RE: What is a "database"?(and human beings as the tailings of data mining)

Working with direct mail for the last few years has made me very careful and
helped me cut down substantially on the amount of junk mail I receive (under
my name.)  Here are a few suggestions.   

If you request a catalog, do it under an assumed name.

If you fill out a warranty card (it's not necessary for the warranty to
apply) lie outrageously about all the demographic questions.

If you have to "register" on a web site, use an assumed name and lie
outrageously about all the demographic questions.  Check all the boxes that
restrict the use of your name.

When you order from a catalog ask to be classified as "do not rent."  Get
the person's name and check back a few days later to make sure they actually
did it.  

You can also register with the Direct Marketing Association to have yourself
excluded from its members' mailing lists.

Sign up for a free e-mail account under an assumed name and use it for
anything that asks for an e-mail address. 

This can be fun, too.  One of my cats has received several pre-approved
credit card offers because he's allowed me to use his name.  I wouldn't let
him fill out the applications because he hasn't stopped clawing the wing
chair yet.


-----Original Message-----
From: Glenn Ericson [mailto:Glenn-Ericson@att.net]
Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 1999 1:12 PM
To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
Subject: RE: What is a "database"?





Those frequent shopper cards [ sleeper/airline flyer etc.] 
and catalogs are not just gifts. 
Even those affinity Credit cards have tell tale 
habits and patterns. 


These folks know you better than You do or the CIA or KGB !! 
The outcome of data-warehouse/data-marts data-mining is 
business intelegence more affectionately termed today as 
Knowledge Management. 


Think what they can learn from e Commerce 


Happy Holidays, 


Glenn 
__________________________________ 
Glenn Ericson, 
IBM Certified Specialist 
Phoenix Consulting LLC 
East Elmhurst NY 11370-3164 USA 
Phone 718 898 9805      Fax 718 446 1150 
mailto:Glenn-Ericson@att.net 
+---
| This is the Midrange System Mailing List!
| To submit a new message, send your mail to MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com.
| To subscribe to this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-SUB@midrange.com.
| To unsubscribe from this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-UNSUB@midrange.com.
| Questions should be directed to the list owner/operator: david@midrange.com
+---