Minor things that bother you

[1995hoo]

Political text message spam. Somehow, my mobile number got placed in the database for one of the two major-party candidates for president (I won't say which one) even though in Virginia we don't register by party, I've never joined a political party, I don't vote based on party lines, and the only two times I've donated to candidates neither one of them were from this candidate's party (one was a fellow I knew who was running for state senate, the other was a third-party candidate for national office). My phone is starting to blow up with their bullshit donation requests, which of course just ensures I will not donate a penny (piss me off? Hell no will I donate to you!).

What is unfortunate is that if you turn on the feature that filters out all messages from unknown senders, you cause yourself problems because of how online banking services and the like persist in insisting on text messages as their only acceptable form of multi-factor authentication (as opposed to using an app like my employer does or Microsoft does). Makes me think I maybe I should take Verizon up on their ads to add a second number for $10 a month and then use that number for the two-factor authentication and nothing else while setting my current number to reject all messages from unknown senders. But, of course, resetting your number everywhere takes forever too.

Our government for you.

Candidates for office are part of our government?

One of the two major-party candidates for president this year is. I'm not going to get into the whole distinction between acts taken as a candidate versus acts taken as an officeholder because it almost certainly violates the rule against discussing politics.

Was I asking you?

We're talking about political campaigning, not actions by government.

But I didn't violate your prior complaint because my comment was not incongruent with what I'd previously said. It doesn't matter to me which candidate's campaign sent the message, though, because I find them all annoying. Seems like more and more, new technology that starts out as a useful thing eventually becomes co-opted as a means of harassment, and as time goes by that shift happens more and more quickly with each new form of technology. (I'm mildly surprised that some of the automakers haven't yet tried to force users to watch third-party advertisements on the dashboard screen when starting the car or when stopped at a red light or whatever.)

[SEWIGuy]

What is unfortunate is that if you turn on the feature that filters out all messages from unknown senders, you cause yourself problems because of how online banking services and the like persist in insisting on text messages as their only acceptable form of multi-factor authentication (as opposed to using an app like my employer does or Microsoft does).

What bothers me is that financial institutions still cling on texting when multi-factor authentication methods have been around for ages. Not to mention the restructions on the characters allowed and the length of password when the password can be stored in the database as a salted one-way hash.

Because pretty much everyone texts. Not everyone has an authentication app on their phone, and even if they do, it may not be the one the bank wants to use.

Texting works just fine for MFA. Especially when my iPhone will just auto-load the code that was sent in a text. And it also works for people without smart phones.

[1995hoo]

What is unfortunate is that if you turn on the feature that filters out all messages from unknown senders, you cause yourself problems because of how online banking services and the like persist in insisting on text messages as their only acceptable form of multi-factor authentication (as opposed to using an app like my employer does or Microsoft does).

What bothers me is that financial institutions still cling on texting when multi-factor authentication methods have been around for ages. Not to mention the restructions on the characters allowed and the length of password when the password can be stored in the database as a salted one-way hash.

Because pretty much everyone texts. Not everyone has an authentication app on their phone, and even if they do, it may not be the one the bank wants to use.

Texting works just fine for MFA. Especially when my iPhone will just auto-load the code that was sent in a text. And it also works for people without smart phones.

The problem from an IT security standpoint is that it's not particularly secure, both because of the possibility of SIM-swapping attacks and because of the possibility of SMS interception via other means as well as because it provides no security at all if someone else steals and gains access to your phone. It's better than nothing, though, as long as people don't get a false sense of absolute security.

[roadman65]

Political text message spam. Somehow, my mobile number got placed in the database for one of the two major-party candidates for president (I won't say which one) even though in Virginia we don't register by party, I've never joined a political party, I don't vote based on party lines, and the only two times I've donated to candidates neither one of them were from this candidate's party (one was a fellow I knew who was running for state senate, the other was a third-party candidate for national office). My phone is starting to blow up with their bullshit donation requests, which of course just ensures I will not donate a penny (piss me off? Hell no will I donate to you!).

What is unfortunate is that if you turn on the feature that filters out all messages from unknown senders, you cause yourself problems because of how online banking services and the like persist in insisting on text messages as their only acceptable form of multi-factor authentication (as opposed to using an app like my employer does or Microsoft does). Makes me think I maybe I should take Verizon up on their ads to add a second number for $10 a month and then use that number for the two-factor authentication and nothing else while setting my current number to reject all messages from unknown senders. But, of course, resetting your number everywhere takes forever too.

Our government for you.

Candidates for office are part of our government?

They shouldn't shove their faces in front of you on your social media.   We all know you're running, so we don't need your ads to tell us.

Also political ads are a waste of money on that aspect. Why not feed the poor and give the money back to our society with the millions they spend on ads everywhere. We have Fox and CNN who does your campaigning for you for free, so why pollute the airwaves with old news.

[Rothman]

Political text message spam. Somehow, my mobile number got placed in the database for one of the two major-party candidates for president (I won't say which one) even though in Virginia we don't register by party, I've never joined a political party, I don't vote based on party lines, and the only two times I've donated to candidates neither one of them were from this candidate's party (one was a fellow I knew who was running for state senate, the other was a third-party candidate for national office). My phone is starting to blow up with their bullshit donation requests, which of course just ensures I will not donate a penny (piss me off? Hell no will I donate to you!).

What is unfortunate is that if you turn on the feature that filters out all messages from unknown senders, you cause yourself problems because of how online banking services and the like persist in insisting on text messages as their only acceptable form of multi-factor authentication (as opposed to using an app like my employer does or Microsoft does). Makes me think I maybe I should take Verizon up on their ads to add a second number for $10 a month and then use that number for the two-factor authentication and nothing else while setting my current number to reject all messages from unknown senders. But, of course, resetting your number everywhere takes forever too.

Our government for you.

Candidates for office are part of our government?

They shouldn't shove their faces in front of you on your social media.   We all know you're running, so we don't need your ads to tell us.

Also political ads are a waste of money on that aspect. Why not feed the poor and give the money back to our society with the millions they spend on ads everywhere. We have Fox and CNN who does your campaigning for you for free, so why pollute the airwaves with old news.

You didn't answer the question.

[formulanone]

Political text message spam. Somehow, my mobile number got placed in the database for one of the two major-party candidates for president (I won't say which one) even though in Virginia we don't register by party, I've never joined a political party, I don't vote based on party lines, and the only two times I've donated to candidates neither one of them were from this candidate's party (one was a fellow I knew who was running for state senate, the other was a third-party candidate for national office). My phone is starting to blow up with their bullshit donation requests, which of course just ensures I will not donate a penny (piss me off? Hell no will I donate to you!).

What is unfortunate is that if you turn on the feature that filters out all messages from unknown senders, you cause yourself problems because of how online banking services and the like persist in insisting on text messages as their only acceptable form of multi-factor authentication (as opposed to using an app like my employer does or Microsoft does). Makes me think I maybe I should take Verizon up on their ads to add a second number for $10 a month and then use that number for the two-factor authentication and nothing else while setting my current number to reject all messages from unknown senders. But, of course, resetting your number everywhere takes forever too.

Our government for you.

Candidates for office are part of our government?

They shouldn't shove their faces in front of you on your social media.   We all know you're running, so we don't need your ads to tell us.

Also political ads are a waste of money on that aspect. Why not feed the poor and give the money back to our society with the millions they spend on ads everywhere. We have Fox and CNN who does your campaigning for you for free, so why pollute the airwaves with old news.

You didn't answer the question.

Devil's Advocate Shower Thought...money isn't really wasted, even a dopey political ad.
 
- Some group pitched ideas, and was paid for their time
- Some group made the ad and was paid for their services
- Someone distributed it and was paid for that service
- Someone did a voice-over and was paid for that
- Someone at the TV station got paid for managing their ads
- Someone on the web was paid for that distribution
- Some bunch of no-names at a call factory were paid
- Bunches of ancillary people, labor, ideas, services, processes are part of this maelstrom
- Yeah, some miserable scum-of-the-earth political operative(s) got paid, too
- Someone's fortunes increased/decreased based on the efficacy of the ad.

So as much as it pains me to say it, lots more people make an "honest" living out of this ridiculous segment of the economy compared to the "dishonest/evil" people. Therefore, the money is not wasted, it's just putting out a typically negative message. It's not any different than most advertising; it demands, distracts, and demeans us, and therefore is obnoxious.

[ZLoth]

I feel sorry for the radio station operator and DJ who do a live show and have the "privilege" to listen to the same BLEEPing political ad over and over and over until election day. Because of campaign laws, political advertising has to be tracked separately from regular advertising.

Then, there is the print advertising that arrives in my mailbox and on my doorstep despite this sign hanging on my door that says "No Soliciting Fundraising Estimates Salesmen Religion Politics - Thank You". Those go straight to my recycle bin and that's why I vote early.

[JayhawkCO]

I feel sorry for the radio station operator and DJ who do a live show and have the "privilege" to listen to the same BLEEPing political ad over and over and over until election day. Because of campaign laws, political advertising has to be tracked separately from regular advertising.

Then, there is the print advertising that arrives in my mailbox and on my doorstep despite this sign hanging on my door that says "No Soliciting Fundraising Estimates Salesmen Religion Politics - Thank You". That's why I vote as early as possible.

They don't listen to the ads when they're playing. The sound basically cuts off in the booth so they can plan the next segment.

[Rothman]

Political text message spam. Somehow, my mobile number got placed in the database for one of the two major-party candidates for president (I won't say which one) even though in Virginia we don't register by party, I've never joined a political party, I don't vote based on party lines, and the only two times I've donated to candidates neither one of them were from this candidate's party (one was a fellow I knew who was running for state senate, the other was a third-party candidate for national office). My phone is starting to blow up with their bullshit donation requests, which of course just ensures I will not donate a penny (piss me off? Hell no will I donate to you!).

What is unfortunate is that if you turn on the feature that filters out all messages from unknown senders, you cause yourself problems because of how online banking services and the like persist in insisting on text messages as their only acceptable form of multi-factor authentication (as opposed to using an app like my employer does or Microsoft does). Makes me think I maybe I should take Verizon up on their ads to add a second number for $10 a month and then use that number for the two-factor authentication and nothing else while setting my current number to reject all messages from unknown senders. But, of course, resetting your number everywhere takes forever too.

Our government for you.

Candidates for office are part of our government?

They shouldn't shove their faces in front of you on your social media.   We all know you're running, so we don't need your ads to tell us.

Also political ads are a waste of money on that aspect. Why not feed the poor and give the money back to our society with the millions they spend on ads everywhere. We have Fox and CNN who does your campaigning for you for free, so why pollute the airwaves with old news.

You didn't answer the question.

Devil's Advocate Shower Thought...money isn't really wasted, even a dopey political ad.
 
- Some group pitched ideas, and was paid for their time
- Some group made the ad and was paid for their services
- Someone distributed it and was paid for that service
- Someone did a voice-over and was paid for that
- Someone at the TV station got paid for managing their ads
- Someone on the web was paid for that distribution
- Some bunch of no-names at a call factory were paid
- Bunches of ancillary people, labor, ideas, services, processes are part of this maelstrom
- Yeah, some miserable scum-of-the-earth political operative(s) got paid, too
- Someone's fortunes increased/decreased based on the efficacy of the ad.

So as much as it pains me to say it, lots more people make an "honest" living out of this ridiculous segment of the economy compared to the "dishonest/evil" people. Therefore, the money is not wasted, it's just putting out a typically negative message. It's not any different than most advertising; it demands, distracts, and demeans us, and therefore is obnoxious.

You didn't answer the question, either...although I wasn't asking you, either.

[formulanone]

Political text message spam. Somehow, my mobile number got placed in the database for one of the two major-party candidates for president (I won't say which one) even though in Virginia we don't register by party, I've never joined a political party, I don't vote based on party lines, and the only two times I've donated to candidates neither one of them were from this candidate's party (one was a fellow I knew who was running for state senate, the other was a third-party candidate for national office). My phone is starting to blow up with their bullshit donation requests, which of course just ensures I will not donate a penny (piss me off? Hell no will I donate to you!).

What is unfortunate is that if you turn on the feature that filters out all messages from unknown senders, you cause yourself problems because of how online banking services and the like persist in insisting on text messages as their only acceptable form of multi-factor authentication (as opposed to using an app like my employer does or Microsoft does). Makes me think I maybe I should take Verizon up on their ads to add a second number for $10 a month and then use that number for the two-factor authentication and nothing else while setting my current number to reject all messages from unknown senders. But, of course, resetting your number everywhere takes forever too.

Our government for you.

Candidates for office are part of our government?

They shouldn't shove their faces in front of you on your social media.   We all know you're running, so we don't need your ads to tell us.

Also political ads are a waste of money on that aspect. Why not feed the poor and give the money back to our society with the millions they spend on ads everywhere. We have Fox and CNN who does your campaigning for you for free, so why pollute the airwaves with old news.

You didn't answer the question.

Devil's Advocate Shower Thought...money isn't really wasted, even a dopey political ad.
 
- Some group pitched ideas, and was paid for their time
- Some group made the ad and was paid for their services
- Someone distributed it and was paid for that service
- Someone did a voice-over and was paid for that
- Someone at the TV station got paid for managing their ads
- Someone on the web was paid for that distribution
- Some bunch of no-names at a call factory were paid
- Bunches of ancillary people, labor, ideas, services, processes are part of this maelstrom
- Yeah, some miserable scum-of-the-earth political operative(s) got paid, too
- Someone's fortunes increased/decreased based on the efficacy of the ad.

So as much as it pains me to say it, lots more people make an "honest" living out of this ridiculous segment of the economy compared to the "dishonest/evil" people. Therefore, the money is not wasted, it's just putting out a typically negative message. It's not any different than most advertising; it demands, distracts, and demeans us, and therefore is obnoxious.

You didn't answer the question, either...although I wasn't asking you, either.

I think it's a no-shit-Sherlock question, but not sure if everyone else knows that...

[GaryV]

despite this sign hanging on my door that says "No Soliciting Fundraising Estimates Salesmen Religion Politics - Thank You"

But if I buy that, won't I get a bunch of unsolicited emails from Amazon encouraging me to buy other stuff? Heck, just for clicking on your link I'll probably get a boatload of spam.

[Scott5114]

Some guy running for office bought ad time on the PA at my gym. That's annoying. But his ad amounts to basically "I lived through a major traumatic life event! Politicians bicker with each other and try to score political points and that's bad. Vote for me and I'll represent you!" So, uh...okay, represent me how? Are you going to not ever disagree with the other politicians so you can say you don't bicker with them? Are you going to avoid amassing political power? That doesn't sound like you'd be a very effective representative. And if you are going to fight other politicians and try to amass political power...what are you going to do with it? You conveniently didn't mention it in the ad because you spent half of it talking about your Traumatic Life Event.

[kkt]

Don'tcha hate constituents who ask all the obvious questions?

[Big John]

Don'tcha hate constituents who ask all the obvious questions?

They are of course pre-screened not to ask the hard questions.

[ZLoth]

How a place like "West, Texas" is located on I-35 in the eastern part of Texas. The reason behind that was that it was named after Thomas West who was the first postmaster of the city.

[1995hoo]

How a place like "West, Texas" is located on I-35 in the eastern part of Texas. The reason behind that was that it was named after Thomas West who was the first postmaster of the city.

Clearly they need to rename Cottonwood to serve as an eastern suburb of West: East West, Texas.

[mgk920]

Sort of like when someone tells me that they are in 'Sunny Florida' (or some other southern state), I'll then text reply that '"I've looked all over my RMcN or Google maps and have not found a city in that state named 'Sunny'".  (Yea, it is a snarky reply.)  Hmmmm, an idea?

Mike

[vdeane]

How a place like "West, Texas" is located on I-35 in the eastern part of Texas. The reason behind that was that it was named after Thomas West who was the first postmaster of the city.

Clearly they need to rename Cottonwood to serve as an eastern suburb of West: East West, Texas.

Then a southern suburb of that which also extends further east: South East West, Texas.  North of there on the part that isn't East West, Texas could be North South East West, Texas.

The post that started this line of discussion might also make a good candidate for the geographic oddities thread.

[kernals12]

The way that career websites make you fill in manually all the job history stuff that you already included in your resume.

[Max Rockatansky]

A lot of them auto populate that information now if you upload a resume first. 

[JayhawkCO]

A lot of them auto populate that information now if you upload a resume first. 

Not enough of them, that's for sure.

[roadman65]

I don't like how you continue to remove spam from your emails even years after you found a job on those sites.

Plus Indeed likes to post old jobs that have long been filled which is annoying. They advertise that they're the best, but indeed they are not.

Then American Airlines remote jobs link to other company or schools applications and not the job you requested.

[Rothman]

A lot of them auto populate that information now if you upload a resume first. 

Not my workplace.  You send in a resume and, if you're chosen for an interview, you have to fill out a manual form with information from your resume.

At least we now provide it in a fillable .pdf form.

[Max Rockatansky]

A lot of them auto populate that information now if you upload a resume first. 

Not my workplace.  You send in a resume and, if you're chosen for an interview, you have to fill out a manual form with information from your resume.

At least we now provide it in a fillable .pdf form.

Seems I've been spoiled by the two government job pages I interact with most.

[Rothman]

A lot of them auto populate that information now if you upload a resume first. 

Not my workplace.  You send in a resume and, if you're chosen for an interview, you have to fill out a manual form with information from your resume.

At least we now provide it in a fillable .pdf form.

Seems I've been spoiled by the two government job pages I interact with most.

On a tangent, we recently had someone go by what was on Indeed.com rather than our own website.  Indeed, for some reason, inflated the salary range posted by at least twice, but, to their minor credit, did post a link straight to the actual posting that had the correct info.

Poor candidate was crestfallen when we told her the real salary.