Member-only story
The art of not being so freaking pushy
Why are we starved for gentle, subtle content—and blind to CTAs?
Meet Susanna and two creepy old dudes.
This is an ancient story: Susanna is bathing when the grandpas begin spying and making “advances.” After Susanna rejects them, the grandpas try to accuse her of adultery (punishable by death).
Notice how, in Rubens’ masterpiece, a guy is touching Susanna’s back, almost pinching a cloud of soft, beautiful flesh. It makes my skin crawl.
This is how I feel when I check my emails.
I’m a bit lazy to sort out what newsletters or promotions I’m subscribed to. My inbox looks like a trading floor — a room full of screaming people:
—Heat up your wardrobe now.
— It should be a part of your toolkit.
— Here’s what you need to check out today.
— Trend alert.
— Don’t miss out!
I feel terrorized by the CTAs. They’re reaching out to touch my soul.
