Cyber-Stalking & My New Best Friends

It all started innocently enough. At least I was innocent back then. Mayor Reardon called me and asked for my support. Before I could respond, I had to put him on hold to answer Governor Arnold's call. I felt very popular and honored to be asked for my support by two such important politicians whom I barely knew. Still, it was possible. I'd met Reardon on a bike ride some years before. Seemed a good chap and Arnold I'd known back in the early 70s at Gold's Gym in Venice. Reluctantly I asked Arnold to hold. When I got back to the mayor I realized that it was only a robocall. Of course, I didn't even know the term robocall back then. They didn't want to consult me. They were after what parents used to warn their girls about, "Just one thing." In this case that would be money. These days I just hang up on the robocalls.

However I have recently discovered the downside of signing up to get Obama's early notification his Veep pick. Sen. Obama is my new best friend. Since Saturday I have gotten three emails from Barack (as he signs his missives) and my new friend Joe Biden.

Ah, the New Media. Somewhere between networking and cyber-stalking. By phone, by junkmail, by Blackberry and iPhone, I am never beyond the reach of their important messages, pleas for help, support and yes, I know that eventually--sooner rather than later--they'll be looking for my money.

I know that this creation of an email and phone data bank can be an important tool in modern campaigning. It can raise money, give encouragement, organize events and enlist help in getting out the vote. But it can also be abused and turn people off. I will think twice about ever signing up again. In the mean time, am I really going to mark Obama's email as SPAM? Suddenly, I feel very powerful.