Computers are so commonplace these days; everyone has one. A lot of folks have more than one. We’ve become a society so dependent on our computers that we often forget how to do things without the assistance of artificial intelligence. Like spelling. Most computers will either automatically correct your spelling or, at the very least, highlight misspelled words so that you can click on it and see how to fix it without even knowing how to fix it yourself. Lazy. Lazy is what that is.
Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with having a computer. There is nothing wrong with relying on your computer to fix things for you. There is a problem when computers get hacked, which is also very commonplace these days. It’s just a fact that if you use a computer, you’re susceptible to being hacked. That might not be terrible, but it could be disastrous.
Which brings us to the topic of cookies.
Cookies collect information – online habits, previous visits, search history, etc. Here’s where the problem comes in, cookies pass along your online habits to the servers of the cookie owners. This information is then used for targeted advertisements and personalized content. Cookies from another website that you have not visited can also track you. Hmmm. Tracking?
That’s why you see all those ads for shoes five minutes after you’ve purchased a pair of shoes online. It’s scary right? And now, I don’t need shoes, thank you very much, I just ordered some. Give me a site that sells socks and maybe we can do business.
Cookies do, however, pose a potential threat. They can be an optional part of your internet experience. If you so choose, you can limit what cookies end up on your computer or mobile device. If you allow cookies, it will streamline your surfing. For some users, no cookies security risk is more important than a convenient internet experience. If you don’t want your online activity tracked, you need to stop the cookies.
I rarely stop cookies on my computer. Mostly because I simply forget they’re there, running in the background, collecting information, and passing it along to others. Should I be worried? I don’t know. Maybe.
Which brings up another reason for concern. If cookies are tracking my online activity, who might be “watching?” I’m not sure I want someone checking into my browsing history. Most of it’s innocent. Stuff like, “how do you get a possum out of your basement,” or “how far is it to such and such place?” Almost daily I search things like, “how do you make blah, blah, blah,” or “how do you fix blah, blah, blah.”
Probably the most frequent phrase in my browsing history is “what does some word mean?” As a writer I throw words down on the page like Muhammad Ali during his heyday, thinking I’m all cool with my big vocabulary and multi-syllabic words. Watch me float like a butterfly and sting like a bee with my wordsmithery. But do I really know what the heck I’m saying? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve typed a word, then stopped and looked it up because I’m not really a hundred percent sure I’ve used it correctly. Oh sure, I’ll dance around on my toes like Cassius Clay, but inside I’m thinking, “is that right?” In fact, I Googled multi-syllabic just in case I used it wrong in this post.
But other times, my writing research takes me to the dark side. I do lots of research about guns and knives and explosives. I research how to bury bodies and how long it takes them to decompose. I’ve spent lots of time on the FBI website. Are they watching me now? Should I be worried? Are the cops going to show up because I’ve researched how to build a bomb out of paperclips and turmeric? (Quick, someone look up if that’s even possible.)
Anyway, sometimes I wonder about stuff. Today I’m wondering if I need to clear my browsing history. Probably not. I mean, I’m pretty sure a really proficient computer techie person can run down my browsing history for the past 30 years anyway so what would be the point?
Do you guys ever wonder about your online searches? Do you clear your browsing history? Do you accept cookies? Do you think it’s possible to build a bomb out of paper clips and turmeric?
Word of the Day: Lebkuchen
Fun fact about me: I sometimes look at my browsing history just for fun. I know, weird right?
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, November 2021. Images by Google and giphy.com
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jansenschmidt 
Fascinating post, Jansen (if that’s your real name). Yes, surfing the web is a wee bit risky at best and downright dangerous at worst. We have absolutely no idea what characters lurk behind each and every cookie, but I assume cookie monsters abound.
I wouldn’t worry too much about the FBI though, they’re pretty busy monitoring our Facebook comments, tweets and phone calls. However, as a concerned citizen myself, I do feel compelled to report to them about your searches.
To answer your question, yes, you can make a bomb out of paper clips and turmeric. Just make sure you use the metal clips and not the plastic.
P.S. Truth in writing….. I used the spellchecker several times in this comment, mostly due to typos, except for turmeric which I never realized had to Rs.
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Thanks for being a conscientious citizen and paying attention to my posting habits. I’m sure the FBI and the FB police really appreciate it.
Now then, about that turmeric bomb – I did look it up and – by golly you can make “bombs” out of turmeric. Who knew? The things you learn on the old Google monster huh?
Anyway, thanks for joining the conversation. I was feeling pretty lonely this week with no comments and such. Now I feel “seen.”
Have a wonderful week.
Patricia
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