Musings: Stop asking me!
Cruising can be relaxing -- if you don't check your email. Credit: AP/Lynne Sladky
I recently traveled to Florida for a wedding and then went to relax on a cruise. The Florida part went fine. Then, while cruising, it was nice to have my cellphone mobile data turned off for a week to prevent text messages, but unfortunately I did sign up for Wi-Fi and brought my laptop.
So, my email was constantly bombarded with online survey requests from companies I had just dealt with in Florida, plus those I’ve used on Long Island, flooding me with requests to rate and comment on everything I touched or visited. It seems as if everyone cares so much about my opinion.
You name it, I got it — queries from Delta Air Lines, Budget car rental, Marriott and, of course, the monthly inquisitions from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Walmart and on and on. I knew that once I disembarked, Holland America’s appeal was waiting in the wings.
Enough already!
You want my feedback? If I am not happy with something, I will speak up or, in some cases, write a letter. The same is true when I make online purchases, visit a library, restaurant, hotel or other retail location.
Perhaps a smarter person than I will invent an app that automatically blocks all the email I do not want to see.
Excuse me while I start unsubscribing to all the senders of these surveys.
— Philip Kirk, Sea Cliff
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