The Net is for communications between people. Don’t shove products in our faces. We’ll know where to find you if you have what we want. If you make good stuff, we’ll hear about it. If you want to spread the word, give folks free shit without obligation and ask them to tell their friends. If you want to advertise, do so in context – context not of demographics, but of content.
Predictor: Hall, Justin Allyn
Prediction, in context:In a 1995 online essay, Justin Hall makes the following statement:”Computers could relieve us of the burden of dealing with day-to-day resource management. When we need something out of reach, we could order it through the computer: acquisition, payment and delivery will be handled for us. I intuit a new desire, decide I need arch insoles for my shoes. I don’t want shoe companies knowing I need that – they would have to be too deeply involved in my life. I expect Doctor Scholl’s has their Web site up, and I can get the information I need there, and perhaps even order the appropriate arch insole. Information on demand, useful and timely, as opposed to fending off the fast pitching hordes. If I won’t be targeted with advertisements and pitches, how ever will I find out about the cool new stuff? Companies should send out samples. Share your product. Make yourself available for information and ordering. The Net is for communications between people. Don’t shove products in our faces. We’ll know where to find you if you have what we want. If you make good stuff, we’ll hear about it. If you want to spread the word, give folks free shit without obligation and ask them to tell their friends. If you want to advertise, do so in context – context not of demographics, but of content.”
Biography:Justin Hall worked briefly at Wired in 1994, during a sabbatical from his college days at Swarthmore. He started his own irreverent e-zine, covering diverse topics and providing links all over the Web. He later worked for ZDTV and Games.com and as a freelance journalist. (Advocate/Voice of the People.)
Date of prediction: July 23, 1995
Topic of prediction: Getting, Sharing Information
Subtopic: Advertising/PR
Name of publication: Links.net
Title, headline, chapter name: I Am Not My Habits: On Our Guard Against Targeted Advertising
Quote Type: Direct quote
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www.links.net/dox/tech/targad.html
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney