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Customer Hostility Index
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CHI Lexicon
Modern customer-hostile behavior, translated.
Select an entry. Flip the featured card for its formal definition.
Revenue extraction
Customer restriction
Behavioral manipulation
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Revenue extraction
Advertising Creep
“I pay for this. Why are there suddenly ads everywhere?”
Plain-English translation
Formal definition
Advertising Creep
The gradual introduction or expansion of advertising inside a product customers already pay to use.
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01
Advertising Creep
More ads. Same subscription.
02
Price Creep
The bill evolves faster than the product.
03
Feature Fragmentation
One product becomes several purchases.
04
Artificial Scarcity
Scarcity as a conversion tool.
05
Engagement Tax
A tiny action creates ongoing demands.
06
Platform Lock-In
Everything works until you leave.
07
Choice Illusion
Several doors. One real exit.
08
Convenience Tax
Self-service, somehow with a surcharge.
09
Loyalty Penalty
Staying costs more than arriving.
10
Upgrade Escalation
The upgrade prompt never graduates.
11
Access Downgrading
Yesterday’s access becomes today’s upgrade.
12
Paywall Creep
Paid access develops paid access.
13
Notification Saturation
Useful alerts become engagement bait.
14
Infinite Engagement
The bottom of the page disappears.
15
Algorithmic Replacement
Your choices become suggestions.
16
Promise Reversal
The original bargain changes later.
17
Rentalization
Ownership becomes recurring access.
18
Exit Resistance
Easy in. Difficult out.
19
Intellectual Disrespect
The reasoning is the insult.
20
Preference Amnesia
The choice is real. It just doesn’t stick.