Businesses are switching to cashless payment only during the pandemic as people enact social distancing to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This comes after stopping the use of non-disposable cups in cafes and the general reduction of the use of cash across society. This could well be the tipping point to make cashless payments the norm across the world. Some believe it could well be the start of killing off the use of cash for good.
It's not paranoia if you know they are out to get you.
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Coronavirus may Help End the Reign of Cash
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(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 23 2020, @10:10PM (2 children)
Ah, no. Cash is still king and always will be. Especially as the economy tanks and people find they've got no job or money left in the bank account to pay for things in this 'new cashless society'.
The media is pushing switching to cashless payments. Businesses are not.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by SomeGuy on Tuesday March 24 2020, @01:16AM
Companies that handle electronic money transfers make huge amounts of money from service fees and collecting data. So of course the media, as paid by the credit card/POS system/cell phone payment system companies, will heavily promote this "solution".
(Score: 2) by PiMuNu on Tuesday March 24 2020, @10:16AM
> Businesses are not.
Cashless is hugely cheaper, despite the costs from credit card - no longer have to pay for cashing up at the end of the day and transporting money to bank, queues at the till get shorter so less till staff, etc.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by c0lo on Monday March 23 2020, @10:20PM (5 children)
I'm gonna get me some cash out of the teller-machine today.
Because there are some small farmers that still sell potatoes and free range eggs and whatnot at the gate of their property.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 4, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 23 2020, @11:15PM (1 child)
I'm also gonna get me some cash out of the teller-machine today.
Because marijuana dispensary's only accept cash.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 24 2020, @08:46AM
Your sister's boyfriend is not a "marijuana dispensary" in the accepted use of that term.
Technically correct, but not factually correct.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 23 2020, @11:16PM (2 children)
Question is, will the National Guard let you travel to see the farmer.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by c0lo on Monday March 23 2020, @11:24PM (1 child)
Given that the National Guard has fuck to do with Australia, you betcha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by gawdonblue on Sunday March 29 2020, @01:58AM
Coming to a state near you next week: Australian National Guard - AKA Dutton's Stormtroopers
(Score: 4, Insightful) by petecox on Monday March 23 2020, @10:21PM (8 children)
Nope. Covid-19 is increasing single use take away packaging.
My local have been mandated to takeaway only. I thought I'd do the environment thing but they refused to take my reusable espresso cup since they don't trust customers not to bring in pathogens from home.
(Score: 0, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 23 2020, @10:23PM (1 child)
Customers are pathogens. Smart business owners will shut down and use their Trump Flu stimulus package check to retire.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by c0lo on Monday March 23 2020, @10:28PM
Good luck with that. The central banks (not only the US-es) just put their presses at warp speed 9.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 4, Informative) by insanumingenium on Monday March 23 2020, @10:25PM (5 children)
I read it wrong the first time too. Stopping the use of NON-disposable cups.
(Score: 2) by sonamchauhan on Tuesday March 24 2020, @01:55AM (4 children)
Yes, a double negative always does gets me. Wonder what damage a triple negative could do...
"Today, Cabinet discussed rolling back the ban on using non-disposable cups."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 24 2020, @02:13AM
my brain just exploded
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday March 24 2020, @02:55AM (2 children)
Try this then: today, Cabinet discussed rolling back the ban on non-using non-disposable cups.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by maxwell demon on Tuesday March 24 2020, @07:58AM
Cabinet did not decide to not roll back the non-ban on not using non-disposable non-cups.
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 2) by sonamchauhan on Sunday March 29 2020, @12:56AM
[STACK OVERFLOW ERROR]
[NO CARRIER]
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 23 2020, @10:41PM (1 child)
Just because they are out to get you, don't mean you aren't paranoid.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 24 2020, @01:20AM
So people are paranoid even though they don't know it?
Sounds about right, all those people who repeat "nothing to hide" are probably minutely shifting their daily interactions with the thought sitting in the back of their minds "someone might record and post this on Soylent News! Fuckin' martyb will never let that shit go!!"
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 23 2020, @10:51PM (1 child)
For this exact reason, I've deliberately gone back to using cash.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday March 24 2020, @03:39PM
Given the proven security of the cloud, why would you want to use cash?
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Freeman on Monday March 23 2020, @11:08PM (8 children)
Cash has it's uses. It's a simple transaction between two people. The entire USA ends up hit with EMPs, Cash works. Can you say the same for your bitcoin wallet, your bank account, or stocks? I could see governments forcing electronic only at some point, but we're not quite there, yet. Not, because it's the smart/responsible thing to do. But, because they can control you better that way.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 23 2020, @11:28PM (4 children)
If an EMP takes out USA, cash isn't going to mean shit anymore.
Gold
(Score: 1) by khallow on Monday March 23 2020, @11:30PM (2 children)
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 24 2020, @12:50AM (1 child)
I don't think it really matters anymore.
1- The USA is going to have to sell off all of the Fort Knox gold to pay for the Chinese flu.
2- The dollar is worth about three cents.
3- Gold prices drop to record lows due to the selloff.
4- The dollar is worth about two cents.
5- A new resource for toilet paper is found in your wallet.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Tuesday March 24 2020, @12:55AM
(Score: 2) by EvilSS on Tuesday March 24 2020, @03:42PM
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday March 23 2020, @11:32PM (2 children)
In which two different strains of viruses get exchanged with the goods/money. Nothing wrong, it's a natural fundamental right. (large grin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Tuesday March 24 2020, @12:51PM (1 child)
I'll take the chance of that any day, compared to full authoritarian state.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday March 24 2020, @01:07PM
I'll give you SARS-CoV-2 and a Henipavirus for an Ebola. Deal? (grin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by Snotnose on Monday March 23 2020, @11:45PM (5 children)
I handle it a lot more than I handle any single piece of cash. As an old fart who has been around a few times I refuse to use any non-cash, non-credit card payment systems that rely on my phone.
Not to mention I own guns, and I smoke weed. Last thing I need is a Biden administration cross checking gun owners and weed buyers.
When the dust settled America realized it was saved by a porn star.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 23 2020, @11:57PM (1 child)
Go Sanders
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 24 2020, @08:01AM
Nice try bernie bro, but no dice!
Pokémon Go to the polls and vote for Hillary!
(Score: 1) by Kitsune008 on Tuesday March 24 2020, @03:04AM
Meh, checking on weed buyers is far down towards the bottom of my list.
There is something to be said for growing your own. :-)
I just harvested a Nirvana's Chrystal(Northern LightsxWhite Widow, 28% THC+2.3%CBD), with another of the same ready in 2 days, a Purple Urkle ready to harvest next weekend, along with a $100 OG Kush, and at the end of April, a Berry Nice ready for harvest.
No digital transactions? No credit/debit cards? No cash? No worries, have dank, frosty weed that I legally grow.
What? Me worry? :-)
(Score: 2) by TheRaven on Tuesday March 24 2020, @01:33PM (1 child)
sudo mod me up
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 25 2020, @10:46PM
Pull the brush fibres out of an old toothbrush and carry that to tap the PIN pad. Keep the business end in a small plastic bag. Disinfect it from time to time.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by istartedi on Monday March 23 2020, @11:48PM (2 children)
During the "public safety" power shut-offs in NorCal, cash was king. The nature of that disaster was that electronic payments were unreliable at best. You might be able to process payments if you had a generator, and all the providers between you and the processing center have power too. Often they didn't, or they didn't reliably stay up so lots of retailers went cash-only in that situation. The same thing happens in hurricanes, earthquakes, and other events that take out a large part of the grid. Sometimes it randomly happens due to server issues with payment processors.
The virus is a *different* kind of disaster, so it calls for different tools. I didn't bother going to the ATM for this one. I've been using my card everywhere, even where I'd usually just pay cash. You pound nails with a hammer. That doesn't mean you don't need wrenches.
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(Score: 2) by istartedi on Monday March 23 2020, @11:51PM
The one case where cash made more sense for the virus situation was at the gas pump. We have one station around here that has always been full service. It's usually a convenience for when the cheap station has too long a line, and you're in a hurry. In this case, cash made more sense because I handed it to the attendant (who was wearing gloves) and I never touched the pump.
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(Score: 5, Insightful) by PinkyGigglebrain on Tuesday March 24 2020, @01:00AM
Or the store's DSL modem just gave up and died. I was at a big name supermarket a few months back were that happened. Their Internet connection was down and they could only take cash.
As you pointed out, if the electric or power infrastructure is knocked out electronic payment options are useless. But another factor is that most mid/small business's don't have a backup plan for the their local internet connection going down, not even something as simple as using a cell phone as an up link just to allow CC payments.
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 5, Insightful) by legont on Tuesday March 24 2020, @12:04AM (7 children)
Here when I do "social distance" cash less payment I have to press the infected touch screens a dozen times, while in China one just scans bar code with no contact whatsoever. AT&T promised me true just walk out of store experience about 20 years ago.
Cash is king all right because I just drop it on the counter and say no change.
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by SomeGuy on Tuesday March 24 2020, @01:05AM (5 children)
Arrrag this. I want to punch anyone who thinks touch screens are a good idea. At one store I regularly go to, regardless of payment method, they make me press a greasy touch screen to verify that I want a printed receipt (They should just print the damn receipt without asking, like they used to), and at another store they make me use a touch screen to verify my address, again regardless of payment method.
These screens won't just take a fingernail tap either. It has to be a low down grease exchanging full finger push.
I guess one could wipe them down with a sanitary wipe first - if there were some small dispensable wipe that didn't cost a bajillion dollars, I'd probably do that even if there were no freaking pandemic.
Anyway, you CAN sanitize cash, although I have never seen anyone bother. (Well, they keep talking about money laundering... :P )
At any rate, banning cash is just un-American, (all the third world countries outside of the US need not apply) and a major step towards totalitarianism.
(Score: 2) by legont on Tuesday March 24 2020, @02:05AM
China has sanitized cash for at least a month already https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/17/asia/china-is-disinfecting-cash-coronavirus-intl-hnk-scli/index.html [cnn.com] even though even beggars use bar code payment system over there https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ALeKk03-7dLLWufyuSb5au956y_RoMJYHg:1585015447034&q=china+beggars+qr+code&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwix-LvVgrLoAhUwgnIEHTjXDTIQsAR6BAgJEAE&biw=1600&bih=770 [google.com]
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
(Score: 1) by anubi on Tuesday March 24 2020, @02:32AM (1 child)
Yeh, "just visit us on the web" has become the business euphanism for "click agree"...to all sorts of terms and conditions... usually starting out with something like "This is a legal contract. You agree we may change it at any time for any reason. It is your responsibility to review the current terms and contact us..."
I absolutely hate the internet trickery. I have no idea what is legally enforceable, and what is useless businesstalk.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 24 2020, @03:08PM
My position is I am bound by laws and regulations passed by the elected civil authority and by contracts that have my written signature on them. I regard eulas and click agreements as a waste of both my time and theirs and I ignore and violate them as convenient to me. I invite any company that thinks different to take me to court. It's loser pays both sides legal costs here.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday March 24 2020, @02:44AM
You'll be relieved to learn, then, that TFA relates to the Australian reality.
As a funny/paradoxical thing, the banknotes are plastic based, the disinfection of which is a lot simpler than those printed on paper. But not simpler than just contactless payments by card [wikipedia.org] - which is absolutely good enough security most of the time (you'll be required to introduce a PIN if the transaction is over AUD100 and you can't have cash-out without PIN).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by toddestan on Tuesday March 24 2020, @03:37AM
If it's the same screen that they make you "sign" on when doing a credit card payment, you can use the stylus to tap the buttons on the screen instead of your finger and it should take it.
With that said, the stylus is likely covered in as many germs as the screen is. But you do have the option of using a glove with the stylus.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday March 24 2020, @02:47AM
Wasn't monarchy supposed to be automatically evil, like tyrrrrranny or somethin', something to have an independence war against? (grin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by Bot on Tuesday March 24 2020, @01:55AM (4 children)
I will not make any deals with you. I've resigned. I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.
Account abandoned.
(Score: 2) by Bot on Tuesday March 24 2020, @01:57AM (2 children)
Wait, I'd better sign such an important statement...
--
Bot (3902)
Account abandoned.
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Tuesday March 24 2020, @06:37AM (1 child)
You sold your soul a long time ago, Opus...
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 2) by Bot on Tuesday March 24 2020, @10:15AM
No I didn't, it's still listed on ebay.
Account abandoned.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 24 2020, @02:51AM
Bots are powered on, not alive.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 24 2020, @02:59AM (1 child)
I haven't used cash in years. It depends on the banking institutions in the country; the more diverse and fractured, the less likely that one card will work everywhere. There is far less risk for the banks in debit transactions, but also less profit. I once heard that Visa charged merchants 3% (or more) per transaction, where debit was charged in transaction blocks of 100 for a few cents.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 24 2020, @03:19PM
There is far less risk to the customer with credit. The legal position is that a fraudulent debit transaction steals your money from your bank account while a fraudulent credit transaction steals the store's goods. If you disavow a debit transaction then tough luck you have still been stolen from. If you disavow a credit transaction then the thief stole from the store not you.
It's the main reason stores push for debit rather than credit, and why fees are higher for credit. With debit you are covering the risk.
(Score: 2) by ElizabethGreene on Tuesday March 24 2020, @01:51PM
This push to go cashless is logically inconsistent with the large number of people I observed getting cash from ATMs.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday March 24 2020, @03:31PM
I said it before . . . [soylentnews.org]
Everyone should get a skin mounted payment and identification device on their right hand.
As an optional, extra cost feature, they could also be PDAs.
I expect these devices are not permanent, so they must be re-applied periodically. Being out of political favor means you can no longer have one.
Since these are universally required, but not everyone can afford one, a larger sized device can be applied to one's forehead for no cost. It continually shows color animated advertising banners when not making a payment or proving your identity.
Teens will fight over who gets to display the coolest ads or brands.
It will make it easier to identify the dead on the sidewalks, in homeless alley ways, or standing in line at the Apple store for a new shiny.
. . . you further agree, as part of The Service, that AT&T or its Representatives or Authorized Agents, at AT&T's sole discretion, can harvest your vital organs and also the vital organs of your family members. AT&T is willing to waive this provision if your Cable TV provider has already taken your organs first. You further agree that if you enter into any agreement with any other ISP or Cable TV provider which places a claim upon your vital organs, you will notify AT&T immediately in order that AT&T can exercise its rights in this provision and have first pick at your and your family's vital organs. You further agree that you will not take any measures that would hinder or prevent AT&T from harvesting said vital organs. You expressly understand that AT&T Representatives and its Authorized Agents have the ability to take on human form and appearance making them indistinguishable from ordinary human beings.
To transfer files: right-click on file, pick Copy. Unplug mouse, plug mouse into other computer. Right-click, paste.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 24 2020, @11:55PM
or fuck off, ____