this new stuff suffer from a delusion: many of them think that the rules of engagement have changed!

Pardon me...as Ripley said to the bored board in the boardroom...but has the IQ suddenly dropped around here?

Yes, the technology of communication and business is changing rapidly, but the reasons people buy products are not changing...period. With all major technology changes throughout history - writing, printing, telephone, radio, TV etc - it gets progressively easier to be separated from your money, that's all. But the reasons you buy stay the same; giving up a lot of personal information is not one of those reasons!

E-Commerce and e-tailing suggest the possibility of still easier buying (and, just quietly, still easier separation from your money, as you know)...but, why should we be mugged first, if at all? When was the last time you were personal-data-mugged at your bricks-and-mortar shopping mall or wherever?

Of course, you can choose to be mugged...but, maybe you live in LA or New York City? Jaaarst kiddin', OK! ;-)

On the web, there is absolutely no need for web-muggers to gobsmack you with demands for personal information before you buy their product or get information about the affiliate program or MLM program (the worst offenders, in our opinion) or whatever! Sheesh!

Don't be mugged (and don't be a mug!). Make a difference...tell 'em you're revolting!

Better yet...tell 'em they're revolting! And then go to the competition. :-))


About the Author Roger Burke has been involved with computers since 1967, and has managed to break quite a few, over the years. He, and his wife Sherry, are now actively engaged in online self-publishing and promoting specific affiliate programs at http://online-wealth.com . If you have any comments or questions about this article, please send emails to mailto:webmaster@online-wealth.com .
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