Mesmee-rized

 

  
     Is AI writing advertising now too? I saw the above over Wordle, and instantly thought that, then decided, no, it sounds more like a translation issue.
     Which actually was fairly perceptive, and a reminder that social media means it is you and whatever native intelligence you've managed to develop and retain against the world. Spoiler alert: the world is winning. Then again, it usually does.
     Click on "LEARN MORE" you go to an enormous page, with many pictures of the shoe contorting, and a countdown timer urging you to buy now ("Hurry up!" is what they actually say) while this fabulous sale is going on.
     "Buy now!" is always a good indication that you should stop, think and most likely buy never.
     What they don't say is the name of the shoe — well, eventually, yes, way down the page, in a photo caption: Mesmee. Looking for an actual company, I found a review page with remarks like this:
     "0 Star Rating For Cheap China Crap Falsely Advertised As MADE IN USA!"
     "Complete rip-off and "got cheated" and "9 weeks and no shoes. 2 emails no response. these people are crooks of the worst ilk. do not order a thing from them."

     So we have consensus. The message is: always know what you're buying and who you are buying from. Cave canum.
     Oh wait. That's "beware of dog." I mean "Caveat emptor." Let the buyer beware.
     Since I never criticize someone's headline without offering an improvement, even a paltry scam, let's throw "Walking shoes for elderly with poor balance" on the cutting board and see what we can do with it.

     Hmmm...how about "Stable shoes for striding seniors"? Or "You won't wobble walking in these floor-grippers." Or "Shoes for walking, not falling." 

     A reminder that the problem with artificial intelligence is that it's heavy on the former and light on the latter.