As many people known our new overlords at Google changed their privacy policy recently and the new rules came into effect on 1st March 2012. Put simply it means that Google will be centralising all the information it has on from various different sevices you may use, such as YouTube, Google+ (‘cos everyone’s using that), and even the Google search engine.
The YouTube channel SourceFed released the following video on the topic:
Google’s representatives state this is to allow the user to enjoy a more streamlined experience with the various Google services they use, and in a live Q&A with Google’s Peter Barron, he was honest enough to admit that this will also involve targeted advertising, explaining that the advertising pays for the services we use (hard to argue with that), and that if it’s targeted, the user sees less advertising that if if it were completely random (again, hard to argue).
Worth noting, however, is that the changes being made may violate data protection and privacy laws in the European Union. Concerns on this have been taken to Google by Franc’s data watchdog, the CNIL, who claim
“Google’s new policy does not meet the requirements of the European Directive on Data Protection”
The full article, again from The Guardian, can be found by clicking here.
It’s worth nothing that Google will not be recording any kind of data that it/they were not previously, only that how it is stored, and possibly being used, is changing. While opinion on this is divided in to those thinking it’s a good thing, a bad thing, invasion of privacy, big brother watching, even Skynet, and despite requests from various governments to delay the implementation of the changes, Google have gone ahead as planned and the policy is now in force.
Reading about this over the last few days brought a couple of things to mind, the first being how many different Google products/services I use, some on a daily basis:
Google Search – I had to set up a google account to keep using YouTube
YouTube – now tied to the above google account
Android – mobile phone operating system
Gmail – I had to set up a Gmail account to use the Android app store
Google+ – not sure why I bothered as no one seems to be using it
There are other Google service which I’ve not used such as Google books, wallet, or blogger, and the new policy make me think that if I want any degree of privacy on the web, then I’d best keep my blog here at word press, and do my digital book reading on Kindle, although that app does run on an Android powered mobile phone.
Another thing that came to mind was how a user could previously see what information Google already held on them, and how the assumptions they’ve made may not be that accurate:
Interesting reading, but lets analyse:
Arts & Entertainment – Movies – Movie Reference – Movie Reviews & Previews
Arts & Entertainment – Music & Audio – Music Reference – Song Lyrics & Tabs
Arts & Entertainment – Music & Audio – Rock Music
Not too bad, I’m in a rock band, and I’ve taught guitar, and have indeed used the Internet when learning music for myself or my students.
Arts & Entertainment – TV & Video – Online Video
I have a YouTube account where I have uploaded short videos from various performances, and I usually follow news from the USA there too.
Games – Computer & Video Games – Simulation Games
Does Mario-Kart count? OK then.
People & Society – Social Issues & Advocacy – Environmental Issues
I’m not too sure where this cam from, I did watch a video or two about people who deny global warming, maybe that’s it.
Your demographics
We infer your age and gender based on the websites that you’ve visited. You can remove or edit these at any time.
Age: 18-24
Gender: Male
OK… the age is a bit off but I won’t complain, and yes. I am male. Good job, Google
If you’d like to know what “information” Google think they have on you, click here.
If you want to keep a little more privacy on the web, you can always search with bing.
Here we are mid way through December, and the Christmas preparations are going well. This year will be a little different for my family; instead of getting together at my sister’s home, each part of the family will celebrate Christmas day separately, with the option of getting together to exchange gifts in the evening. It’ll be the first time my partner (the “Miss Smith” referred to in previous posts) and I will be celebrating together without any other family members, and I can’t wait.
As is often the case in the run up to the winter festivities, there is some sad news to report: the author, journalist, debater, and all round formidable human being that was Christopher Hitchens has died. I found this particularly poignant for me as I am currently reading his memoirs, the book ‘Hitch 22′.
I have been aware of Hitchens for several years, and recently read (probably) his best known book ‘God is not great: how religion poisons everything’, but reading his life story in his own word has given me a far better understanding of the fierce person’s early days, and while I don’t agree with many of his positions, I feel I am developing a better understanding of the man the more I read.
Know as one of the “four horsemen”, he was often referred to along with other out spoken atheists, the other three being philosopher Dan Dennet, neurosurgeon Sam Harris, and of course evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, Hitchens was never afraid to stand apart from them, most notably when Dawkins et al began referring to themselves as “The Brights”, Hitchens was very clear that he did not support this.
A simple YouTube search will show how passionate Hitchens was about what he believed in and also what he didn’t. He regularly debated religious figures and other arguing in favour of theism, and it came as a surprise to very few when the term ‘Hitch Slapped’ was seen on many internet discussion forums and YouTube comments.
And this brings me to how I heard the news, I saw the video linked above on YouTube, and immediately felt very sad that the world had lost Hitch, but also relieved that his personal suffering had come to an end, he wrote in Vanity fair:
“Cancer victimhood contains a permanent temptation to be self-centered and even solipsistic…”
“…My chief consolation in this year of living dyingly has been the presence of friends,”
However the death of a man so outspoken is his opposition to organised religion has had the side effect of allowing the worst of those who do hold theistic beliefs speak out, knowing that he will never be able to answer, but some of us will speak up for him (but never quite as well) when we feel the need. Watching the video linked above, I started reading through some of the comments, and many were of a heartwarming nature, thanking the late Hitch for inspiring them in some way, and many were simply variations on the R.I.P. theme, all very respectful, but there were also a few of the kind mentioned above, cursing his name, celebrating that he was now in hell, being punished for speaking out against belief in God, Yahweh, Allah etc. I can’t say I was surprised, for every decent religious person (and there are many I count as friends) there is one to whom the word ‘decent’ cannot be applied. I read the following comment from the YouTube user zaqwsx123xswqaz
What’s the big fuss?? This person died, so?? As far as I’m concerned, this news means nothing. People live and later die. Whatever they said or did during their lives, only God will be their judge, whether they believe in Him or not. They will meet Him sooner or later. Life goes on. Turn the page.
and had to reply:
“…only God will be their judge…”
Please offer some evidence for this statement, remember the bible doesn’t count.
Or if that’s too tricky for you, why not just accept that a very intelligent and passionate person, who had an effect on millions of lives has passed away, and allow those he affected to remember him without you proselytising for your invisible sky wizard?
Now I appreciate that referring to the deity this person appears to believe in as an ‘sky wizard’ could be seen as provocative, but I stand by the sentiment that Hitch influenced many people in many ways, and at the very least he got them to think about the beliefs they hold most dear, and that allowing those who respected him to grieve without forcing religion in to the equation was simply good manners. Sadly ‘zaq’ (as I will now refer to him/her) didn’t agree and felt the need to tell me why:
You just proved that you believe in a god: this dead person!! …”who had an effect on millions..” really?? Well, maybe that’s why I see his name everywhere in the news including here and that’s why I’m commenting, It’s curious to see how people put their belief in humans rather than in God WHO created them!! Personality-cult is everywhere, from politics to sports.
To which I replied:
I see you’ve still offered no evidence for the god character you mentioned in your 1st post.
No, I do not believe Hitchens was (a) god, he was known as an author, journalist and debater, and while he is gone now, we actually have evidence that he existed, such as his books, his work for Vanity Fair, and countless hours of video on YouTube. But better than any of that, there are people who have actually met him, more than can be said for the biblical “god”.
I have not yet received any further reply from ‘zaq’, and I doubt I will, I often find that even the more aggressive theists tend to back away when asked for evidence. While this short exchange was taking place another user garytcw replied to ‘zaq’ and myself with the following comment:
Steviemgallacher said “this dead person” affect millions people, and you make it out as a prove that “this dead person” is god?
You will go to hell for this. How dare you. Inspiring merely 1 million cannot possibly compare to God. I hope and pray you will rot in hell, in the most painful way, my God will judge you for it. Can’t wait to hear your scream from heaven.
So clearly not from the same sect as my new friend ‘zaq’, but equally fervent in his beliefs in some kind of creator, my reply was:
so this is an example of christian behaviour?
As I asked zaqwsx123xswqaz: can you provide any evidence for what you claim?
To paraphrase Hitchens; I’m just sorry there isn’t a hell for such hateful people to go to.
I’m usually very tolerant of others supernatural beliefs, and while I don’t hold any, I only assert my views when asked, or when some on tries to shove their views in my face. There were a few other replies which spoke out agint this pair of believers, and assured me a wasn’t alone in my disgust:
@garytcw Another religious whack job. Spoken like a true religious bigot.
RELIGION POISONS EVERYTHING AND IN PARTICULAR THE MOST TOXIC OF THE LOT ARE THE DESERT RELIGIONS – JUDAISM – CHRISTIANITY – ISLAM.
My own favourite recollection of Hitchens doing what he did best was when he was a guest speaker on the BBC’s ‘Intelligence Squared” debate show, debating whether or not the Catholic Church is a force for good in society, Hitchens, together with amazingly intelligent Stephen Fry argued against the proposition, the case for was argued by Conservative MP Ann Widicombe and Archbishop John Onaiyekan.
My own memory of this debate is of Hitchens and Fry demolishing the arguments in favour, Ann Widicombe managing to be pompous and noisy without actually saying anything worth listening to, and the Archbishop, in a display of arrogance reserved only for those who think they know the mind of “God”, during the audience’s Q&A section of the event, actually had the balls (not that he would know what they were for) to accuse an audience member of “asking the wrong question”. This debate was the most polite ‘Hitch slapping’ I have ever seen. A YouTube playlist of the debate can be seen by clicking here
In summary: The world has lost one of its finest intellects, Hitchens was many things, and perfect certainly wasn’t one of them, he was a heavy drinker, and a smoker, and perhaps those excesses contributed to his light being extinguished from this universe a little earlier than we would have liked, however he has left a wonderful legacy for us to enjoy and be inspired by in his writing, the hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of video on YouTube where he is sharing himself passionately with everyone who watches, and the inspiration he was to so many people. You didn’t need to agree with him, many didn’t, but those who challenged him were met with a barrage of logic and reason that wasn’t easily toppled, and usually resulted in the challenger’s very own Hitch Slap.
I’ll try not to shed too many tears at the passing of this great man, I didn’t know him personally, and I’m sure he’d be the first to tell me stop wasting my time and enjoy this precious life that I have as it’s the only one I know I’ll get. Others have commented that Christopher has left a gaping hole in the rationalist/atheist community (if there is such a thing), and like those others I don’t think we’ll see anyone in our lifetimes who can fill that gap. I’ll continue my reading of his memoirs, and try to learn from the experiences that made him who he was, and perhaps I’ll take something from the reading that will make me a better person.
Thankyou, Christopher, for all that you were and all that you have left behind, the world is truly a better place for having had you in it, and a slightly sadder place now that you’ve left.
About a month ago I came across a YouTube video by a fellow WordPress blogger The Barking Atheist, the video was a response to a video containing 25 questions (actually slightly more, but who’s counting) for atheists. I’ll link to the video below as well as the Barking Atheist’s response. I don’t know if I have too much to add, but the fallacious nature of the questions annoyed me enough that i thought I’d express my thoughts,
I will point out that I’m not a biologist, cosmologist, physicist, chemist, geologist, or expert in any scientific discipline.
1a.How do you think life began?
As stated above, I’m not a scientist, but conditions on a primordial earth would have, at some point, needed to have been right for inorganic chemicals to react and form organic compounds which would have been the first building blocks of organic life as we know it. 1b.Does empirical science prove your answer?
yes, the Miller-Urey experiment (the barking atheist refers to this as well) carried out in 1952 was an attempt to replicate the event. when the vials from the experiment were opened and examined in 2007 it was found the constituent chemicals had created over 20 amino acids, further information can be found here. 2.Why has every civilization believed in a creator?
That’s a very bold assertion, and offered with no proof. While I can’t quote any off the top of my head, I’m pretty sure there have been cultures that have developed without the concept of god(s), and did just fine, until the christians decided to “educate the savages” 3a.What types of government structures have been created from an atheistic world view in the past?
None that I’m aware of, some government have rejected theistic worship, communism for example, instead setting up the political leaders as idols to be worshiped in some cases, but atheism hasn’t been the route of the system, it’s been the result of the rejection of theism, and it’s not universally true, Cuba is communist and has a thriving Catholic community.
On the other hand, The USA was founded as a secular nation, and that seems to have worked out pretty well, especially if you’re Christian. 3b.What positive ideals has atheism offered this world?
Atheism doesn’t offer anything, it’s a lack of theistic belief, nothing more, there are no dogma, ceremonies, rituals or holy books, it is not a religion or way of life, and should not be treated as such. 4a.By what authoritative writer or principles do you live your life?
I live by the principles my parents taught me when I was a child, and also by the laws of the country where I live. I don’t feel the need for any supernatural agency to tell me that I’m a good person. 4b.Do you live by any standards?
As this is the second part of question 4 I’ll assume you mean moral standards; as humans evolved as a tribal species, our morals come from a simple understanding of what is good for the pack is good for the individual, and that fuels what we consider to be right and wrong today. So the standard I live by come from the society I live in, not an 1800 year old book. 5a.In your opinion should religion be removed from public?
Yes 5b.If so where should it be tolerated?
People should be free to practice their religious faith privately in their own homes (it’s in the bible y’know- Matthew 6:5 & 6:6), if public places of worship are to remain open, they should not be permitted charity status and should be taxed. 6.How did the universe begin? Can nothing create everything? What was the cause?
I don’t know how the universe began, to my knowledge no one does, but unlike the theist community I have no compulsion to put god in the gap and declare the question answered. If we ever do understand what state the universe was in before the big bang, I’m willing to be it’ll be a million times more amazing than anything dreamt up by a 1st century sheep herder. 7a.Hypothetically if you had to choose a religion what religion would you choose?
Secular Humanism 7b.Why would you choose this religion?
I’m not a member of the humanist society, but I’m pretty sure I fill the bill already anyway, and you didn’t specify it needed to be a theistic religion. 7c.Would you tell others of your religion?
Yes, if I was asked, anyone who knows me probably knows my views anyway. 8.How can evolution explain features of irreducible complexity apart from intelligent intervention?
I’ll refer you the Barking Atheist here, he’s a Biology major and his answer covers it far better than I can. 9.How can natural selection produce something that is a prerequisite for natural selection to operate?
Can you phrase that question in a way that makes any sense? 10.Morality seems to change with the times in the atheist community why are morals so subjective within the atheist community?
You’d need to provide some examples of this, but if true, it’s not limited to atheists, unless christians still practice the stoning of disobedient children at the edge of the city or selling people in to slavery. 11a.What is the motive of freeing others from their belief in a God if they are (i)happy and content with their belief and(ii)dont hurt others?
(i) I have no particular desire to free anyone from their beliefs but from my perspective (and to paraphrase Matt Dilahunty, a man much smarter than me) I’d like to believe as many true things and as few false things as possible, this is because our beliefs inform our actions and our actions have consequences.
(ii) define ‘hurt’, lets take the ban on stem cell research in America during the G W Bush years, if this work had continued how much progress could have been made in treating the following illnesses:
11b.How can you tell who is not content and happy?
I don’t try to, I focus on what’d true and what isn’t. 11c.And why the main focus on Christianity?
In the western world most non-believers have a better knowledge of Christianity because it’s what they’ve grown up either surrounded by or as part of, either way they know it better than, for example, Islam or Hinduism. 12. If humans evolved from Apes why have the transitional species gone extinct but yet the Ape and Man still exist? Why the middle gap?
The phrasing of the question suggests you don’t know the topic, but I’ll indulge you anyway.
The first thing you need to understand is that human beings did not come from apes, humans are apes, this is important so take notes. what we learn from evolution is that modern humans and modern apes share a common ancestor, in the case of modern man and chimpanzees the Common ancestor we share is Australopithecus afarensis. Transitional species have not died out, all species are transitional, including humans. 13. Can you give three examples where the narrative of Jesus and his message would be a negative influence if what he said was true?
I don’t know the theology/mythology well enough to give three examples, but the part where he said he wasn’t sent to replace the laws of the old testament wasn’t exactly his finest hour, was it? 14a.Do you think the world would be better if there was no belief in a God?
Yes, almost every war in the history of the human species has been fought over either resources or belief in spiritual figures for whom there has never been a shred of evidence, get rid of gods and we get rid of a lot of needless suffering, anti-Semitism, sexism, racism, sectarianism, and a load of other isms that I can’t think of right now 14b.What if there were no rules or standards to that belief system?
What belief system? I thought we just got rid of it. 15.Can you give five examples of Atheists being persecuted in America currently?
No, but I don’t live there, more generally atheists are the least trusted demograpgic in the USA and it’s practically impossible for an atheist to be elected to any public office. Is that not bad enough? 16.Do you think the laws that govern America are for the most part just and appropriate?
I think the laws are, for the most part, ok, its the people enacting them that are the problem. 17.Can empirical science prove the missing link, big bang, or the abiogenesis theories? If not why are they taught in schools today?
There is no missing link, the big bang and abiogenesis are being better understood all the time by the scientist who are researching those fields. what’s not understood is what existed before the big bang, and science has no problem with the phrase ‘we don’t know’, and manages to continue with the research without inserting the supernatural, ‘god did it’ has never met any standard of evidence in a science lab, and never will. 18a. Do you think if the story of Jesus was proven true that his resurrection would be the greatest feat in human history?
It depends which part of the story, if any, was proven true. there may well have been a Jewish mystic (or several) kicking about with a band of followers in the first century, and the stories became amalgamated, got exaggerated and started the legend that became the stories of the bible. If any one of these travellers was called Jeshua, and perhaps had delusions of divinity. As for his resurrection… I very much doubt it happened, everything we know about Jesus comes from the bible, there are no contemporary extra biblical sources that confirm these events, and the bible it’s self is full of contradictions and inconsistencies. 18b.If not what was greater?
how about man harnessing powered flight in 1903, then breaking free of earths gravity, setting foot and walking on an other stellar body just 66 years later? 19a. What came first the chicken or the egg?
the egg 19b.What does evolution say?
Evolution says nothing, it’s a biological process, not a conscious entity. Genetics tells us the first chicken egg would have been laid by an animal similar, but not identical, to a modern chicken, probably a hybrid of red and grey ‘Junglefowl’ species. 20.What three things would you change if you were the creator of this world?
That is a huge question, I wouldn’t know where to begin. I’d like to start with eradicating starvation and disease and work from there, but it’s a massive question that I really don’t know how to answer, and why would I be limited to changing only thee things? 21.If belief in an afterlife is a naïve wish for people that are afraid of death cant non-belief be a naïve wish for people that are afraid of accountability to God after death?
Only if you could prove beyond reasonable doubt that this ‘god’ character exists, and despite almost 2000 years of Christian dogma, you’ve not managed that yet. 22.In a universe without God or immortality, how is mankind ultimately different from a swarm of mosquitoes or a herd of cattle? Are humans of more intrinsic value?
Mankind is aware of his/her existence and aware that actions have consequences, and makes decisions based on this knowledge, most other animals exist purely on instinct and don’t have the capacity to think beyond the need to survive. 23a.Do humans possess the ability to feel love, affection, and empathy?
Yes, well most can, those that can’t are called ‘sociopaths’ 23b.If so, explain how?
you’d really need a neurologist for this (and so do I, but that’s unconnected) I think emotions are chemical reactions in the brain, and we react to them. 23c.Can it be explained without using the metaphysical?
yes, use an MRI machine and you can see them too 24.Who contributes more charitable services and financial resource to the worlds suffering and impoverished? Atheist or Theist?
There really is no way to know, and this is where the religious community is potentially streets ahead, they have strength in numbers, phenomenal organisation, and can channel their efforts collectively much easier than non-believers, getting free minded people to work together is sometimes likened to herding cats, so there really is no way to collate accurate figures, but what would be more interesting is what any charitable money is used for; my experience is that money donated via religious organisations is often conditional, leading to the opinion that the donations are only offered as an excuse to preach.
Another recent incident that has come to my attention is the American Cancer Society bent over backwards, changed its rules and went well out of its way to block donations from Todd Stiefel of the Stiefel Freethought Foundation and Foundation Beyond Belief, donations that would have totaled approximately $500,000, for no reason other than the money was coming from atheist sources. Further information can be found here and here 25a.What evidence would you need to prove that God existed and by what standard of evidence?
I don’t know, but if god does exist, then he/she/it does, and so far has chosen not to make its self known to me 25b.Do you follow this same standard in all of your current beliefs?
No, the standard of evidence varies depending on the claim being made, the more incredible the claim, the better the evidence needs to be.
Not meaning to be pedantic, but I count that as 39 questions, not 25 as many of the questions had more than one part. It seems someone hasn’t been taking their ten commandments too seriously, but it seems only to apply to a neighbour.
In my answer to question 5, I made reference to a couple of bible verses, verses I find are often ignored by the faithful. I’ll quote them below to finish off:-
Matthew 6:5
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
Matthew 6:6
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
If you’ve read any of this blog before you’ll know a few things:
Updates are sporadic at best.
Topics vary depending what’s on my mind, which can be scary.
When I land on a topic, I hit it quite hard, then ignore it for a while.
I’ll allude to other things that are going on in my life but give almost no detailed information.
It’s point 4 that’s most relevent to today’s post. In the past I’ve made a few references to my health, and that it’s not been too good recently, so I’ll provide a little background.
In January 2010 I started suffering from severe headaches, I’d suffered from migraines when I was a teenager, so assumed it was related to that, but when it didn’t let up after 3 weeks, my GP became concerned and began to prescribe stronger medications, none of which have had any noticeable effect.
In the summer of 2010 I was refered to the headache clinic at Glasgow’s Southern General, after waiting several months I was seen by a consultant on a Sunday afternoon, and after a very brief examination and discussion of the list of drugs I’d already tried (propranolol, Amitriptyline and Diclofenac), he decided I was indeed suffering from migraines, and he gave me a note (no drugs) to pass to my GP with information on what medication to prescribe going forward. The drug prescribed was called Topomax, and would start with 25mg per day, then 50mg, then up to 100mg per day.
After a couple of month it was pretty apparent the Topomax wasn’t working, I was taking it as prescribed, but was still relying on large doses of Co-codamol (30/500 2 pills up to 4 times per day) simply to function, and the only obvious side effect was a change in my sense of taste meaning I could no longer appreciate the taste of my national soft drink Barr’s Irn Bru, and as someone who rarely drinks alcohol, that’s a problem.
After converstaion with my GP I was off the Topomax and on to a more time-tested drug called Pizotifen, a more common treatment with a proven track record, but for me, no noticable effect.
In early 2011 my GP decided to try the Topomax again, starting with 25mg working up to 100mg (50mg twice a day). again this has had no effect other than altering my sense of taste, which brings us almost up to date…
You may remember my post from July 31st where I mentioned losing my job, around this time my GP decided to refer me to the headache clinic again, it was clear prescription medication was having no effect, and my condition was having a serious effect on my ability to earn a living. On August 22nd I received a letter from the hospital confirming the referral. Having had no further communication by September 22nd, I called the hospital to ask if there was any update, a very nice lady told me I hadn’t been given an appointment yet, but that I would be seen no later than October 22nd. Not quite the answer I was hoping for, but still pretty positive.
As september became October I still heard nothing so around the 7th October I called the hospital again, but this time I didn’t get any sort of polite answer, I got a very stern lecture, just what a neurology patient needs, on how the appointment system worked (none of which I remember), and told I’d just need to wait because neurology is a very busy department. Taking my life in my hands I called again on the 14th (Fridays seem to be a good day if you’re in a Klingon mood), this time I spoke to a girl, I think her name was Claire, who was much more helpful, she told me that I still didn’t have an appointment, but one should be assigned soon, and I was welcome to call again if I didn’t receive anything through the post.
The following Friday, the 21st, I was more concerned. No appointment, no communication of any kind, so I decided to call the hospital, but instead of being confrontational, I know from a decade in a call centre that doesn’t do any good, and the person answering the phone is just doing his or her job, I’ll just ask if there are any update on my appointment, and then let them know if it’s likely to go in to November, there are a few day that I won’t be available because I’ll be away from home, and would like to avoid any clashes of dates or any possibility of their time being wasted. So I made the call…
as suspected, there was no appointment for me, despite the following day being the latest possible day. When I asked about it possibly being sometime in November, and me giving them a note of dates I wasn’t available, the young lady was happy to take note of these, and seemed happy I’d actually thought ahead enough to give them warning, and took note of the dates I would not be available, these were between 5th & 9th of November.
Having been a little under the weather for a few days last week, and with the headaches being particularly bad this week I called the hospital again on the 26th, not a friday but you’ve got to mix it up a little, and I wasn’t alone in this view, the hospital had assigned me an appointment, this was starting to look good, it was 12pm, midday on November 8th.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA LOOK AT MY BRAIN!!!!
Needless to say, I pointed out that I’d been on the phone a few days earlier and specifically mentioned a few days in November when I wouldn’t be available, hoping to avoid this type of problem, and was told there were no notes to this effect on “the system”, and it would be passed to management to be reviewed. I don’t know if this means I’ll get another appointment soon, or if it means I’ll be placed at the back of the queue. I’ll call again tomorrow to see if there is any kind of further update, I really don’t want to come off as harassing the staff at the hospital, I know they do a difficult job, but I’m in a frustrating situation, and just want to get it sorted out.
After raising our complaint again, the people at LookAgain appear to be taking it a little more seriously this time. My partner e-mailed the complaint as detailed in my last post and received the following reply on September 26th:
Dear Miss Smith
Thank you for your email.
With regard to connection of appliances, we can confirm that delivery crews are only contracted and insured to connect to existing pipework.
Your complaint against this particular delivery driver has been passed on to the supplier Beko for investigation, as they use their own nominated carriers.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Kind Regards
Sue Came
Look Again Customer Services
This was followed by a slightly more detailed reply on September 30th:
Dear Miss Smith
Further to your email 26.9.11 complaint re non connection of washer & abuse by Beko drivers.
Beko are currently investigating your complaint with the drivers concerned and their customer services office that took the calls from the driver on the day of delivery.They take these complaints extremely seriously and will deal with this matter as quickly as possible.
With regards to non connection,this was not done as the driver explained to the gentleman who accepted delivery that the pipework was in pieces on your worktop and whoever had disconnected your old appliance had not put the pipework back correctly and completely.All connection entails is the cold water pipe from machine to already existing pipework only.
Kind Regards
Elaine Turner
Look Again Customer Services
Not wishing to contradict Elaine, but sadly the last paragraph is total shite; the plumbing was not “in pieces” or “on the worktop”, simply the pipe for connecting the waste pipe from the washing machine to the drain had been removed, otherwise any water draining from the sink would have flooded the cupboard, which was explained, but seemed to be enough of an excuse for the driver to do as little work as possible after the machine had been brought into the property. Elaine’s second point about connection entailing the cold water pipe from the machine being connected to an existing supply is a redundant point; I pointed out the supply was in place, and suggested as a compromise that this be connected as agreed and that I’d deal with the waste pipe myself, only to be told by the driver they would have no part in the installation.
I must admit I’m not sure how to react. I know LookAgain are obligated to deal with customer complaints, and in this case they need to let BEKO investigate, but I get the feeling they are simply going through the motions, hoping that it’ll go away if they stall long enough.
As Ive said before, If you thinking of buying a household electrical item don’t buy it from LookAgain, and if you do, don’t pay for them to fit it, you will be ripped off.
Hopefully my next blog post will be on another topic, The Barking Atheist recently made a video on “THE ATHEIST CHALLENGE”, 25 questions for non believers, I might have a stab at answering them, assuming the fallacious nature of the questions doesn’t make me want break something.
After what I described as the ‘token response’ from LookAgain a week ago, we’ve decided to write to them again, I don’t imagine we’ll get any more response from them, but hopefully the full extent grievance will be recorded, and they are aware that it, and their response so far has been made public. My other half wrote to them again today, with a little input from me, and sent her communication by e-mail, as there are no attachments this time, we can hope this one won’t get lost:
Dear Sir/Madam
Account no: ********
I recently sent a letter of complaint regarding the delivery and fitting, or should I say lack of fitting, of my washing machine and the way the delivery driver, P*** W*****, acted while in my house towards my partner.
I received a telephone call on Tuesday 13th September to discuss my complaint. I do not believe the person I spoke too had actually read my complaint letter before calling me. I was advised that under the terms and conditions the driver was correct in not fitting the washing machine and leaving it packed for shipping. While I appreciate that I missed this in the terms and conditions I have now checked the catalogue they are at the very back of the catalogue, with no reference that I can see, to the terms and conditions on the pages regarding the washing machine fitting. The only thing I can see is regarding non refundable terms. The terms and conditions state “for all appliances, no addition electrical plumbing or other work will be carried out by the installer.”
While I appreciate that replacing a pipe may be classed as “other work” I think this was just an excuse to not fit the washing machine. My partner asked for the washing machine to at least be unpacked and pipes fitted so that he could refit the missing pipe after they had left and finished the installation of the washing machine by just connecting the pipes but this was refused. The girl on the phone advised the driver was correct in doing this as if it had flooded I could have made a claim against yourselves due to flooding. Surely the driver could’ve phoned the company, as he did when he refused to fit the washing machine, to advise partial fitting had been done and it would’ve been recorded to cover himself, not that I would’ve made a claim anyway.
While on the phone I felt as if the person was simply hiding behind the terms and conditions, hoping to get the call dealt with, with as little actual effort as possible. I suggested that it would be good idea that when the call back is made to customers maybe they should make this very clear when telling customers the how an old washing machine should be disconnected, and how pipe work should be left. In reply I was told that they have a lot of information to get through, however I don’t think that adding this information would be a big addition to advising the correct disconnection of the old appliance, and would also avoid complaints such as this.
During the telephone call I made several references to the way the delivery driver behaved while at my property but I didn’t receive an apology until I prompted your agent for a third time. This is shocking customer service on your part. The first thing I expected was an apology as this driver’s behaviour was completely inappropriate and aggressive. This person was a representative of your company and he left a very poor impression, unless of course you encourage your staff to refer to your customers and/or members of their families as “fuckin’ wanker[s]”, in which case, he did a fantastic job.
I have used your catalogue for about 11 years, and I would normally be starting to make my Christmas purchases at this time of year, but at the moment I am still deciding whether I will be doing so, or going elsewhere.
I’ll look forward to your swift response on this matter.
Yours faithfully
******* Smith
As before, I’m not convinced we’ll get much of a result, but I’m open to any kind of reconciliatory gesture they might want to offer. If they stick to their guns, then the whole thing is written up here for the public to see, this has already been read by over 200 people, that’s 200+ people who’ll probably think twice before buying from LookAgain, and that’s good enough for me.
If you’ve read this blog before, you may remember my recent account of events of when my girlfriend’s new washing machine was delivered a little over two weeks ago. it was a fairly eventful Tuesday morning, and resulted in us writing letters of complaint to the LookAgain catalogue, and my prediction of some kind of token response – that was yesterday.
I should point out that while I was present for the delivery of the washing machine, I was not present when Miss Smith received the phone call from LookAgain’s representative, so this account will be pretty short, second-hand, but still 100% biased.
From what I’ve been told the female representative from LookAgain who called to discuss the complaint had not actually taken the time to read the letter, so was not familiar with the nature of the complaint – abusive language, aggressive behaviour etc, and spent the entire duration of the conversation hiding behind some terms & conditions that, in fairness, are in the catalogue but were not mentioned during the conversation when the washing machine was ordered, and made no attempt to discuss or apologise for the delivery drivers behaviour until she was prompted… three times!!!
The final outcome – of the £30 charge for installing the new machine and disposing of the old one, installation which didn’t happen and disposing of an old machine which would have cost nothing courtesy of the local authority: £10 has been refunded, the predicted token gesture.
For the abusive driver who called me a “…fuckin’ wanker”: an apology as warm as a Scottish winter, extracted with the ease of a constipated turd.
I think the plan now is to escalate the complaint to the next level, whatever that might be. My advice to anyone buying a household electrical device, buy it somewhere else, LookAgain want your money, as much of it as they can get, for as little effort as they can put in to get it.
