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Data Mining – the collection of every piece of data someone has ever been able assemble about you that gets bought and sold to create the perfect maneuvers of advertisement.

                At first, data mining sounded like a black market and identity theft to me. It gave me an eerie feeling that someone was watching my every move and could even read my thoughts. To me, it was a huge invasion of my privacy that no one had the right to.

                Of course, now that I know a little more about this important method of marketers, I hold a different stance on it. The idea behind it is for the ads to be tailored to a specific person so that the advertising can be more effective.

                I believe data mining is helpful and useful, especially for the consumer. There is less time spent sifting through ads that are not applicable to your lifestyle, and in place of those useless ads, there are ones that you actually care to read or cut out – if it happens to be a coupon.

                My favorite example of this sort of advertisement by catering is on websites such as Amazon or eBay.  The way they use this technique is by suggesting to you a list of items under the caption “Customers who bought this item also bought.”

 

On eBay the caption reads “See what other people are watching” (because you might want to watch it too).

 

 

While cameras may not truly show you that this marketing strategy actually gets people to buy more, consider if you were buying a book. The suggestions for other books to buy become almost endless. On my Kindle Fire, there is the caption “Recommended For You” that gives me a plethora of other titles that I might consider reading. I enjoy this because the “Bestseller” listing does not usually have much that I am personally interested in. Even under more specific categories, such as “Children’s Picture Books,” there seems to be an overwhelming amount to choose from. Now, however, there is a listing that is especially relevant to me according to my record of past purchases. I don’t have to spend unnecessary time searching through books to find one that I might like; I can browse the type of books that are suited to my tastes. That is the whole reason behind data mining.

                Now, of course, there should be limitations to the intake and distribution of such records. I certainly don’t like getting the random calls from computer generated voices trying to sell me retirement plans, and don’t get me started on the spam e-mails or the junk mail that comes from places I have never even heard of. You may have experienced this as well and wondered how in the world they got your address. Well, sorry my friend, but you’ve become a victim like the rest of us of being sold as data bites to that company that just sent you twenty e-mails about their latest product in the last six days.

                However, I would like to point out the fact that many times we have given permission to these companies to handle our information however they please. Have you ever actually read the “Terms & Agreements” to something? I can honestly say I’ve tried. I only get about a quarter of the way through and only comprehend, “Blah blah blah.”

                Here’s something you might actually have read. On Facebook, when you join a new application of game you have to “allow” it access to your information. Also, did you know that once you post a photo on Facebook that the company now owns that photo? They can have it even after you’ve deleted it off you profile, and they can make use of it if they want. Sound scary? Don’t let it; just be smart about what sites you give you information to and what information you give them.

AAHHH People are watching... but so is God

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZrZB_ZxbL0&safe=active

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ4l4oR2GtI&safe=active

 

http://www.apple.com/iphone/

            Above are some links to advertisements for the iPhone. The first two are commercials. They show how cool the iPhone is. They focus on a single feature that the new phone offers. They make you think, “Wow! How cool! If it can do this, what else can it do?” Well obviously you are intrigued and want one. But before you make the huge financial commitment to this purchase you decide, “I’ll be smart and responsible. I will check out the official iPhone website to further invetigate.” Wow. Would you look at that? Just look at it (third link). The page displays EVEN MORE features of the phone. And what’s this? You can click another link to see even more. Well by this time you are pretty set on buying this product. With all of its features it could probably help you in virtually every aspect of your life. If you are bored you can play a game. If you need to pay bills, go to that app. If you are lonely, you always have a friend in Siri. This phone can do anything….

            Well now my question is, do you really want it to do everything? Most people probably don’t understand the full capabilities of devices such as the iPhone. Do you really want a 24/7 tracker on you? The cell phone has become the number one item to keep on you at all times. If you forget it while leaving your house, nine times out of ten you will return for it. While reading about this in “Brandwashed,” I was shocked. I might even say appalled. Who knew that our best friends (our phones) would sell us out to those big companies like that? And our phones are only the beginning of the end of privacy. When you combine our locations via our phone with our interests via internet tracking and billing records, they have a pretty good idea of who you are.

            Now I guess I can only speak for myself, but I imagine I’m not too far off from the average Joe. I don’t like this. Not one bit.  I like my privacy. To find out some stranger is selling my information to another stranger is honestly eerie. But Why? Should it bother us?

            Psalms 139:2 is one verse that came to mind. But I think a better one for this purpose is Hebrews 4:13 “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” God sees and knows everything. He knows what we do every moment of everyday. He is omniscient. Not even a thought escapes him. Even with all of these advancements in technology, that profile created by that company cannot even come close to the profile God already has.

            So if I live according to the word I shouldn’t be afraid of what people know. If I don’t want people to know of what I am doing then I also shouldn’t want God to know. Well, since God is omniscient, the best (only) way is to not do it. If we live our lives for God every day of every week then we should be able to embrace this loss of privacy. We never had privacy to begin with.

            Now here comes the big but…. But I still like privacy. Everyone has moments of weakness. Everyone fails from time to time. And I don’t think that has to be public knowledge. People can have a rough past, but that doesn’t mean that it should be used to judge them in the future. God offers forgiveness that people simple can’t understand. God forgives sins, but humans tend to dwell on them. People hold grudges. They cast stereotypes. I think privacy should be protected on the basis that we need to be able to break free from our pasts. We need to be able to be forgiven for mistakes and have the ability to start anew.

            But our society continues to move toward a world where privacy is a thing of the past. I don’t agree with the way things are headed, but what can I do. I can use it as an excuse to do the right thing. I can use it as a reminder, a reminder that God is also watching. My internet history may be being tracked by people but my thoughts are being tracked by God. If we are losing privacy, the best solution I can think of is to embrace it. Use it to better yourself. Use it as an excuse to do the right thing. Use it to become closer to God.

Who doesn't want the best?

Why are we born? to grow up. How do we grow up? by going to school. Why do we go to school? so we can have good jobs. How do we get ready for real life and those jobs? by getting a good education. So basically, education is the foundation for the rest of our lives, so of course, we're going to need the best.

Who would pass up an opportunity to better the ones they love? Who would jip a child from an incredible education that prepares him or her for a grand and promising future? Who would neglect the crucial developing moments in a child's life, providing only the best preparation for life outside of school?

Not a person in their right mind. Better, better, better is what this world promotes, and many advertisers jump on that idea of hope to sell their products. After much abstract and critical thinking, I was enlightened by the fact that private school systems capitalize on to draw students, nay to draw parents, into consuming their product.

One of the private Christian schools in my area is Lakewood Park Christian School. They proudly declare their tagline and purpose: Shaping difference-makers in Christ. Now I'm not saying this is not true, but it definitely draws on a parents hope to give their child only the best. Another private religious school in my area is Bishop Luers High School and College Prep, who's tagline is "Building strong foundations." What kind of a parent wouldn't want that for their child?

These private schools use the advertising technique of hope to sell their school to potential families. Your child will be smarter, stronger, more developed, more prepared for the "real world" if they come to this school. To be human is to seize the day; to take every opportunity for success and advancement that is presented. Our culture tells us that if we are not doing this, we are bad parents or bad friends or bad students.

This idea is valid on some grounds, for we are called to "make the most of every opportunity" (Colossians 4:5), and Jesus said in John 10:10, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Scripture also talks endlessly about selfishness and how we are a depraved people, fallen short of the glory of God, which explains our desire for success and only the best. We are selfish and competitive by nature, so naturally, we are going to want to rise above and have our kids rise above. 
But also, I think we were created for love and to be loved, so part of our human nature wants the best for those we love, like our children, as well. 1 John is all about loving others, and loving them selflessly. That is the new commandment Jesus gave us. So we live in this tension of desiring the best for ourselves and living in selfish gain (which Philippians 2 addresses) and living defined by the Spirit of Love that is from Christ.
We are called to be stewards of what we are given, to maximize opportunities and gifts, and to live life fully and rooted and grounded in love. Hope is a good thing. It is promised in the gospel, and it the gospel delivers a hope that no one can strip us of. But when used in the wrong way, when hope is given falsely, what is good can turn bad.

Ephesians 5:15-20

 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,  making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,  speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,  always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.