Alexa

[BassBug]

My 17yo daughter has been gifted Alexa for her birthday today by her mum (ex wife) . I'm livid because nobody asked me if it was OK. I don't want Alexa in my house and I don't know what to do next. My daughter lives with me. Her mum and I are divorced but we have a good relationship as friends.

Why livid?

Just say you don't want. It's your house, so your rules.

Well she'll have to keep it in her bedroom then and it needn't be connected to any accounts you have. She's 17. She should be able to make that decision for herself.

I would not want Alexa in my house either. Your house, your rules. You will have to ask your ex to get a refund and buy something else. Tell your daughter your reasons and say if she wants an Alexa when she has her own home that will be up to her.

I agree with keeping it in her bedroom. She's 17 and that's what the young people are into nowadays. I don't think it's fair to take her birthday present off her because you don't necessarily like it. What is it that you don't like about an Alexa? I have one and find them boring to be honest it's mainly just a speaker to play music, set an alarm and ask about the weather..?

WHAT?! They are the best things ever. I'm certainly no where being a 'young person', my DC don't use them, but mine controls lights, heating, alarms, reminders, timers when cooking, news, weather - oooh I could rave on forever! Life changing. The only reason I've not bought one for my car is because the cigarette lighter thing doesn't work. Calculations, shopping lists, appointments...!

What is the danger

Is it a typo and she's 7?

Can she keep it at her mums house only?

I think it’s a boring gift for a 17 yo, tbh. Does dd want to keep it?

But don't you know there's 20 million Alexa's in the UK and the government secretly employs 20 million people to individually evesdrop on each of them and report back on what's on our shopping lists? Bring back the dark ages.

It’s his personal choice and he doesn’t need to justify it.

Well it would help why he thinks his near adult daughter shouldn't have one and why it makes him livid.

He's probably sitting ranting on an iPhone or whatever which is gathering information and "listening in" all day every day...

Because I have never wanted Alexa in my house and I have friends that I will only visit if I can sit in the garden because they have Alexa and other VA stuff I do not want to share a house with something that can listen to me, plus no one asked if I minded it

I don't have anything like that in my house. My car doesn't have a touchscreen or satnav and I have a mic and camera blocker on my phone.

Eh?

Are you typing on a phone?!

I'm not ranting on my phone. The point is that it's my house and nobody asked me and if I say it's not coming in then it upsets my daughter on her birthday. I don't like that sort of tech, it makes me feel uncomfortable. I run a mic and camera blocker on my phone.

Pop on a tin foil hat you’ll be fine

Best move into an Airstream made entirely of aluminium, really. For safety.

Paranoid much!?

No because her mum threw her out because she's ND ADHD and smashed her house up etc. So she isn't allowed to go to mum's.

Goodness op, what are you saying that is so classified that means you only sit in your friends gardens?

Put some tin foil on your windows, you'll be grand 👌

I'd rather sleep in a hammock under a tarp. I'm not a conspiracy theorist - they get under my skin. I'm just wary of some technology and Alexa/Siri et al are not my bag.