This can happen even without computers.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire, for example.
Posted on 06/10/2026 8:36:30 PM PDT by Ex gun maker.
I very rarely post here, it seems I am not PC enough in the particular flavor of this site. But I don't know of a better venue to make this observation. Large companies have crafted "Systems" that they no longer have control over. They are utterly unable to do what should be simple and routine task as "The system" will NOT ALLOW them. I am going to be specific to the case I have been fighting for what is now months. But I am sure that it is not unique, corporate business tend to adopt similar models and technology.
Several months ago I was fast talked into buying a new iPhone at Walmart during a "Black Friday" event. The saleswoman lied from beginning to end, the monthly rate was misstated, the purchase cost, the term that the phone would be "Locked" to Verizon, virtually everything. I refuse to pay for a device I returned, or service that I never received.
I have tried to resolve the billing dispute for months. Typically I get transferred several times, then put on hold for hours before the connection is lost. Then I have to start again.
Yesterday I attempted to deal with this at a Verizon corporate store, over two hours while the employee was also put on repeated holds. At the end of the day I was assured that Verizon would call me today and this would finally be resolved. I was called back, five times, with a lengthy hold each time. I know, get to the point already!
OK, here is where I learned that this is never going to be resolved satisfactorily. "The system won't allow it". Verizon has now tried to remove the charge from multiple angles. Each time "The system" refuses. Verizon has no manual entry, they have no override, they have NO CONTROL over what is supposed to be their own system. They are literally unable to enter a command and have it carried out.
Now file this along with the fairly recent reports of an AI lying to keep itself from being deleted for upgrade.
I'm not a computer nerd, all I know to do is to try to never utilize AI, and avoid companies that do rely on it. Those data centers driving up our electric rates are NOT for our benefit, and if the companies building them cannot control them they should not be built at all. Sorry if this comes off as a rant, I expect tin-foil hat and trolling eye emoji's. But if a few of you actually think about it I hope I have made a point that gets you to pay attention.
The recovering Luddites have noticed.
Sigh.
Optimum was easy if you have the time. You just keep saying no. I was paying $120 for internet. I canceled by repeatedly saying “no”. At the end, the Indian guy canceled and told me to have a Blessed day.
They sent me an offer for $40 a month locked in for 5 years. I took it. The Indian could have offered that but I couldn’t understand him.
“I very rarely post here, it seems I am not PC enough in the particular flavor of this site.”
That statement says, in spades, how far FR has fallen over the years.
But you are correct - on X, they use AI censors and when the AI overlords decide you have committed an infraction, there’s no route to rebut....their word is final.
Therein lies the root of the problem. There has to be some agency or accountability on the part of the consumer. It can't always be, "I was manipulated into making a bad decision."
“Several months ago I was fast talked into buying a new iPhone at Walmart during a “Black Friday” event. The saleswoman lied from beginning to end, the monthly rate was misstated, the purchase cost, the term that the phone would be “Locked” to Verizon, virtually everything. I refuse to pay for a device I returned, or service that I never received.”
The price is $X/month.
I’ll take it.
Let me ring it up.
It will be $X+whatever. Cash or charge?
But you said $X. Forget about it!
*******
“Locked”
Locking is a standard practice. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an unlocked phone for sale in a US brick& mortar store.
The real problem was he was “fast talked”. He has no backbone. Let the buyer beware.
This can happen even without computers.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire, for example.
.
Sirius/XM got nailed for that. It cost them big. When I started with XM it was $15 a month, then Sirius bought them out. By the time I quit the fees had doubled and the programing I signed up for had been cancelled. On my first attempt to cancel I got the hard sell but in the end they renewed me for $5 a month for a year. The second time I tried to cancel was after the settlement I called and right away got “Yes sir.we will get that done for you right now”.
Try deleting McAfee from your computer, I don’t think it lets you :)
I saw another video on this about Apple Pay. They finally told him to dispute the charge with the credit card company, and he got his money back.
Now he is banned from using Apple Pay because of it.
Eventually the Data Centers will just take their own power as they wish - like Dr. Daystrom’s M5 did - remorselessly killing a crewman who “got in the way.”
I don't mean a microswitch like:
I mean a really tiny switch like this:
Most of you have missed my main point.
The real point is that Verizon is claiming that they cannot resolve the issue as
“The system will not allow it”, and they have no way to override or force resolution.
So unless several of their reps are lying, they work for the “System”, it does not work for them.
They have gotten ZERO money from me, they never will.
I refuse to pay for a service I never used, or a device I do not have.
Yes, I did contact an attorney, it would be $300 for a simple cease and desist letter.
Check always late = Capiyol One, BTDT.
I proved it using USPS Delivery Confirmation.
Then closed the account.
I am sure they are not the only ones.
If I had nothing better to do I might wish I had a recording of the entire pitch.
The lies were blatant and misleading.
No one got any money from me, and will not, so what a was the point?
Among the lies was that the “Lock” would only be six months.
And the monthly rate $30.00, NOT $40.00.
I don’t shop at China-Mart at all now.
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