I don’t like those automated birthday greetings — those short notes that come in your email or snail mail. You know the ones — from your dentist or insurance broker. They’re insincere, and obviously a marketing ploy. I’m not that stupid — I know what’s going on. They want me to think they care about me on my birthday. But really, it’s just a computer generated greeting, setup to befriend a mass of people. If you’re thinking of doing that, please don’t.
Facebook has added to this insincerity. Have you ever logged into your account and notice that it is one of your “friended” birthdays? And then you feel like you have to comment as well — happy birthday, hope you have a great day!
Social media marketing is quickly taking over sincere words and actions. When you blog, you get some of these comments left by marketing gurus, not interested in what you wrote (because they usually have some grammatically incorrect way of expressing thoughts that have nothing to do with what the post was about.)
Spam. yep, it’s a word that has a new meaning in our lifetime.
It used to be some kind of disgusting pressed meat from pig. Spiced Ham — Spam. Sold in a can, with a little metal key that peeled back the lid, exposing the contents. It was popular after world war II, and the Hormel company promoted it with patriotism. And some gals, called the Hormel Girls. It was cheap.
That’s a good word for this kind of automated birthday greetings. Cheap. Canned. Like canned laughter.
And that goes for all those group-signed cards that get passed around for your signature. I just don’t like them. I have always felt uncomfortable with those — like they are some kind of reminder of the infamous yearbook signing — a sure memory of words written without much sincerity. “To a bitchen girl, it’s been great sitting next to you in history.”
Well, maybe those are more sincere.
Spam became more popular, with a new definition after this 1970 Monty Python skit, which led to the term “spam” and “spamming” on the Internet. Seems some techies started flood the usenet by quoting this skit, spam, spam, spam, spam… And hence a new meaning. I guess Hormel is accepting. But I bet the younger generation does not link it to this canned meat.
