Let’s talk about the word “nudge.”
It was first used in Google research. Indeed the word “nudge” is meant to be soft, gentle and benevolent so that you shouldn’t be worried about it. However at Google, it referred to the insidious “nudge” that they found to influence people’s opinions as their data feeds were subtly manipulated (they noted this in particular with political issues). They see the “nudge” as something that makes up for human weaknesses. And of course, they will tell you what your weaknesses are.
Google has decided to hide this concept. Now, a “nudge” in Google is just a reminder option for email.
Good camouflage, Google!
But the leftists are using this principle and the word “nudge” to justify manipulations.
An Australian Bank has decided they are going to examine all of your banking transactions, measure them for carbon impact and then develop your “carbon footprint” so they can “nudge” you to be more carbon neutral.
Think about this. A bank, whose only job it is to keep your money safe and available, has taken it upon itself to examine your life and try to change you for what they think is “better.” What right do they have to presume?
This is as overt as it gets.
Of course, we know that Google and Big Tech are still doing this, I experience it every day as a publisher of conservative news. We see this in Google searches, we see this in the lack of propagation of conservative memes on Facebook, and we see conservative thought leaders, including the President of the United States, banned on Twitter. We get just a bit more favorable take on liberal news an less exposure to to conservative news.
We get “nudges” in almost every television show. You rarely see any show or commercial that doesn’t have its token gay, black, Hispanic and Asian representation. Rarely do you see conservative values represented, and shows with a conservative bent have been famously canceled and banned.
We are in the age of information. We have known for a long time that data is useful, that advertisers want to sell us stuff, and they can be persuasive in getting us to buy crap we don’t need. They gather data about each and every one of us and use it in their messaging. This is bad, but we have gotten used to it.
But this is different. This is the furthering of political opinion using our own private actions against us, without our permission, often without our knowledge. They callously use our private data to which no one else should be privy, and they purposely manipulate us to further political ends.
Maybe I’m tilting at windmills. Maybe I’m crazy for expecting better of society.
But I’m not willing to give in.
Are you?