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#1 Aug 24 2012 at 7:34 AM Rating: Good
Elinda
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The Romney campaign has been data-mining for potential donors.

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WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney's success in raising hundreds of millions of dollars in the costliest presidential race ever can be traced in part to a secretive data-mining project that sifts through Americans' personal information — including their purchasing history and church attendance — to identify new and likely, wealthy donors, The Associated Press has learned.


Really the only thing that's surprising here is that Romney is the first to use the technique to raise money.

I don't see any reason that it's illegal if the service is appropriately funded, but is it unethical, or is it simply another piece of information to squirrel away in the advertising-response part of our brain?

STORY

Edited, Aug 24th 2012 4:02pm by Elinda
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#2 Aug 24 2012 at 7:39 AM Rating: Excellent
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#3 Aug 24 2012 at 7:47 AM Rating: Decent
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Really the only thing that's surprising here is that Romney is the first to use the technique to raise money.


He's not, idiot. The first time you hear of something doesn't necessarily correlate with the first time such a thing occurs.
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#4 Aug 24 2012 at 7:55 AM Rating: Good
Elinda
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Smasharoo wrote:


Really the only thing that's surprising here is that Romney is the first to use the technique to raise money.


He's not, idiot. The first time you hear of something doesn't necessarily correlate with the first time such a thing occurs.
let me fix:

Romney is the first US presidential candidate sloppy enough to let it slip out that he's been using scuzzy but high-tech data-mining to raise money.


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#5 Aug 24 2012 at 8:33 AM Rating: Excellent
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Elinda wrote:

I don't see any reason that it's illegal if the service is appropriately funded, but is it unethical, or is it simply another piece of information to squirrel away in the advertising-response part of our brain?

STORY


Just another use of information. I helped out with the Obama campaign in 08, and we scanned phone lists and found people who voted Democrat in the last 12 years or so and call their houses/make sure they register/remind them to vote. I'm sure the McCain campaign did the same (we were a lot more aggressive about registration though). This is just another step in the same direction.

Edit: Also, I recommend using a fake e-mail address if you ever help out at a political event or donate. You will get SO much spam. Seriously, I helped for a few months years ago and I've dozens of messages every week begging for donations/support/votes. Ick. It's like the clingiest ex-girlfriend ever.

Edited, Aug 24th 2012 10:35am by LockeColeMA
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#6 Aug 24 2012 at 8:43 AM Rating: Good
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Elinda wrote:
Romney is the first US presidential candidate sloppy enough to let it slip out that he's been using scuzzy but high-tech data-mining to raise money.
Why is this scuzzy?
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#7 Aug 24 2012 at 8:44 AM Rating: Excellent
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Haha... I finally reached the point where the spam annoyance overcame my guilt at telling them to go to hell and unsubscribed from most of the lists. Obama's list gave an option to only send limited messages so I took that. The DCCC, DSCC, etc can all shut the hell up.

I signed up for McCain's mailing list in 2008 and still get letters now from the Romney campaign and GOP telling me that "as one of our nation's foremost Republicans, I understand the challenges... yadda yadda." They also include envelopes with the pre-paid postage bars on them, but a note letting me know that by using my own stamp over them, I can save the campaign valuable resources.

Edited, Aug 24th 2012 9:48am by Jophiel
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#8 Aug 24 2012 at 9:04 AM Rating: Good
Elinda
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Uglysasquatch wrote:
Elinda wrote:
Romney is the first US presidential candidate sloppy enough to let it slip out that he's been using scuzzy but high-tech data-mining to raise money.
Why is this scuzzy?

Because it's unobserved maybe. It used to be when you'd go shopping you didn't have to assume that each purchase was tracked, that your method of payment was tracked. When you window-shopped you weren't being observed to see which bag you picked up and checked a price on or which mouthwash you read the label on. But now all that information is being gathered about you - without your knowledge for the most part. Sure, we're aware enough that it's going on, but it's not like we're given a list of what information is being collected on us and who's buying it. But i guess the scuzzy part is that the advertisers then take all that information and pester me with directed ads.

It's not despicable and I don't think it's unethical. But it's scuzzy.
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#9 Aug 24 2012 at 9:10 AM Rating: Good
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They also include envelopes with the pre-paid postage bars on them, but a note letting me know that by using my own stamp over them, I can save the campaign valuable resources.
That 44¢ might be the difference between victory or defeat.
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#10 Aug 24 2012 at 9:11 AM Rating: Excellent
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Elinda wrote:
Because it's unobserved maybe. It used to be when you'd go shopping you didn't have to assume that each purchase was tracked,


Now you click on one link from Zam and get your inbox spammed with this! Smiley: mad

Screenshot


Last time I take my special hat off. Smiley: disappointed

Smiley: tinfoilhat

Edited, Aug 24th 2012 8:13am by someproteinguy
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#11 Aug 24 2012 at 9:18 AM Rating: Good
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someproteinguy wrote:
Elinda wrote:
Because it's unobserved maybe. It used to be when you'd go shopping you didn't have to assume that each purchase was tracked,


Now you click on one link from Zam and get your inbox spammed with this! Smiley: mad

Screenshot


Last time I take my special hat off. Smiley: disappointed

Smiley: tinfoilhat

Edited, Aug 24th 2012 8:13am by someproteinguy

You'll be a better person for creating fun, colorful and healthy lunch boxes for you and your family. BUY THE DAM BOOKS.

Pikko's didn't even make the list???

nevermind, her's is the first on the list.

Edited, Aug 24th 2012 5:19pm by Elinda
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#12 Aug 24 2012 at 9:21 AM Rating: Excellent
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lolgaxe wrote:
Jophiel wrote:
They also include envelopes with the pre-paid postage bars on them, but a note letting me know that by using my own stamp over them, I can save the campaign valuable resources.
That 44¢ might be the difference between victory or defeat.

I have so far resisted the urge to mail them a photo of my wang at their cost.
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#13 Aug 24 2012 at 9:27 AM Rating: Excellent
someproteinguy
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Elinda wrote:
You'll be a better person for creating fun, colorful and healthy lunch boxes for you and your family. BUY THE DAM BOOKS.


If I wanted the books I would have bought them the first time. Smiley: motz

Besides, it completely defeats the purpose of marrying a Japanese girl if I still have to make my own bento. Smiley: rolleyes
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#14 Aug 24 2012 at 9:48 AM Rating: Good
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The Obama campaign did this in 2008, and has been further refining and combining the data for this year.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/victory_lab/2012/02/project_narwhal_how_a_top_secret_obama_campaign_program_could_change_the_2012_race_.html

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#15 Aug 24 2012 at 9:57 AM Rating: Excellent
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someproteinguy wrote:
Elinda wrote:
Because it's unobserved maybe. It used to be when you'd go shopping you didn't have to assume that each purchase was tracked,


Now you click on one link from Zam and get your inbox spammed with this! Smiley: mad

Screenshot


Last time I take my special hat off. Smiley: disappointed

Smiley: tinfoilhat

Edited, Aug 24th 2012 8:13am by someproteinguy

Fun fact: I bought Pikko's book as a move-in gift for a friend.

It never showed up. Smiley: frown
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#16 Aug 24 2012 at 10:04 AM Rating: Good
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Jophiel wrote:
lolgaxe wrote:
Jophiel wrote:
They also include envelopes with the pre-paid postage bars on them, but a note letting me know that by using my own stamp over them, I can save the campaign valuable resources.
That 44¢ might be the difference between victory or defeat.

I have so far resisted the urge to mail them a photo of my wang at their cost.


We had a really nasty local primary between Doug McKillup and Regina Quick (she won because McKillup was a turncoat Dem and both Dems and Tea Party Rs hated his guts. He lost by 400 or so votes because 1/3 of the votes in their primary came from pissed off Dems like me.... throw out the bums, indeed.)

It was so bitter that my husband took one of McKillup's fliers and mailed it back scribbled all over with profanity. One of the envelopes he stuffed with pro-Obama mailers we'd gotten.
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#17 Aug 24 2012 at 10:08 AM Rating: Good
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Wow, that is bitter.
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#18 Aug 24 2012 at 10:10 AM Rating: Good
Elinda
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Uglysasquatch wrote:
Wow, that is bitter.

Not as bitter as wasting 44 cents to mail a picture of your wieny.
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#19 Aug 24 2012 at 10:11 AM Rating: Good
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That's why you use the pre-paid envelope.
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#20 Aug 24 2012 at 10:48 AM Rating: Excellent
someproteinguy
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Send them a check for 22 cents. Include a long letter griping about how much the cost of stamps have gone up, and how they should change that if they want your vote in November.
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#21 Aug 24 2012 at 1:15 PM Rating: Excellent
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someproteinguy wrote:
Elinda wrote:
You'll be a better person for creating fun, colorful and healthy lunch boxes for you and your family. BUY THE DAM BOOKS.


If I wanted the books I would have bought them the first time. Smiley: motz

Besides, it completely defeats the purpose of marrying a Japanese girl if I still have to make my own bento. Smiley: rolleyes

Will you adopt me and make me bento lunch boxes?
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#22 Aug 24 2012 at 1:29 PM Rating: Excellent
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Sir Xsarus wrote:
Will you adopt me and make me bento lunch boxes?


Again, I don't make the bentos... Smiley: glare

I can put a good word in with the bento-maker though if you'd like. I have a feeling you'll be behind the biological children in terms of getting the good stuff though. Kids these days, don't know how good they have it. Smiley: disappointed
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#23 Aug 24 2012 at 1:33 PM Rating: Excellent
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It's all right, I'll totally babysit for free whenever I visit!
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#24 Aug 24 2012 at 1:56 PM Rating: Excellent
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Ok, but if she starts giving you mine I'll have to kick you to the curb. Smiley: wink
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#25 Aug 24 2012 at 10:59 PM Rating: Good
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spg wrote:
Besides, it completely defeats the purpose of marrying a Japanese girl if I still have to make my own bento.


I tricked Uncle Suger to station me in Japan just for that very purpose. The wife made bentos everyday while we were dating, was great and much envy was had by my co-workers then.

Gonna let you in on a little secret...





...The 'bentos' stop coming after the ink is dry on the marriage paperwork.
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#26 Aug 25 2012 at 8:23 AM Rating: Excellent
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Jophiel wrote:


I signed up for McCain's mailing list in 2008 and still get letters now from the Romney campaign and GOP telling me that "as one of our nation's foremost Republicans, I understand the challenges... yadda yadda." They also include envelopes with the pre-paid postage bars on them, but a note letting me know that by using my own stamp over them, I can save the campaign valuable resources.



Do you mail them back with a note saying "suck it, lewser"?
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