General Discussion

bigtree

(91,698 posts) Tue Feb 11, 2025, 09:40 AM Feb 11

417

"I don't want to connect my coffee machine to the wifi network." [View all]

Robert Sterling @RobertMSterling Feb 10
I don’t want to connect my coffee machine to the wifi network. I don’t want to share the file with OneDrive. I don’t want to download an app to check my car’s fluid levels. I don’t want to scan a QR code to view the restaurant menu. I don’t want to let Google know my location before showing me the search results. I don’t want to include a Teams link on the calendar invite. I don’t want to pay 50 different monthly subscription fees for all my software. I don’t want to upgrade to TurboTax platinum plus audit protection. I don’t want to install the Webex plugin to join the meeting. I don’t want to share my car’s braking data with the actuaries at State Farm. I don’t want to text with your AI chatbot. I don’t want to download the Instagram app to look at your picture. I don’t want to type in my email address to view the content on your company’s website. I don’t want text messages with promo codes. I don’t want to leave your company a five-star Google review in exchange for the chance to win a $20 Starbucks gift card. I don’t want to join your exclusive community in the metaverse. I don’t want AI to help me write my comments on LinkedIn. I don’t even want to be on LinkedIn in the first place.

I just want to pay for a product one time (and only one time), know that it’s going to work flawlessly, press 0 to speak to an operator if I need help, and otherwise be left alone and treated with some small measure of human dignity, if that’s not too much to ask anymore.

168 replies

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Highlight:

"I don't want to connect my coffee machine to the wifi network." [View all] bigtree Feb 11 OP

Agree, but..... AltairIV Feb 11 #1

Like - werdna Feb 11 #2

Use Mar-a-Lago. WH will burden the next President, since mindless bots have long memories. Bernardo de La Paz Feb 11 #7

even better!!! niyad Feb 11 #19

Also tRump has to pay phone operators at Merde-a-Loco but not at the White House. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Feb 11 #58

I do like your thinking! niyad Feb 11 #61

He probably has to change them often because he doesn't pay people who do work Dark n Stormy Knight Feb 11 #131

OMGosh!!! Alliepoo Feb 11 #51

good one! niyad Feb 11 #18

Exactly. AltairIV Feb 11 #103

You forgot President Elon Musk OverBurn Feb 11 #121

Love it!!! niyad Feb 11 #17

Great idea! I'll have to remember that. liberalla Feb 11 #42

This is great however the author is a Musk fan mahina Feb 12 #152

HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa!!!!! surfered Feb 11 #3

This is quite wonderful. TNNurse Feb 11 #4

McDonalds drive thru is the only way you can multigraincracker Feb 11 #11

It's a wonderful way to learn foreign languages for the many ways to order a cheeseburger. n/t Backseat Driver Feb 11 #45

Cheeseburger in Paradise Sequoia Feb 11 #86

The ordering kiosks aren't bad in my opinion, if a bit impersonal. Xavier Breath Feb 11 #123

I tell them that I do not have a smart phone, so I need an actual menu. If niyad Feb 11 #20

I have an old flip phone. hunter Feb 12 #150

This is the one I actually don't mind -- our fave restaurant started it during COVID, and they've kept it LauraInLA Feb 11 #96

Love this. A lot of good has come from technology, but I'm nostalgic for the pre-digital age. chia Feb 11 #5

Oh, I am SOOO with you on that... GiqueCee Feb 11 #6

I feel you on that. Mr. Evil Feb 11 #55

AD Blocker Old Okie Feb 11 #75

I actually use 3. Mr. Evil Feb 11 #78

Ad Blockers Old Okie Feb 12 #161

Yup. Mr. Evil Feb 12 #163

"more commercials than content.".. I was curious and timed the commercials and content..usually 40 min content mitch96 Feb 11 #79

ad blockers collect your data while blocking ads. nothing on the net is free lol msongs Feb 11 #110

Ad Blocker Old Okie Feb 12 #160

Adblockers are your friends. The Madcap Feb 12 #151

I don't want kids on my lawn *shakes fist* IronLionZion Feb 11 #8

Yeah, I confess that I am kind of a Luddite biophile Feb 11 #9

I feel and describe myself that way, too. I feel like such an anachronism, using the term luddite ms liberty Feb 11 #30

It's always been my go-to term. Mossfern Feb 11 #57

CopyMeThat bypasses that dlbell Feb 11 #98

Thanks for the heads up! Mossfern Feb 11 #99

The Luddites were pro-worker, not anti technology. LisaM Feb 11 #127

Yes they opposed new technology because it affected their jobs biophile Feb 12 #155

Damn straight. I'm with you. . . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Feb 11 #10

I like scan menus. LuvLoogie Feb 11 #12

Your last sentence is extremely condescending, bordering on insulting. niyad Feb 11 #22

And to the people who do partake in technological choices... LuvLoogie Feb 11 #67

Take it up with the OP. Your defensiveness about your own post is telling. niyad Feb 11 #111

It's not that serious, LuvLoogie Feb 11 #113

You don't understand "data" at all. It seems you think data is neutral and harmless Bernardo de La Paz Feb 11 #64

Actually I do understand data. Data is just information. LuvLoogie Feb 11 #73

Then, more accurately, you don't understand information. Send Kash Patel photos of your genitalia Bernardo de La Paz Feb 11 #85

And you've posted here over 52,000 times LuvLoogie Feb 11 #91

Only a dozen or so posts reveal anything vaguely personal. Feel free to deploy your AI on all 52K Bernardo de La Paz Feb 11 #95

It's still too small though Polybius Feb 11 #97

Tablets for movies are probably better. LuvLoogie Feb 11 #109

That's not at all "all it does" dickthegrouch Feb 11 #106

If you're not using cash. Your accumulated dollars/manhour is all just 1s and 0s... LuvLoogie Feb 11 #108

Really? Whenever I have to clean out my cache files LisaM Feb 11 #128

They're probably AI bots. LuvLoogie Feb 11 #133

No, they are from when I was thinking about or went to restaurants. LisaM Feb 11 #134

The menu PDFs. LuvLoogie Feb 11 #136

I *get* them. I just don't like them. LisaM Feb 11 #142

I understand. LuvLoogie Feb 12 #153

This is just an old bar in the University District LisaM Feb 12 #164

I hear ya. I love table service, LuvLoogie Feb 12 #165

"Learn how to drive" stopdiggin Feb 11 #138

Really it's not that serious. LuvLoogie Feb 11 #139

your post? or the constant barrage of solicitation, nagging and digital invasion stopdiggin Feb 11 #140

Stop digging Francis LuvLoogie Feb 11 #141

or perhaps the doubling down? stopdiggin Feb 12 #146

4 LuvLoogie Feb 12 #156

And your posts continue to prove the points of the people who responded niyad Feb 12 #159

you thought a paper on quantum mechanics and physics .. ? stopdiggin Feb 12 #162

"you can review the menu and pricing ahead of time to see if you really want to give it a shot" DBoon Feb 17 #168

funny u should say that . ms word and others used to be free. now u rent them. AllaN01Bear Feb 11 #13

Television used to be free. Bumbles Feb 11 #53

comcast / xfinity priced me out of the market. loved it when i said , youre fired . AllaN01Bear Feb 11 #68

Free television is still a thing. Mariana Feb 12 #157

Yes. However, the pay version MS Office products offer more features LeftInTX Feb 11 #59

My libreoffice keeps crashing dickthegrouch Feb 11 #107

Brilliant. essay Escape Feb 11 #14

if i pay for all that happy horse stuff , id be broke . AllaN01Bear Feb 11 #15

How about having to buy a subscription to use the features on your new car? Midnight Writer Feb 11 #16

Yeah, that really sucks . SilasSouleII Feb 11 #21

Ray Magliozzi, the surviving brother from the "Car Talk" show... keep_left Feb 11 #124

Exactly what I say a dozen times a day! AverageOldGuy Feb 11 #23

This issue underpins a lot of today's societal unhappiness, IMO ms liberty Feb 11 #24

Furthermore, I DONT WANT OR NEED COPILOT AverageOldGuy Feb 11 #25

Resistance is futile! Ray Bruns Feb 11 #26

Resistence is NEVER FUTILE Nigrum Cattus Feb 11 #112

Resistance is futile. Your coffee machine, refrigerator, and dishwasher will be assimilated. Ray Bruns Feb 11 #115

Your words are that of a coward - Nigrum Cattus Feb 12 #166

I'm so with you on all that! nt LittleGirl Feb 11 #27

that stuff gets exhausting Brainstormy Feb 11 #28

Return of the Luddite! dchill Feb 11 #29

Well said, you summed it all up perfectly! PatSeg Feb 11 #31

I am *so* right there with you! FirstLight Feb 11 #32

Scoot over bigtree.. I am right there with you Peacetrain Feb 11 #33

What ever happen to KISS? isitreal Feb 11 #34

We still use our air popcorn popper, too. Bumbles Feb 11 #65

What happened to KISS isitreal Feb 11 #35

A-FREAKIN'-MEN BumRushDaShow Feb 11 #36

I DO! I want my coffee in-netwwork. QR menus are never dirty, never carry noro virus Maru Kitteh Feb 11 #37

That's why the good Lord invented thrift stores. usonian Feb 11 #38

LOL! LeftInTX Feb 11 #44

Is it not incredible what this society throws out??? BobTheSubgenius Feb 11 #82

Oh, don't get me started! usonian Feb 11 #89

LMAO!!! BobTheSubgenius Feb 11 #92

I never checked what they're worth. usonian Feb 11 #94

I had an issue with my laces being too tight, and causing SERIOUS pain in my feet. BobTheSubgenius Feb 11 #101

A lot of the really good stuff comes from the homes of people who died Mariana Feb 12 #158

Gone are the days of the 90s and early to mid 2000s sakabatou Feb 11 #39

And look what it facilitated misanthrope Feb 11 #104

No kidding. Today I woke up to AI on my phone. Deleted as much of it as I could find. travelingthrulife Feb 11 #40

Thank you. Buddyzbuddy Feb 11 #41

The annoying and scary thing Grammy23 Feb 11 #43

Do be aware...their are aggregators that get personal data from all your connections and build a profile of YOU. dutch777 Feb 11 #46

They forgot, "Would you like a protection plan for your candy bar?" LeftInTX Feb 11 #47

Amen! Bumbles Feb 11 #48

I found this on Reddit. I agree. Somewhat. OldBaldy1701E Feb 11 #49

I like wifi connected appliances, like our air conditioners. CaptainTruth Feb 11 #50

Best screed yet. 100% agree. Mr. Mustard 2023 Feb 11 #52

Ditto malaise Feb 11 #54

Reminds me of what someone posted a short while ago UpInArms Feb 11 #56

Luddite! NoRethugFriends Feb 11 #60

I don't want to Unsubscribe to something Delmette2.0 Feb 11 #62

Oh MAN! THIS!!! calimary Feb 11 #88

Technology should include what people want not what is possible. Is that possible? twodogsbarking Feb 11 #63

I have no clue why anyone would connect their coffee machine to the wifi? Meowmee Feb 11 #66

Sounds like you read my thoughts, Bigtree SCantiGOP Feb 11 #69

Amen, I really enjoyed your list. Here are a few of mine ... aggiesal Feb 11 #70

But, but don't you want to see your HAB911 Feb 11 #71

Too late. It's too much to ask. DFW Feb 11 #72

Hell yes! WestMichRad Feb 11 #74

Hear, hear! Rec to infinity! n/t SpankMe Feb 11 #76

+1,000. Amaryllis Feb 11 #77

This caught me as funny! Linda ladeewolf Feb 11 #80

Copied and shared on FB. Thanks nt. LittleGirl Feb 11 #81

KnR - totally agree. n/t iluvtennis Feb 11 #83

Nailed it!!!! Ranting Randy Feb 11 #84

"The revolution will not be televised" DBoon Feb 11 #87

I'm with you. Liberal In Texas Feb 11 #90

Absolutely, totally, 100% agree with every word and sentiment!!!!!!!! nt pazzyanne Feb 11 #93

I share the sentiment, but... LudwigPastorius Feb 11 #100

But you must have your stove/oven connected to the wifi via an app. What flvegan Feb 11 #102

Robert Sterling is a RWer who loves Musk and Trump. See this: highplainsdem Feb 11 #105

Robert Sterling speaks for me. Why in gods' names would I want household appliances on the internet? Hekate Feb 11 #114

My phone has fewer apps installed than when I bought it. Shermann Feb 11 #116

Right there with ya... 2naSalit Feb 11 #117

I don't want mandatory expensive tire pressure sensors, when... Number9Dream Feb 11 #118

People don't buy brands as much anymore Shermann Feb 11 #119

I completely agree with you, but I'll go you one more... slightlv Feb 11 #120

I love computers, had and built them since the DOS days, still build them. OverBurn Feb 11 #122

And I'm not doing any of your fucking patient portals and company surveys. If you don't know how they're doing, that's Evolve Dammit Feb 11 #125

My fucking toothbrush wanted me to connect to, wait for it.... Bluetooth. Fuck that. I know how to brush my GD teeth Evolve Dammit Feb 11 #126

I get the Butlerians Noodleboy13 Feb 11 #129

But, but, but drmeow Feb 11 #130

Agree with so much of this. Especially purchasing a product and have it do what it Dark n Stormy Knight Feb 11 #132

Been working up to an OP canetoad Feb 11 #135

Smart Refrigerator, Smart Range... liberal N proud Feb 11 #137

LOL - I think "Robert Sterling" is my wife's pseudonym Pinback Feb 11 #143

helps to live the ap/tech free life of yore. my coffee pot is so basic there is no plug. pansypoo53219 Feb 11 #144

Tell me about it. airplaneman Feb 12 #145

I want my Saturday Morning Cartoons back but it's 2025 and I'm almost 60, so WELCOME TO THE FUTURE! Montauk6 Feb 12 #147

Many, many thanks soldierant Feb 12 #148

I laugh at advertisers who actually think their expensive to push advertising actually achieves something. Aussie105 Feb 12 #149

Cracks me up Johnny2X2X Feb 12 #154

Not me ismnotwasm Feb 12 #167