When You, Me, and an Algorithm Walk Into a Bar: Who’s Really Cashing In on Our Clicks?
Added on May 24, 2025 inASTROLOGY CARDS
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Ever feel like you’re stuck in an endless battle—not with another person—but with the cold, calculating machines that seem to run our world? Well, pull up a chair, because if Pluto cruising through Aquarius has taught me anything since 2015, it’s that we’re living smack dab in the era where algorithms aren’t just numbers; they’re the new puppet masters pulling strings behind the scenes. From relentless AI customer service bots that test your patience to stock market algorithms playing mind games with prices just shy of a full dollar—there’s a strange psychology in these tiny numbers that feels eerily personal. Is it just business, or have we stumbled into a sci-fi plot where data is the real king and the “choices” we think we have are illusionary, expertly engineered to keep us handing over our hard-earned cash? And hey, if you’re wondering how much your doctor’s office or your local membership club is in on this… well, let’s just say the machines playing gatekeeper aren’t exactly programmed with your best interests at heart. So, how much time do you spend warring with machines? Seriously, when was the last time you actually won? Let’s dive in and unpack the relentless—and sometimes downright sneaky—ways these algorithms shape our lives, dollar by dollar, click by click. LEARN MORE.
I’m well aware I’m at war with machines. It’s been this way for some time. For example, today I have to get the AI customer service “agent” to offer something useful, assuming this is possible. In the olden days, twenty years ago, it was the voice prompt menu. I never mistook the recorded voice as human.
I’m prompted to write this after reading a conversation regarding the algorithms that control the stock market. The person was talking about the algos turning on double digits, i.e. $21.66 rather than $21.67. Or $52.88 rather than 53.87. He said it was “psychological”.
I suspect he’s right about this as money in involved. Money is something many covet above all other things. If there is a way to gain an advantage, it’s going to be utilized.
We know that “data” is king at this time. We know our data is weaponized against us. It’s more obvious by the day.
As an example, I see this in places where there are three options, let’s say, pricing brackets for levels of service. In the olden days, pricing was used to guide to the purchase the entity wanted you to make. One option, junky. One option, way, way high, sells you the middle option, reliably. You feel smart, like you made a good choice! It’s not like this anymore. More and more, there is no good choice for the consumer. What you get/what you pay, is precisely calculated. I expect the prices to be tailored to the individual, more and more.
Case in point, when Aweber changed the pricing structure of the business, all options were horrible. They have more than a decade of data. Consequently AI can easily determine how to maximize profit. Same with webhosting. Same with everything…
While I understand a machine is not a person, I do see machines acting in ways that are punitive. I’ll give you a current example.
I have been a member of Sam’s Club for six or seven years. We don’t have Costco here. My neighbor works for the store and sold me a membership, which is fine. I have liked it, but I decided not to renew this year. They axed free shipping is why. They auto-renew you. To cancel, you to call your credit card to boot them. I did that and as expected, they hit me up all kinds of ways, trying to get me to renew.
They rebate money to you, periodically. I was not surprised they held mine, seeing I was not renewing, in spite of being repeatedly solicited in tricky ways. You know. Careful what you tap, or oops! You just renewed!
Two days before my membership was to renew, they posted this credit I’d accrued. I decided to use it. I went the website, the last day of my membership and I tried to order. I had no problem doing so, but when I got to the cart, it added the $110 renewal. Can you guess what happened? I could not remove it! It just looped me around.
Now, I had the option to call AI customer service and get nowhere. My membership was active, but I couldn’t use it… they kept my “rewards”.
This what I mean by, “punitive”. Sam’s is not going to send this non-renewing bi-otch one last order. Screw her!
This is what I mean about being a war with machines. You are not dealing with a person, programmed to “treat others as you’d like to be treated” or “to do the right thing”. It’s money, money, money and money.
I see doctors doing something similar. I understand each body (patient) in a PC practice is to generate a certain amount of profit. If you opt out of tests and whatnot, you’re going to be less profitable for the practice. In the future, I expect, less profitable patients to be be treated differently, if not discontinued all together. Canceled! The fear of that happening will see most people comply.
Of course, I’ve watched this (and written about it) for ten years. You can’t “boycott”, because the business you’d defect to is owned by the same entity you’re leaving. Illusion of choice, as they say.
If you’re lucky enough to still have access to “mom and pop” anything, try to support them. This blog, for example!
For the record, I think my PC doctor is a good guy. He was affiliated with the local hospital and then left for another “umbrella” of physicians in a larger area around the state. Out of the frying pan, into the fire, from what I can see. If he tries to exit, the machine will damage him… crush him, if they can. This is world today. You can’t compete with the monopoly.
Please note, there is no “heart” in any of this. I’m sorry, but I am right about Pluto in Aquarius and have been since 2015.
How much time do you spend warring with machines? I mean, we’re all addicted to them. If you are trying to overcome your addiction, well…
Most everyone’s primary relationship is with their phone or their computer. We’re pretty far gone.
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