My email server is flooded with ads, generally spammy ads for things I don’t need and didn’t ask for… nothing new there. What has changed, however, is that they are now almost exclusively illustrated with AI art.
Instead of a photograph of real people celebrating their new purchase or someone looking bereft because they are yet to indulge in some form of mindless consumerism, it’s now all AI imagery that sometimes does, and often does NOT, make sense.
At the risk of embarrassing a brand (shame is never my game) – here’s a recent ad that was used to promote a home insurance company (company name deleted):
[Image source: my screen shot]
Now, I don’t expect my overseas friends to know which states go where, but I will let you know we only have 6 states and 2 territories in Australia, so the map has way too many colorful zones. Moreover, you might have noticed that there is often two of the same names in different locations (I live in New South Wales which is actually positioned in about the same spot as the yellow “Queensland” which is missing an ‘e’ for good measure.) Oh, and Idaho and Iowa are NOT states or territories in Australia… doh!
OK, so that’s not great, and it’s pretty unreassuringly grim for the business that is supposed to be selling its expertise on the market – but aside from messing with my mind, is there any real harm in it?
Unequivocally, I say YES.
Aside from being ridiculously lazy, it’s reinforcing the post truth world we find ourselves in these days – it sows confusion, reduces clarity, fills the void with trash, and diminishes the value of real knowledge and hard-earnt wisdom.
Imagine if you relied on this map as someone who was unfamiliar with Australia – it’s worse than just ‘silly’, it’s dangerous.
Imagine also, if the business who was so relaxed with Australian state names was as laid back with the truth when it came to keeping track of your investment deposits or your insurance claims.
UGH.
I’ve written previously about how frustrating it is to read the AI slop promoting “Migraine Cures” and quick fix solutions. I’ve bemoaned doomscrolling AND the notion of having to upskill ourselves in Intentional Ignoring – a method which suggests that as the internet is filled with misinformation, we become tasked with scouring a clear path through the lies and click bait.
When a business pumps pollution into a clean river, it risks polluting the whole river. Shame on the polluter. Shame too on the regulators who didn’t punish the polluter. Shame too, I suppose, on all of us who saw it happening and didn’t turn the tap off while we still could.
But what happens when it’s not a single polluter but a deluge of sh!t coming our way…?
SIGH.
I could probably leave it there and just be irritable, except another ad came through about the same time – this time it sent a shiver down my spine. Again, it did not do the (health insurance comparison) company any favors. Whilst I suspect it intended to lean into the notion of “I have a secret to tell you”, the AI illustrator got it SO wrong – but why didn’t a human pick up on the negative nuance of the image…? Or is it just me that is mortified by the picture on the left and what appears (to me) to be the wide-eyed fear of the patient:
And don’t even get me started on this one and whatever-the-witchetty-grub-tik-tok-heck is inside her mouth… yuk:
[Image source: google ad screen shots]
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Anyway – I’m trying to channel nothing but positivity this year to keep my healing journey on track – so here’s one last image, a snapshot of my daughter’s painting she made in preschool when she would have been about 3 years old – it’s a messy blob that’s helpfully titled “a watermelon” – and it suggests that appearances can be deceptive and the perception of beauty is in the eye of the beholder… and that toddlers are as skilled as media execs when it comes to messing with my mind!
[Image source: me]
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Anyway – the world is filled with a lot of scribble and mess these days – so it’s OK to sigh and feel irritable – for a while – because, the world is also unbelievably AMAZING – so keep looking for “glimmers” – those things that make you smile – and be kind to yourself and others.
Take care taking care, Linda x
PS – shout out to the following few blogs that recently crossed my path, and welcome to all of you who joined Team Mindful Migraine – I appreciate your support SO much:
M. Jean Pike – Writer of Beautiful Romances
Peter Rentrop MD – Cardiologist, Medical Director
Searching The Meaning Of Life! (S.T.M.O.L)
Still Here, Still Mom | Life After Loss – One day at a time
PPS – last but absolutely not least – a super special shout out to my friend Info Man who tagged me on a blog-challenge, which I haven’t followed through on yet, but in case I don’t, I want to make sure they know how grateful I am for their friendship: The Avatar Challenge – Endless Explorations
The Mindful Migraine 
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