The short version: you can read the whole site without giving us anything. If you join the newsletter, we keep your email to send it. We don't sell personal information.
Information we collect
Information you give us
- Email address, if you subscribe to The Weekly Degenerate or ask us to email you Method Finder results.
- Anything you send us, such as the contents of an email to hello@productivedegenerate.com.
Information collected automatically
- Server logs. Our host, Vercel, processes standard request data such as IP address, browser type, the page requested and the time of the request, to deliver and secure the site.
- Usage data. We may use analytics tools to understand which pages are read and how people find the site. Where possible we use aggregated, privacy-friendly analytics.
- Affiliate and ad data. When you click an affiliate link or see an ad, the partner or ad network may set its own cookies to track referrals and measure ads. Their privacy policies govern that data.
Cookies and local storage
The site stores a few small preferences in your browser's local storage, such as which tab you last chose in the article feed and your last Method Finder answers. These stay on your device and are not sent to us.
Third parties may set cookies for analytics, advertising and affiliate tracking. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings, and use the "Cookie settings" link in our footer where a consent banner is shown. Blocking cookies won't stop the site from working.
How we use information
- To run, secure and improve the site.
- To send the newsletter or results you asked for. Every email has a one-click unsubscribe link.
- To reply when you contact us.
- To understand, in aggregate, which guides are useful.
- To comply with the law and protect our rights.
How we share information
We don't sell or rent your personal information. We share it only with:
- Service providers who help us run the site, such as hosting (Vercel), font delivery (Google Fonts), email delivery and analytics. They process data on our behalf.
- Advertising and affiliate partners, to the extent their cookies or links collect data when you interact with them.
- Authorities, when required by law or to protect safety and rights.
- A buyer or successor, if the site is sold or merged, under the same protections described here.
Your choices and rights
- Unsubscribe from emails at any time using the link in any email.
- Access, correct or delete the personal information we hold about you by emailing hello@productivedegenerate.com.
- Opt out of targeted ads through your browser settings or tools like the Digital Advertising Alliance's opt-out page.
Depending on where you live, such as California (CCPA/CPRA) or the EU and UK (GDPR), you may have additional rights, including the right to know what we collect, to object to processing and to lodge a complaint with a regulator. We honor those requests and won't treat you differently for making them.
Data retention and security
We keep newsletter emails until you unsubscribe, and messages for as long as needed to respond. We use reasonable safeguards, but no method of transmission or storage is completely secure.
Children
This site is for adults. We don't knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 (or under 16 where local law sets a higher age). If you believe a child has given us information, contact us and we'll delete it.
Changes to this policy
If we change this policy, we'll update the date at the top. Significant changes will be noted on the site or in the newsletter.
Contact
Questions or requests about privacy: hello@productivedegenerate.com.