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Original poster

Do you love Alexa? Why?!

100 replies

wakemewhenitsallover · 28/12/2019 03:42

My 11yo was given an Echo Dot by a family member.

Personally I hate the fucking things. I don't want a robot listening to everything we say. It feels like an intrusion. Plus it annoys me that it's a woman's voice - reinforcing the idea women are the service class. And DS and DD fight over it.

But - relative has presented gift, DS loves it so I can hardly take it off him (without a good reason anyway).

So, can anyone explain to me what the use of it is? How do you use yours? What good is it? Can I learn to like it?

I want to say DS should keep it in his room as I don't want it in the front room - but is that a bad idea? He's not allowed to use his computer in his room as a measure to keep him safe online.

OP posts:

BlingLoving · 29/12/2019 09:10

In separate note, I love Alexa. And we have 4 now. But I honestly dont understand why people.would buy ther as a gift for a child without discussing with parents. I mean, you wouldnt buy them a phone or tablet but alexa is ok.because its cheap? I find it weird.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 29/12/2019 09:11

I love the fact when I'm.cooking I can have multiple timers going -it was great on Xmas day. Also when I'm elbow deep in flour I can put the radio/music on without having to stop,wash my hands etc. The shopping list is useful as it never gets lost and members of the family can add to it and it goes straight to my phone.

Original poster

wakemewhenitsallover · 29/12/2019 09:31

But I honestly dont understand why people.would buy ther as a gift for a child without discussing with parents. I mean, you wouldnt buy them a phone or tablet but alexa is ok.because its cheap? I find it weird.

Yes, me too. But these relatives often buy things without discussing that I just wouldn't. Communication and boundaries aren't their strong point. Possible also they discussed with DP and he didn't think to mention it.

I've accepted over the years that we do things differently and ultimately it comes from a good place - they care about my DC (even if I do find stuff like this irritating).

OP posts:

Candlebarbara · 29/12/2019 09:35

I refuse to have one. I know a couple of people who do, both used it for everything for the first two weeks or so, now both only use it for alarms and radio, which it what my ancient clock radio does perfectly well!

Seems very much a gimmick that gets boring quickly.

Bluebutterfly90 · 29/12/2019 09:42

My FIL got one for Xmas and was showing me how it worked, and to be honest I found it kind of horrifying.
It's listening to you all the time, how are people ok with that?
And also yeah 99 percent of robot assistants being coded female annoys me too. I wouldn't have it in my house. I've disabled the Ok Google thing on my phone too.

TalbotAMan · 29/12/2019 09:49

Aposterhasnoname

There are a lot of people out there with differing views, but arguably Google has better voice recognition, answers questions better and you don't have to add skills.

We have a Sonos beam which can use either Alexa or Google, and generally I haven't been impressed by Alexa when compared to Google.

[And I prefer Google's default voice]

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 29/12/2019 11:04

It's listening to you all the time, how are people ok with that?

Well,no more than your phone/computer 'listens' to you then targets you with specific adverts.

backouch · 29/12/2019 11:10

I didn't want one. In fact I was dead against it. Then my child was given one. It is brilliant! She's discovered so much more music than ever before, sets alarms and reminders, plays occasionally with it (rock paper scissors and things like that) and I can use it to send her a message when I'm unable to get in to see her (for example stuck under a sleeping baby) done via adding a reminder on my phone app that's linked.

Bluebutterfly90 · 29/12/2019 11:15

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor
I've disabled any kind of automatic assistance on both my phone and my computer (Ok Google and Cortana respectively, they can both bugger off!), so those things dont listen to me.
Granted, if you're talking about data collection, there's not much I can do about that- but actively having something listening to my conversations is too much!

It may be because my stepdad is a computer programmer and I'm too aware of how these things could potentially be abused, but they just feel invasive to me.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 29/12/2019 11:17

They don't actively listen,they wake up at key words I think,hence responding to 'Alexa.'

Bluebutterfly90 · 29/12/2019 11:21

It is always listening for the 'wake word's and then I believe sometimes recording once you've said it, just from a quick googling around. Still creepy to me, but maybe I watched too many evil robot movies as a kid!

Ocomeocomeimaginaryfleas · 29/12/2019 13:58

They don't actively listen,they wake up at key words I think,hence responding to 'Alexa.'

This is a common misconception. They are listening and intermittently recording all the time, unless you disable the microphone. It's possible to delete the recording history, but it's surprising how many people don't realise this, or that they exist.

kenandbarbie · 29/12/2019 14:20

I love Alexa! It's like a free jukebox that plays anything I want whenever I want. I listen to books on it too which is great as I'm doing an English degree. Also it can tell me where Santa is at any time.

soapysudd · 29/12/2019 14:29

Love it. We have 2. One In the dining room, another in my sons room. We both listen to music on it, ask her things, set timers... it's great. And if it really wants to listen to our conversations good luck to it they arnt very interesting lol and I don't believe it does anyway.

Grafittiqueen · 29/12/2019 14:36

We use ours for the radio, playing music, timers, announcements to get the kids down for dinner and switching lights on and off.

Swisskit · 29/12/2019 14:39

You have to look at it as a 2-way street. You get the use of some amazing technology, in return for basic information about yourself.

If you don't feel it's a fair swap then don't have one.

We mention bomb making quite a lot just to see if they send MI5 round 😃

MyOtherProfile · 29/12/2019 22:54

There are a lot of people out there with differing views, but arguably Google has better voice recognition, answers questions better and you don't have to add skills.

This sums it up. We have two of each and Google is much better than Alexa at everything except for audible. If Google could read audible to me I'd ditch Alexa altogether.

Google doesn't waffle on as much as Alexa. You can ask questions and get appropriate answers far more reliably with Google while Alexa often gives either random answers or just admits to being unable to do that.

Undecided91 · 29/12/2019 23:00

No. Because it spys on you. It will store your personal data for ever. It invades your privacy. Id get rid of that crap while you can. Ive seen now they are making TVs with pre installed alexas so soon we wont have a choice anymore

soapysudd · 30/12/2019 08:48

Because it spys on you. It will store your personal data for ever. It invades your privacy.

What personal data?! What personal data is it supposed to know?!

SuperMeerkat · 30/12/2019 09:09

@wakemewhenitsallover I hate Alexa too!! You can change it to a man’s voice though in settings. Not exactly sure how but sure YouTube can help.

poppy289 · 30/12/2019 09:29

I use mine for music, radio stations, news, weather, ask it random questions

Just recently bought a tile so I can find my misplaced car keys.

Also can turn on and off a lamp.

I think it's a very useful device and one that will never go away.

Embrace it and get used to it.

As for data being stored...well your data is already stored by any store cards that you use for points etc. Bank and credit cards store info. Web browsers also store what you buy and look at. Facebook and your phone sync adverts to products and pages you look at.

orchidsarebeautiful · 30/12/2019 09:48

Mine is my cooking assistant. I ask her to covert temperature, weights and measures. I can set numerous precise labelled timers without touching anything, which I like with food prep.

I can listen to music without touching anything whilst I food prep.

I can set alarms and labelled reminders when I remember. Rather than fiddling with a device.

I have all my lights activated by Alexa throughout the house. I can turn all the lights off downstairs with a simple voice command before going up to bed.

We use the tile system and Alexa can find my handbag, my purse and my keys.

She can send a message or call someone for me.

We can speak to her through a security home system so lights can be turned on and off remotely.

Considering getting the blind operators so our window blinds can be remotely activated too.

She just makes tasks a tiny bit easier. It took me a year to warm to it, but I really like it now.

benandhollyagaaain · 30/12/2019 09:49

On another point OP, you mention you have amazon prime but your other half doesn't. Did you know that you can link your amazon accounts so that your husband can benefit from prime as well but still keeping your accounts separate so you can't see each others purchases (useful for gifts etc)

BedraggledBlitz · 30/12/2019 23:03

People who use spotify on Alexa -

How can it play podcasts from spotify?

Also mine just plays the last thing it was playing eg I cant tell it to play my cooking playlist etc.

Any tips?

Gilead · 30/12/2019 23:27

I take a lot of medication and doses can change regularly, Alexa reminds me what to take, how much and when. I like the music and timers too.

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