Eleven Unthinking Seconds - Mark Telles

[Larry Robinson]

Eleven Unthinking Seconds

(Inspired by the Social Dilemma documentary)

Casually scrolling through my social media feed,
an ad catches my interest; Magnetic eyelashes.

For the eleven unthinking seconds that I’m captivated,
I watch someone use a pencil-like applicator to apply a gray 
smudge of tiny metallic bits to the outer edge of an eyelid.

A thin arch of long lustrous lashes is carefully positioned, 
and then, like magic, seemingly snaps perfectly into place. 
Truly fascinating. Who knew?

I stopped watching as soon as I realized what I was doing,
and I didn’t click on the ad for more information, but no
matter, I was caught unawares and my fate was sealed.

While I had only watched for eleven seconds, the algorithm 
probably only needed seven, or maybe even just five.

Now, the all too familiar and vexing gotcha-targeting 
has begun and the same ad follows me wherever I scroll.

I’m certain that ads for bio-luminescent lipstick 
and nano particle hairspray are already queued up 
and headed my way.

As a rule, I try my best not to allow my gaze to linger
on attractive nuisances such as this one, but I’m afraid 
it happens more often than I’d like.

Once again, I’ve been cleverly manipulated by those
potent and unrelenting forces that can expertly hold 
my attention for those few dreaded seconds.

It seems that my poor defenseless brain stem is just no 
match for the greedy purveyors of these insidious morsels 
of commercial enticement. 

As a consequence, a newly taped note on the edge of my 
computer screen reads; “Magnetic eyelashes? Really?” 

It joins an existing note of admonishment that says;
“Electronic dog leash? Seriously?”


         - Mark Telles
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