(9:11 PM) | Adam Kotsko: The reason that I got this new domain name is because my ISP switched from AT&T to Comcast. My computer geekhood has been in decline lately, so I lazily decided to download Comcast's "transition wizard" to change over all the necessary e-mail settings. They vaguely threatened that if I did not download that "transition wizard," I would not be able to take advantage of e-mail forwarding from my old address, but I now realize that that is almost certainly a lie.

When I started the supposed "wizard," I noticed a striking lack of options. "Press okay to change your e-mail settings." "Press okay to change your homepage." Sadly, however, they did not have an option to "Press okay to change your Internet Explorer title bar." I bailed out after the e-mail changes took effect, but the damage was done -- in order to use the Internet, I had to use "Microsoft Internet Explorer provided by Comcast Broadband Internet." Hey, guess what: Internet Explorer was on my computer long before Comcast so graciously "provided" it for me. In fact, I think that the phlegm I coughed up this morning had a more significant role in "providing" Internet Explorer to me than did Comcast Broadband Internet. I was angry; when I couldn't immediately find a way to change it, I wanted to switch to Linux, just to keep my computer from being so patronizing. I did find the way to change it, and now Internet Explorer is "provided by Your Mom." It makes just as little sense.

Here is why this made me so angry, aside from the fact that I was not in control of the situation: there is no good reason for Comcast to do that. There is no reason why Comcast has to force its idiotic homepage onto me or claim to "provide" Internet Explorer to me. I am paying my bill; I am already a customer; I should be allowed to live free of their stupid ads for a while. This is simply part of a larger societal trend, however, of companies insisting on colonizing our very souls. If I did not have the courage to edit my registry, then every time I went on the Internet, for any purpose, I would have had to read the name "Comcast Broadband Internet." Every time I checked my e-mail, I would have had to read the name "Comcast Broadband Internet."

Aside from pissing me off, it wouldn't likely have much of a conscious effect, but I would be subliminally given the message, day in and day out, that I owe Comcast something. I don't. I paid my money. Now stop trying to get inside my damn head.

| permalink | Main Page