An anecdote as evidence our devices are listening to us.
I had my phone in my hand as I was having a conversation with my brother. Facebook was open on the browser. Unrelated to our conversation was a humorous video I wanted to show him on Facebook. A google home device was nearby. We are both nearing retirement age and we were discussing our thoughts of the future. I had recently been contemplating my plans after retirement. I am a nurse, a profession I chose over being a history teacher. The pay and the job prospects were the deciding factors. But I have always loved studying history. So my idea was, maybe, selling my home and getting a job as an interpreter at one of many historical sites (parks) in the US. I've been to many in the US, though not recently. I know a lot, I'd guess more than most history teachers, about the Battle of Gettysburg, the history of Harpers Ferry, the significance of Wounded Knee, etc. I actually lived, for four years, in what was once U.S. Grant's living quarters prior to the Civil War. Why not retire to a part time or seasonal job teaching others? My plans are in their infancy. I've not done anything about them except think about it. I've never Googled it. I've never typed anything on my computer mentioning any aspect of this. I've never read any history book on any e-reader. It was all just thoughts in my head.
Until this day, when I broached it in conversation with my brother. I mentioned the US Park Service, my many trips to historical sites, my never fulfilled dreams of being a history teacher. We had spoken about ten minutes when the conversation went back to politics. I was reminded that I had a video on Facebook I wanted him to see. I hit the power button on my phone, swiped up to unlock the home screen, and refreshed Facebook.
The second post on my wall was from The US Forest Service, advertising employment opportunities.
= new reply since forum marked as read
