Are You Paranoid Yet?
I loved your shoes,
so I asked for the details--
where you got them,
how much were they.
You grabbed your phone,
quick to find the answers.
I complimented you again
and we moved on to other,
more important conversations.
Imagine my surprise
the next day,
when I picked up my phone
and was bombarded with ads
for the very same shoes.
I thought about that for a long time.
Someone else,
who happened to be in my home,
looked up something on their phone,
and somehow
the universe thinks I should be
inundated with their business.
It's true I did ask about the shoes,
but still...
this is an outrageous invasion of privacy.
You can't convince me
that in this Brave New World we live in,
technology isn't watching, listening,
and dare I say it,
learning,
from the things we say and do
in the privacy of our own homes.
We used to say
that just because you're paranoid,
it doesn't mean they're not out to get you.
I think we need to be careful
and very. very afraid.
Elise Skidmore ©2026
I agree.
Thanks, Cornelia. It’s a very scary world, for sure.
Agree. It’s not paranoid to think your phone is listening to you–big tech companies have admitted it (though they claim it’s only to fine tune their targeted ads). It’s mostly used to try to sell you something, but the information gathered could be used to listen to other things, like which radio and TV stations you tune in to, and even who you’re talking to (and what their affiliations might be). Total invasion of privacy.
Thanks Linda. Like the poems says, just because we’re paranoid doesn’t mean they _aren’t_ out to get us.
They’re most definitely watching. Turns out the tin-foil hat folks were the sane ones…
Be nice to our computer overlords and we’ll all be fine. This is fine.
Lisa,
You know I trust you–but I’m still leery of “We’ll all be fine. This is fine.” LOL
Think of the meme with the burning house. THAT is what I refer to as “This is fine…”
I wasn’t familiar with the meme you were talking about, so I Googled it. And of course, AI came to the rescue and informed me of the following: A “burning house” represents a metaphor for a relationship that is doomed or ending, a state of intense longing, or a situation filled with guilt and regret. It symbolizes clinging to a destructive situation or holding on to someone while surrounded by emotional chaos. It is also interpreted as a sudden loss of security or a need to let go of the past.
So I’m thinking you’re referring to the last line. Fine, fine… if you say so. 🙂