Bill Maher on Reverse Improvement (1 Viewer)

[General Malaise]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

In some instances, technology is making simple things harder than they need to be. I think there's some merit to that for sure. Yes, get off my lawn, but I like a menu that I can hold and read vs a QR code. I don't like being tethered to my damn phone all the time.

 

[General Malaise]

I think my favorite example was when Domino's started advertising their app. That you could use to order Domino's pizza. From your phone.

Well god help you if you do for if you do, you'll get about 87 emails a day from them.

 

[BassNBrew]

Saw this tweet the other day that nailed it as well:

x.com

x.com

"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."

Saw this tweet the other day that nailed it as well:

x.com

x.com

"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."

my debit card got hacked yesterday. got a fraud alert email and text. called the 800 number on my debit card to connect with my credit union and spoke with the most human-like AI i've encountered so far.

almost felt like a real conversation, only with small pauses between each word and heavy use of the phrase "robotic payments" instead of "automated payments" or "recurring payments" when asking if i had any recurring/automated payments that could have newly charged by debit card, causing the fraud alert.

took 10 minutes to get through the AI checklist of questions before i got to a real live, local, human being at my credit union branch.. who walked me through the same questions in about 90 seconds.

corporate loves not having to pay Dolores $12/hr to answer calls. i wonder what their metrics say about how many customers are turned off, or turned away, by not being able to chat with Dolores and work through their issue in 1/10th the amount of time?

Called MN Dept. Of Human Services today for a work thing. Straight to voicemail saying leave a message and they'll call back in 10 business days.

We shall see. I still operate my business the old school way where clients have our direct cell numbers and I have someone live answering the main line as often as feasible. We also don't have hidden fees. I'm not convinced that the consumer wants this. Companies offering a service for a % lower and then baking in back end fees, mark ups, and charging for additional services not discussed seem to be doing quite well. It would be like Footballguys offering subscriptions for $49.99 and Footballdudes offering the same service for $44.99 but then charging you $2 a month for projections on even numbered NFL weeks and $2 per help request and $1 for dark mode and $1 if you pay with a credit card and $3 if you want any revisions to projections and $1 for anything Bloom pens, etc......

 

[BassNBrew]

Cranky old man rant right there

Euphemism for wise

It is easier to log into my financial accounts than it is to log into my Comcast account. That shouldn't be.

People have more interesting stealing your access to sports than your stock selections.

Mean but fair.

It was a joke gb.

The point was it much more likely you sharing your streaming credentials than someone hacking into your financial account.

 

[msudaisy26]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

In some instances, technology is making simple things harder than they need to be. I think there's some merit to that for sure. Yes, get off my lawn, but I like a menu that I can hold and read vs a QR code. I don't like being tethered to my damn phone all the time.

But how do we know if change is good if we don't try first? Streaming will probably fail, but do we really need to whine about the difficulties of channel surfing? Seems very insignificant.

 

[General Malaise]

Cranky old man rant right there

Euphemism for wise

It is easier to log into my financial accounts than it is to log into my Comcast account. That shouldn't be.

People have more interesting stealing your access to sports than your stock selections.

Mean but fair.

It was a joke gb.

The point was it much more likely you sharing your streaming credentials than someone hacking into your financial account.

Oh, I laughed.

But still, the only time I'm logging into Comcast is when I have a billing issue or want to cancel a channel. It's frigging hard to get into this account! Much harder than it needs to be for.....cable.

 

[rockaction]

I'm not convinced that the consumer wants this.

I think this is a case of the silent majority not being heard and being too diffuse to really make a difference, so we get what the shareholder economy gives us. I haven't spoken with a person in twenty years that supports the movement away from live phone help to automated menus and they definitely pick their businesses with that in mind. I've cancelled phone companies before for that reason alone.

Seriously, when you engage people on this issue it's nearly unanimous. All political stripes—you name it. Half-unicorn folk, even. All across the board.

 

[General Malaise]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

In some instances, technology is making simple things harder than they need to be. I think there's some merit to that for sure. Yes, get off my lawn, but I like a menu that I can hold and read vs a QR code. I don't like being tethered to my damn phone all the time.

But how do we know if change is good if we don't try first? Streaming will probably fail, but do we really need to whine about the difficulties of channel surfing? Seems very insignificant.

Yes, absolutely! It shouldn't take as long as it does now to switch from the TNF game on Prime to TNT for playoff baseball and back again (as an example). It was much better and more efficient when I just hit the "LAST" button and in milliseconds I was back where I wanted to be. This isn't progress, it's regress. It might be insignificant to you, but some of us are degenerate gamblers and liked the ability to channel surf instantaneously.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I think my favorite example was when Domino's started advertising their app. That you could use to order Domino's pizza. From your phone.

I like the dude on their commercial who goes running out of his house in a bath towel because RIGHT NOW they're offering 50% off all pizzas.

Ordered online.

Why is he leaving his house? And taking his wife on the riding lawn mower with him? Are they going to the library to order their pizzas online? In a bath towel and on a riding lawn mower? An internet cafe? Is the message, "Don't get our app, and use public computers"?

At least one room full of professionals, probably for two different corporate entities, looked at this and went, "Yep. Air that."

 

[msudaisy26]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

In some instances, technology is making simple things harder than they need to be. I think there's some merit to that for sure. Yes, get off my lawn, but I like a menu that I can hold and read vs a QR code. I don't like being tethered to my damn phone all the time.

But how do we know if change is good if we don't try first? Streaming will probably fail, but do we really need to whine about the difficulties of channel surfing? Seems very insignificant.

Yes, absolutely! It shouldn't take as long as it does now to switch from the TNF game on Prime to TNT for playoff baseball and back again (as an example). It was much better and more efficient when I just hit the "LAST" button and in milliseconds I was back where I wanted to be. This isn't progress, it's regress. It might be insignificant to you, but some of us are degenerate gamblers and liked the ability to channel surf instantaneously.

Lol. That is my point sometimes there is going to be regression while trying to progress.

 

[Thorn]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

In some instances, technology is making simple things harder than they need to be. I think there's some merit to that for sure. Yes, get off my lawn, but I like a menu that I can hold and read vs a QR code. I don't like being tethered to my damn phone all the time.

But how do we know if change is good if we don't try first? Streaming will probably fail, but do we really need to whine about the difficulties of channel surfing? Seems very insignificant.

For me at least, it's not about difficulties of channel surfing, it's about the over-engineering of society generally, and for what gain? Mostly it seems to encourage everyone to minimize contact with others. I think that's a really bad thing.

 

[NutterButter]

And would it kill the makers of avocados to put a different toy inside? I have like 50 wooden balls already.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

In some instances, technology is making simple things harder than they need to be. I think there's some merit to that for sure. Yes, get off my lawn, but I like a menu that I can hold and read vs a QR code. I don't like being tethered to my damn phone all the time.

But how do we know if change is good if we don't try first? Streaming will probably fail, but do we really need to whine about the difficulties of channel surfing? Seems very insignificant.

For me at least, it's not about difficulties of channel surfing, it's about the over-engineering of society generally, and for what gain? Mostly it seems to encourage everyone to minimize contact with others. I think that's a really bad thing.

Aaaaand you lost me.

 

[Thorn]

Related:

“(talking about when he tells his wife he’s going out to buy an envelope) Oh, she says well, you’re not a poor man. You know, why don’t you go online and buy a hundred envelopes and put them in the closet? And so I pretend not to hear her. And go out to get an envelope because I’m going to have a hell of a good time in the process of buying one envelope. I meet a lot of people. And, see some great looking babes. And a fire engine goes by. And I give them the thumbs up. And, and ask a woman what kind of dog that is. And, and I don’t know. The moral of the story is, is we’re here on Earth to fart around. And, of course, the computers will do us out of that. And, what the computer people don’t realize, or they don’t care, is we’re dancing animals.”​

― Kurt Vonnegut

 

[BassNBrew]

I'm not convinced that the consumer wants this.

I think this is a case of the silent majority not being heard and being too diffuse to really make a difference, so we get what the shareholder economy gives us. I haven't spoken with a person in twenty years that supports the movement away from live phone help to automated menus and they definitely pick their businesses with that in mind. I've cancelled phone companies before for that reason alone.

Seriously, when you engage people on this issue it's nearly unanimous. All political stripes—you name it. Half-unicorn. All across the board.

I'll give you another example.

Consumer wanted easier access to view rental homes.

Old way - Schedule an appointment to meet someone 9-5 weekdays.

Our way - Schedule an appointment to meet someone 9-7 or weekends.

New way at first - Call and get a code for instant access

New way now - Call an automated system or use an ap to sign up to pay (new profit center) for an access code which doesn't even always work. Consumer probably agrees to allow their info to be sold in the fine print.

Now if Rockaction is my client I'm not giving anyone unattended access to his investment home to squat, steal appliance, hijack the listing, or walk on the carpets with muddy shoes. Too many potential bad outcomes for Rockaction. Wall Street would rather deal with the fall out of a bad outcome than managing an employee to effectively show a property. Wall Street thereby influences the industry and changes the consumer expectations.

 

[urbanhack]

Okay, for those of us who don't have Youtube TV, his point works if you consider Amazon Prime for football. Let's say you're watching TNF on Prime and want to channel back to baseball or maybe hockey...it's not so simple. You have to exit out, go to the channel on your TV and then if you want to go back to TNF, you have to log back in. He's absolutely right in this particular case. Also, unless I'm a total moron (guilty as charged) I don't think you can record the game on Amazon with your DVR which sucks.

exactly this.

 

[msudaisy26]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

In some instances, technology is making simple things harder than they need to be. I think there's some merit to that for sure. Yes, get off my lawn, but I like a menu that I can hold and read vs a QR code. I don't like being tethered to my damn phone all the time.

But how do we know if change is good if we don't try first? Streaming will probably fail, but do we really need to whine about the difficulties of channel surfing? Seems very insignificant.

For me at least, it's not about difficulties of channel surfing, it's about the over-engineering of society generally, and for what gain? Mostly it seems to encourage everyone to minimize contact with others. I think that's a really bad thing.

Everyone has a different version of gains, plus not all change is positive, but we won't know until we try.

 

[Thorn]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

In some instances, technology is making simple things harder than they need to be. I think there's some merit to that for sure. Yes, get off my lawn, but I like a menu that I can hold and read vs a QR code. I don't like being tethered to my damn phone all the time.

But how do we know if change is good if we don't try first? Streaming will probably fail, but do we really need to whine about the difficulties of channel surfing? Seems very insignificant.

For me at least, it's not about difficulties of channel surfing, it's about the over-engineering of society generally, and for what gain? Mostly it seems to encourage everyone to minimize contact with others. I think that's a really bad thing.

Everyone has a different version of gains, plus not all change is positive, but we won't know until we try.

Sure seems like this thread is people reporting back after having tried

 

[msudaisy26]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

In some instances, technology is making simple things harder than they need to be. I think there's some merit to that for sure. Yes, get off my lawn, but I like a menu that I can hold and read vs a QR code. I don't like being tethered to my damn phone all the time.

But how do we know if change is good if we don't try first? Streaming will probably fail, but do we really need to whine about the difficulties of channel surfing? Seems very insignificant.

For me at least, it's not about difficulties of channel surfing, it's about the over-engineering of society generally, and for what gain? Mostly it seems to encourage everyone to minimize contact with others. I think that's a really bad thing.

Everyone has a different version of gains, plus not all change is positive, but we won't know until we try.

Sure seems like this thread is people reporting back after having tried

Okay, then they can go back to cable or whatever else. If enough people do, streaming will adapt or die off.

 

[tommyGunZ]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

Agree. And it’s consistent with most “back in my day” stories in that reality is back in your day sucked. When Maher was a kid, he got what, 3 games a week on his 27” standard def screen?

Now he can watch youth games from almost anywhere in the world. My Dad in southern Virginia watches my kids play live youth sports games in San Diego in higher definition through the Gamechanger app than Maher watched the NFL 30 years ago.

 

[msudaisy26]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

Agree. And it’s consistent with most “back in my day” stories in that reality is back in your day sucked. When Maher was a kid, he got what, 3 games a week on his 27” standard def screen?

Now he can watch youth games from almost anywhere in the world. My Dad in southern Virginia watches my kids play live youth sports games in San Diego in higher definition through the Gamechanger app than Maher watched the NFL 30 years ago.

It is one of those things where we should always try to be better and strive for perfection, but we should be happy with the gains we have made. I think that is what bugs me about the back in my day talk.

 

[General Malaise]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

In some instances, technology is making simple things harder than they need to be. I think there's some merit to that for sure. Yes, get off my lawn, but I like a menu that I can hold and read vs a QR code. I don't like being tethered to my damn phone all the time.

But how do we know if change is good if we don't try first? Streaming will probably fail, but do we really need to whine about the difficulties of channel surfing? Seems very insignificant.

Yes, absolutely! It shouldn't take as long as it does now to switch from the TNF game on Prime to TNT for playoff baseball and back again (as an example). It was much better and more efficient when I just hit the "LAST" button and in milliseconds I was back where I wanted to be. This isn't progress, it's regress. It might be insignificant to you, but some of us are degenerate gamblers and liked the ability to channel surf instantaneously.

Lol. That is my point sometimes there is going to be regression while trying to progress.

No progress was needed here! It wasn't broken. That was Maher's point. "If it's not broke, (tech bros) F with it".

 

[msudaisy26]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

In some instances, technology is making simple things harder than they need to be. I think there's some merit to that for sure. Yes, get off my lawn, but I like a menu that I can hold and read vs a QR code. I don't like being tethered to my damn phone all the time.

But how do we know if change is good if we don't try first? Streaming will probably fail, but do we really need to whine about the difficulties of channel surfing? Seems very insignificant.

Yes, absolutely! It shouldn't take as long as it does now to switch from the TNF game on Prime to TNT for playoff baseball and back again (as an example). It was much better and more efficient when I just hit the "LAST" button and in milliseconds I was back where I wanted to be. This isn't progress, it's regress. It might be insignificant to you, but some of us are degenerate gamblers and liked the ability to channel surf instantaneously.

Lol. That is my point sometimes there is going to be regression while trying to progress.

No progress was needed here! It wasn't broken. That was Maher's point. "If it's not broke, (tech bros) F with it".

If we did that we would have lost out on a lot of advances. I disagree, cable/dish was getting expensive, the customer service was awful and you didn't have choices. It was take what we give you and pay for it even if you don't use certain channels.

Even if streaming isn't the answer, I feel like it will lead to a better alternative in the future.

 

[Sammy3469]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

In some instances, technology is making simple things harder than they need to be. I think there's some merit to that for sure. Yes, get off my lawn, but I like a menu that I can hold and read vs a QR code. I don't like being tethered to my damn phone all the time.

But how do we know if change is good if we don't try first? Streaming will probably fail, but do we really need to whine about the difficulties of channel surfing? Seems very insignificant.

Yes, absolutely! It shouldn't take as long as it does now to switch from the TNF game on Prime to TNT for playoff baseball and back again (as an example). It was much better and more efficient when I just hit the "LAST" button and in milliseconds I was back where I wanted to be. This isn't progress, it's regress. It might be insignificant to you, but some of us are degenerate gamblers and liked the ability to channel surf instantaneously.

Somewhat tangentially, but the app firm I work for is going back to a webpage customer signup since it turns out you get better activation rates versus customers attempting to sign up via an App. Like you, I'm not convinced everyone wants everything on their phone and probably more importantly, people still want larger singular inferfaces (in this case Apps are like streamers and Google Chrome is the old school cable tv).

 

[mr. furley]

corporate loves not having to pay Dolores $12/hr to answer calls. i wonder what their metrics say about how many customers are turned off, or turned away, by not being able to chat with Dolores and work through their issue in 1/10th the amount of time?

corporate loves not having to pay Dolores $12/hr to answer calls. i wonder what their metrics say about how many customers are turned off, or turned away, by not being able to chat with Dolores and work through their issue in 1/10th the amount of time?

this, This, THIS !! I just went through this yesterday with a n umber of calls I had to make..... "Your call is important to us, please leave a message and we will call you back at OUR earliest convenience. MY "F" ing convenience is when I'M calling you ....... @#&%$@ !!!

AI hit me with this yesterday, too.

nope, i got the alert and called as soon as i could. i'm not hanging up to wait for AI to call me back... at some undetermined future time. just let me talk to an actual, real, live human being at the branch office and don't route me from robo-call, to someone in Pakistan, to a call center in Los Angeles, etc.

 

[mr. furley]

corporate loves not having to pay Dolores $12/hr to answer calls. i wonder what their metrics say about how many customers are turned off, or turned away, by not being able to chat with Dolores and work through their issue in 1/10th the amount of time?

corporate loves not having to pay Dolores $12/hr to answer calls. i wonder what their metrics say about how many customers are turned off, or turned away, by not being able to chat with Dolores and work through their issue in 1/10th the amount of time?

this, This, THIS !! I just went through this yesterday with a n umber of calls I had to make..... "Your call is important to us, please leave a message and we will call you back at OUR earliest convenience. MY "F" ing convenience is when I'M calling you ....... @#&%$@ !!!

I actually like that feature where they call you back rather than sitting on hold for 30 minutes.

you're a monster

 

[Yo Mama]

I remember the good old days when I could answer my phone, see real emails in my personal email feed, and be able to get reliable results when doing a google search.

 

[mr. furley]

Saw this tweet the other day that nailed it as well:

x.com

x.com

"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."

Saw this tweet the other day that nailed it as well:

x.com

x.com

"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."

my debit card got hacked yesterday. got a fraud alert email and text. called the 800 number on my debit card to connect with my credit union and spoke with the most human-like AI i've encountered so far.

almost felt like a real conversation, only with small pauses between each word and heavy use of the phrase "robotic payments" instead of "automated payments" or "recurring payments" when asking if i had any recurring/automated payments that could have newly charged by debit card, causing the fraud alert.

took 10 minutes to get through the AI checklist of questions before i got to a real live, local, human being at my credit union branch.. who walked me through the same questions in about 90 seconds.

corporate loves not having to pay Dolores $12/hr to answer calls. i wonder what their metrics say about how many customers are turned off, or turned away, by not being able to chat with Dolores and work through their issue in 1/10th the amount of time?

Called MN Dept. Of Human Services today for a work thing. Straight to voicemail saying leave a message and they'll call back in 10 business days.

We shall see. I still operate my business the old school way where clients have our direct cell numbers and I have someone live answering the main line as often as feasible. We also don't have hidden fees. I'm not convinced that the consumer wants this. Companies offering a service for a % lower and then baking in back end fees, mark ups, and charging for additional services not discussed seem to be doing quite well. It would be like Footballguys offering subscriptions for $49.99 and Footballdudes offering the same service for $44.99 but then charging you $2 a month for projections on even numbered NFL weeks and $2 per help request and $1 for dark mode and $1 if you pay with a credit card and $3 if you want any revisions to projections and $1 for anything Bloom pens, etc......

people like seeing $0.97 vs. $0.99 on a price and most of us don't want to inspect further to find the not-so-hidden fees.

it's because we're dumb. big business counts on us being stupid.

bought tickets to a concert in person recently. got whacked with taxes and a handling fee that added $9-$10 on top of the ticket price... but i went in person to buy the tickets because ordering them online through the Ticketmaster website (vs. buying from the Ticketmaster outlet at the venue) was going to add something like an additional $40 per ticket.

it's insane

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

Agree. And it’s consistent with most “back in my day” stories in that reality is back in your day sucked. When Maher was a kid, he got what, 3 games a week on his 27” standard def screen?

Now he can watch youth games from almost anywhere in the world. My Dad in southern Virginia watches my kids play live youth sports games in San Diego in higher definition through the Gamechanger app than Maher watched the NFL 30 years ago.

I think soccer fans have more exposure to this than NFL because the streaming services started taking over about 7--8 years ago or so. Its true that it is an embarrassment of riches in terms of all the games we can now watch - every game from a dozen or so different leagues all live in HD from our couch. 20 years ago I had to go to a bar at 6 a.m. on a Saturday just to see the biggest games from the biggest league in the world, which itself was an upgrade from the 90's when none of these games were available anywhere. However, the flip side is that for me to see all the games of the biggest clubs I need multiple services - Fox sports / USA channel which I get through Hulu for $100/mo., plus Peacock, Paramount+ and ESPN+. Putting the cost aside, it is maddeningly complicated and frustrating the way they package games to multiple outlets. The NFL is obviously going in the same direction.

 

[General Malaise]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

Agree. And it’s consistent with most “back in my day” stories in that reality is back in your day sucked. When Maher was a kid, he got what, 3 games a week on his 27” standard def screen?

Now he can watch youth games from almost anywhere in the world. My Dad in southern Virginia watches my kids play live youth sports games in San Diego in higher definition through the Gamechanger app than Maher watched the NFL 30 years ago.

It is one of those things where we should always try to be better and strive for perfection, but we should be happy with the gains we have made. I think that is what bugs me about the back in my day talk.

Hold up - Maher was very very VERY specific in his criticism. He wasn't suggesting everything was better "back in the day". Did you watch the same clip I did?

I agree with the sentiment that old folks like me can pine for yesteryear but this isn't that, IMO. He's on point with this one.

 

[Gally]

bought tickets to a concert in person recently. got whacked with taxes and a handling fee that added $9-$10 on top of the ticket price... but i went in person to buy the tickets because ordering them online through the Ticketmaster website (vs. buying from the Ticketmaster outlet at the venue) was going to add something like an additional $40 per ticket.

Allegient Air is like this. They flew to Vegas from our little small airport. About a 45 min flight. Absolutely perfect. If you went into the terminal to buy the tickets in person you saved $50 in "convenience" fees from using the website. However, how did you get the reservation at the counter? The paid person behind the counter took your information and entered into the exact same website to get you the exact same ticket only at $50 less. So they lost money by having me go into the terminal ($50 off the website fee) and had to pay an employee to enter the info I could have done at home. Made no sense..............other than people are dumb and lazy.

 

[General Malaise]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

In some instances, technology is making simple things harder than they need to be. I think there's some merit to that for sure. Yes, get off my lawn, but I like a menu that I can hold and read vs a QR code. I don't like being tethered to my damn phone all the time.

But how do we know if change is good if we don't try first? Streaming will probably fail, but do we really need to whine about the difficulties of channel surfing? Seems very insignificant.

Yes, absolutely! It shouldn't take as long as it does now to switch from the TNF game on Prime to TNT for playoff baseball and back again (as an example). It was much better and more efficient when I just hit the "LAST" button and in milliseconds I was back where I wanted to be. This isn't progress, it's regress. It might be insignificant to you, but some of us are degenerate gamblers and liked the ability to channel surf instantaneously.

Lol. That is my point sometimes there is going to be regression while trying to progress.

No progress was needed here! It wasn't broken. That was Maher's point. "If it's not broke, (tech bros) F with it".

If we did that we would have lost out on a lot of advances. I disagree, cable/dish was getting expensive, the customer service was awful and you didn't have choices. It was take what we give you and pay for it even if you don't use certain channels.

Even if streaming isn't the answer, I feel like it will lead to a better alternative in the future.

Streaming is expensive and when it was sold to us, it was sold to us as an "ad free" alternative to cable. Well that's clearly gone. And is it really better to have 15 different streaming services vs one cable lineup? Hell, I don't even know what we're paying for nor using anymore.

I hope you're right that it gets better in the future because right now, things aren't terrific. And I think Maher is spot on here.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

I think my favorite example was when Domino's started advertising their app. That you could use to order Domino's pizza. From your phone.

There's a reason these fast food companies all want their app on your phone. Corporations Learned The Maximum Amount They Can Charge For a Product

What's the price of a hamburger? Well, it depends. Are you making the purchase on the spot? Did you order ahead using an app? Are you a frequent customer of the burger chain? With inflation having surged at the fastest rate in roughly four decades, there's suddenly a lot more interest in how companies figure out the most that they can charge you for a given purchase at that moment in time. As it turns out, much of the economy is becoming like the airline industry, where there is no one price for a good, but rather a complex range of factors that go into what you're willing to pay. Thanks to algorithms, apps, personalized data, and a bevy of ancillary revenues, companies are increasingly learning how to not leave any pennies on the table.

 

[msudaisy26]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

Agree. And it’s consistent with most “back in my day” stories in that reality is back in your day sucked. When Maher was a kid, he got what, 3 games a week on his 27” standard def screen?

Now he can watch youth games from almost anywhere in the world. My Dad in southern Virginia watches my kids play live youth sports games in San Diego in higher definition through the Gamechanger app than Maher watched the NFL 30 years ago.

It is one of those things where we should always try to be better and strive for perfection, but we should be happy with the gains we have made. I think that is what bugs me about the back in my day talk.

Hold up - Maher was very very VERY specific in his criticism. He wasn't suggesting everything was better "back in the day". Did you watch the same clip I did?

I agree with the sentiment that old folks like me can pine for yesteryear but this isn't that, IMO. He's on point with this one.

That is fair, we are getting away from his point. I just don't think it is that big of a deal and believe the streaming will improve or fail and be replaced by something better. We are just in the trial and error stage.

 

[rockaction]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

Agree. And it’s consistent with most “back in my day” stories in that reality is back in your day sucked. When Maher was a kid, he got what, 3 games a week on his 27” standard def screen?

Now he can watch youth games from almost anywhere in the world. My Dad in southern Virginia watches my kids play live youth sports games in San Diego in higher definition through the Gamechanger app than Maher watched the NFL 30 years ago.

It is one of those things where we should always try to be better and strive for perfection, but we should be happy with the gains we have made. I think that is what bugs me about the back in my day talk.

Hold up - Maher was very very VERY specific in his criticism. He wasn't suggesting everything was better "back in the day". Did you watch the same clip I did?

I agree with the sentiment that old folks like me can pine for yesteryear but this isn't that, IMO. He's on point with this one.

Nice nuance. I was thinking the same thing but didn't want to get involved in the (good-natured) argument. I think you're exactly right and that there's a subtle distinction to be made here. This is not "back in the nineties things were better." This is "back about two years ago before they tried to tinker with it this was a good service." Of course, Maher can't address that this is about revenue maximization and the streaming companies were losing money hand over fist because they didn't know how to monetize this (and it's unwieldy and difficult) because it undercuts his set, but your point is a good one.

 

[rockaction]

Guys, I have news for you. This is genuinely in the works.

You'll own nothing and be happy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[tommyGunZ]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

In some instances, technology is making simple things harder than they need to be. I think there's some merit to that for sure. Yes, get off my lawn, but I like a menu that I can hold and read vs a QR code. I don't like being tethered to my damn phone all the time.

But how do we know if change is good if we don't try first? Streaming will probably fail, but do we really need to whine about the difficulties of channel surfing? Seems very insignificant.

Yes, absolutely! It shouldn't take as long as it does now to switch from the TNF game on Prime to TNT for playoff baseball and back again (as an example). It was much better and more efficient when I just hit the "LAST" button and in milliseconds I was back where I wanted to be. This isn't progress, it's regress. It might be insignificant to you, but some of us are degenerate gamblers and liked the ability to channel surf instantaneously.

Lol. That is my point sometimes there is going to be regression while trying to progress.

No progress was needed here! It wasn't broken. That was Maher's point. "If it's not broke, (tech bros) F with it".

If we did that we would have lost out on a lot of advances. I disagree, cable/dish was getting expensive, the customer service was awful and you didn't have choices. It was take what we give you and pay for it even if you don't use certain channels.

Even if streaming isn't the answer, I feel like it will lead to a better alternative in the future.

Streaming is expensive and when it was sold to us, it was sold to us as an "ad free" alternative to cable. Well that's clearly gone. And is it really better to have 15 different streaming services vs one cable lineup? Hell, I don't even know what we're paying for nor using anymore.

I hope you're right that it gets better in the future because right now, things aren't terrific. And I think Maher is spot on here.

Definitely some kinks that need to be perfected but when you’re at a dance recital or church service and you’re covertly watching the Ducks smash USC live on your phone I bet you aren’t pissed!

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Guys, I have news for you. This is genuinely in the works.

You'll own nothing and be happy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Nothing seems a little exaggerated. There aresome things I'd like to think we'll never reach a comfort level having as a subscription model.

 

[General Malaise]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

In some instances, technology is making simple things harder than they need to be. I think there's some merit to that for sure. Yes, get off my lawn, but I like a menu that I can hold and read vs a QR code. I don't like being tethered to my damn phone all the time.

But how do we know if change is good if we don't try first? Streaming will probably fail, but do we really need to whine about the difficulties of channel surfing? Seems very insignificant.

Yes, absolutely! It shouldn't take as long as it does now to switch from the TNF game on Prime to TNT for playoff baseball and back again (as an example). It was much better and more efficient when I just hit the "LAST" button and in milliseconds I was back where I wanted to be. This isn't progress, it's regress. It might be insignificant to you, but some of us are degenerate gamblers and liked the ability to channel surf instantaneously.

Lol. That is my point sometimes there is going to be regression while trying to progress.

No progress was needed here! It wasn't broken. That was Maher's point. "If it's not broke, (tech bros) F with it".

If we did that we would have lost out on a lot of advances. I disagree, cable/dish was getting expensive, the customer service was awful and you didn't have choices. It was take what we give you and pay for it even if you don't use certain channels.

Even if streaming isn't the answer, I feel like it will lead to a better alternative in the future.

Streaming is expensive and when it was sold to us, it was sold to us as an "ad free" alternative to cable. Well that's clearly gone. And is it really better to have 15 different streaming services vs one cable lineup? Hell, I don't even know what we're paying for nor using anymore.

I hope you're right that it gets better in the future because right now, things aren't terrific. And I think Maher is spot on here.

Definitely some kinks that need to be perfected but when you’re at a dance recital or church service and you’re covertly watching the Ducks smash USC live on your phone I bet you aren’t pissed!

Yeah, we had this mastered 100 years ago. It's called AM Radio. And get off my grass because I'll take a baseball or football broadcast from radio every day of the week and twice on Sunday over watching a game on my phone.

God, I am old man!

 

[bigbottom]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

Agree. And it’s consistent with most “back in my day” stories in that reality is back in your day sucked. When Maher was a kid, he got what, 3 games a week on his 27” standard def screen?

Now he can watch youth games from almost anywhere in the world. My Dad in southern Virginia watches my kids play live youth sports games in San Diego in higher definition through the Gamechanger app than Maher watched the NFL 30 years ago.

It is one of those things where we should always try to be better and strive for perfection, but we should be happy with the gains we have made. I think that is what bugs me about the back in my day talk.

Hold up - Maher was very very VERY specific in his criticism. He wasn't suggesting everything was better "back in the day". Did you watch the same clip I did?

I agree with the sentiment that old folks like me can pine for yesteryear but this isn't that, IMO. He's on point with this one.

That is fair, we are getting away from his point. I just don't think it is that big of a deal and believe the streaming will improve or fail and be replaced by something better. We are just in the trial and error stage.

He had a number of examples in his spot, only one of which was streaming (though it was the one he spoke first and longest about). The one that resonated with me is valet. Why on earth do I have to give my cell number to 37 different people all over town and navigate umpteen different web platforms on my phone just so they can bring my car around? Why can’t I just hand them my ticket?

 

[General Malaise]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

Agree. And it’s consistent with most “back in my day” stories in that reality is back in your day sucked. When Maher was a kid, he got what, 3 games a week on his 27” standard def screen?

Now he can watch youth games from almost anywhere in the world. My Dad in southern Virginia watches my kids play live youth sports games in San Diego in higher definition through the Gamechanger app than Maher watched the NFL 30 years ago.

It is one of those things where we should always try to be better and strive for perfection, but we should be happy with the gains we have made. I think that is what bugs me about the back in my day talk.

Hold up - Maher was very very VERY specific in his criticism. He wasn't suggesting everything was better "back in the day". Did you watch the same clip I did?

I agree with the sentiment that old folks like me can pine for yesteryear but this isn't that, IMO. He's on point with this one.

That is fair, we are getting away from his point. I just don't think it is that big of a deal and believe the streaming will improve or fail and be replaced by something better. We are just in the trial and error stage.

He had a number of examples in his spot, only one of which was streaming (though it was the one he spoke first and longest about). The one that resonated with me is valet. Why on earth do I have to give my cell number to 37 different people all over town and navigate umpteen different web platforms on my phone just so they can bring my car around? Why can’t I just hand them my ticket?

PROGRESS!!!!!

 

[Doug B]

My stupid iptv provider ...

This is the first time I've ever read/heard of "iptv". Same as "streaming television" or something different?

 

[NutterButter]

My stupid iptv provider ...

This is the first time I've ever read/heard of "iptv". Same as "streaming television" or something different?

Same but

 

[BlackCrowes]

if i walk into a new restaurant and you have to order on an App, i get up and leave. :shakesfistatcloud:

 

[NutterButter]

Reverse Improvement

Have to say that I agree with a bunch of these examples.

I listen to Maher a lot and agree with him more often than not, but this just came off as very get off my lawn or back in my day. I don't agree with him.

Agree. And it’s consistent with most “back in my day” stories in that reality is back in your day sucked. When Maher was a kid, he got what, 3 games a week on his 27” standard def screen?

Now he can watch youth games from almost anywhere in the world. My Dad in southern Virginia watches my kids play live youth sports games in San Diego in higher definition through the Gamechanger app than Maher watched the NFL 30 years ago.

It is one of those things where we should always try to be better and strive for perfection, but we should be happy with the gains we have made. I think that is what bugs me about the back in my day talk.

Hold up - Maher was very very VERY specific in his criticism. He wasn't suggesting everything was better "back in the day". Did you watch the same clip I did?

I agree with the sentiment that old folks like me can pine for yesteryear but this isn't that, IMO. He's on point with this one.

That is fair, we are getting away from his point. I just don't think it is that big of a deal and believe the streaming will improve or fail and be replaced by something better. We are just in the trial and error stage.

He had a number of examples in his spot, only one of which was streaming (though it was the one he spoke first and longest about). The one that resonated with me is valet. Why on earth do I have to give my cell number to 37 different people all over town and navigate umpteen different web platforms on my phone just so they can bring my car around? Why can’t I just hand them my ticket?

I thought the idea was that was how you tip them. Now I hate having to pay someone to park my car when I'd rather just do it myself so maybe this is a way to not be in person shamed into tippping for something you don't even want.

 

[WDIK2]

I think my favorite example was when Domino's started advertising their app. That you could use to order Domino's pizza. From your phone.

Just had this discussion with a couple friends a week ago. All of us in our mid-50s. "Don't you have the Casey's/McDonalds/Pizza Hut/etc. app?"

No. I don't. I don't want to have an app for every freakin' place I visit. Yes, I may be missing out on a free cheeseburger every month. I think I'll be ok. I try to keep as much crap as I can off my phone. It is already too cluttered with stuff I actually use. Yes, get off my lawn!

 

[NutterButter]

if i walk into a new restaurant and you have to order on an App, i get up and leave. :shakesfistatcloud:

Another thing I'd typically prefer although I'd rather it was just a website rather than an app that I need to install. Why is everything a stupid app when we already have an app called a web browser that can serve up all the content you care to present? Need another beer, just go on the website, add it to your order and it magically appears at your table. Did this once at a sushi place in miami and thought it was marvelous.

 

[BeTheMatch]

I think my favorite example was when Domino's started advertising their app. That you could use to order Domino's pizza. From your phone.

Just had this discussion with a couple friends a week ago. All of us in our mid-50s. "Don't you have the Casey's/McDonalds/Pizza Hut/etc. app?"

No. I don't. I don't want to have an app for every freakin' place I visit. Yes, I may be missing out on a free cheeseburger every month. I think I'll be ok. I try to keep as much crap as I can off my phone. It is already too cluttered with stuff I actually use. Yes, get off my lawn!

They don't give anything anyway. I downloaded them all thinking they were going to be burying me in free food. Nothing.

 

[BeTheMatch]

I play in a golf simulator league in the winter. We need three different apps to participate in the league. Hand to god.

 

[The Gator]

if i walk into a new restaurant and you have to order on an App, i get up and leave. :shakesfistatcloud:

This whole thread is that meme