My every move is being watched and recorded. And
it’s freaking me out!
I research living room drapes on my computer and by
the next day sponsored ads are EVERYWHERE. I’m inundated with furniture ads.
Rugs and runners. Give it up. Leave me alone!
Doing research for my novel is stressful. Normally,
I love the research – but not now. Checking out resorts and fly-in lodges for my
story leaves me swamped with ads for inns, resorts, and lodges all across Canada.
And sure, while I’m at it, I check out spots for a Valentine’s getaway. Ads with heart-shaped bathtubs are plastered across my screen for a week. I
peer to see if that is actually me in the tub. It isn’t. But it wouldn't surprise me.
It’s really getting to me. I have more ads on
facebook than I do friends!!
More research is required for my crime story. I
can put it off no longer. Prisons – the how to and the what to of visiting a
prisoner, where might a certain crime or sentence land a prisoner, medium or
maximum security, and I even check videos showing the inner workings of a
prison. I need to know.
The search engine used to be my biggest ally and now I cringe every time I key something in. I feel as if I should send a note to the
RCMP telling them I’m a writer. Just a writer wanting to get the
Someone online told me to check my privacy settings.
I did. But I don’t understand. Nothing seems foolproof. I can delete my
browsing history but that sounds like closing the gate after the horses are out.
I could search incognito and it doesn’t show up in my history, but isn’t that
like sounding an alarm that I’m searching something illegal or harmful? I guess
I am, sort of. But I’m just a writer I tell you.