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4X4 · 12-07-2008, 03:53 PM

So I noticed something kinda creepy. I use firefox and have about 10 tabs that I open whenever I go online. I use gmail for everything email related, but I have two accounts - one for business and one for personal.

I usually check my email and then close it, but lately I've been leaving whichever account I last opened, open.

So what I've noticed is that the ads on CP have been eerily related to the content of my gmail account. I didn't notice it at first because I always check my personal gmail before my business email, but today I did it in reverse and my personal email is open.

Now, the ads I'm getting on CP are all in italian. And I can only assume it has something to do with the fact that I get emails from friends from italy, that are written in italian, and my personal email is open. Is this the case, or just a coincidence?
I just doubt that it's a coincidence because if it were, I figure that these ads would be promoting travel in italy, but still written in english. But the ads are in italian. So, what gives? Is the internet actually looking at all my tabs and trying to send me stuff that I'm likely to be interested in? I mean, I understand why those kinds of ads are on news links or actually on the ticker at the top of my gmail account, but does it actually cross-reference over to other sites that i'm simultaneously browsing? If so, I'm grabbing my tinfoil hat.

12-07-2008, 03:53 PM	#1
4X4 One of the Nine Join Date: Dec 2004 Exp:	Internet Ads - How Do They Work? So I noticed something kinda creepy. I use firefox and have about 10 tabs that I open whenever I go online. I use gmail for everything email related, but I have two accounts - one for business and one for personal. I usually check my email and then close it, but lately I've been leaving whichever account I last opened, open. So what I've noticed is that the ads on CP have been eerily related to the content of my gmail account. I didn't notice it at first because I always check my personal gmail before my business email, but today I did it in reverse and my personal email is open. Now, the ads I'm getting on CP are all in italian. And I can only assume it has something to do with the fact that I get emails from friends from italy, that are written in italian, and my personal email is open. Is this the case, or just a coincidence? I just doubt that it's a coincidence because if it were, I figure that these ads would be promoting travel in italy, but still written in english. But the ads are in italian. So, what gives? Is the internet actually looking at all my tabs and trying to send me stuff that I'm likely to be interested in? I mean, I understand why those kinds of ads are on news links or actually on the ticker at the top of my gmail account, but does it actually cross-reference over to other sites that i'm simultaneously browsing? If so, I'm grabbing my tinfoil hat.