FRUSTRATION!!!

Have you ever taken some of those surveys? You know the ones; Get paid for your opinion or win a chance at these prizes just share your opinion.

What really drives me to the mat about these annoying interruptions is that you share your opinion but it's only valid if you agree to participate in one program or another that eats away nearly every dime that you may or not gain from "simply sharing your opinion." Then, on top of that there's the simple fact that you're giving out your opinion but, no one's listening. I took a shot at a few of these for research purposes and immediately found that they're mostly a waste of time.

For instance, you're asked about your marital status, age, interests, own or rent your home, type of home, etc. Now I, personally, answer honestly; married, 49, motorcycling (when that shows up on the prewritten list), own, single family, etc. I have no interest at the moment in refinancing, buying insurance, grey hair's cool by me, and the fact that it falls out simply doesn't matter, ad nauseum. I get to the end of the survey only now to find that I must participate in any TWO of their sponsors offers to "qualify." So, since I really object to hidden requirements, I instantly bail out. Home free, right? Not so fast there bucko, your email address is now fair game to their sponsors. And since I've answered honestly and they're so truly interested in my opinion, my email in-box instantly begins to fill up with offers to get in touch with singles in my area, refinancing deals, sell my home deals, offers to subscribe to a quilters' newsgroup, hair restorer, and .....well you get the idea.

Honestly, this is the internet equivalent of, "should I wear the green dress or the pant suit?" You're doomed, you pick the pantsuit and the green dress gets the nod. (No, that's not a cheap shot, I'm sure that some men play similar option games, I just relate it in the fashion familiar to me.)

Unless something changes radically, the advice of this correspondent is shun the surveys and find something that offers you some control.