4 ms·

I largely agree. There are many public utilities on the internet on which we each individually rely. Careful what you wish for, though. Ever tried to sign up

by ISL 4y ago

I largely agree. There are many public utilities on the internet on which we each individually rely. Careful what you wish for, though. Ever tried to sign up for a public utility without your real name, personal identification, a physical address, or billing information?

Xylakant 4y ago
I sent a postcard last week without providing a senders address. I also bought the stamp with cash.
- croon 4y ago
  Well, then you also don't need an email address, since you can just email from a random new one each time, so I think GP's point stands.
  - Xylakant 4y ago
    You can also set up a mailbox at any address and receive actual letters there, no registration required. Needs permission of the owner of the place, but that’s similar with email. There are many states around the world where you can buy a prepaid SIM card without registration and participate in the public phone network. No permission at all required, cash payment works. There is no direct connection between “public” utility and “requires registration.” But many public utilities consist in a delivery to a specific place (water, electricity) or want to charge you. So they need your address to perform their service.
- _trampeltier 4y ago
  In Canton Zürich (Switzerland) the parlament argued, everybody has a smartphone today anyway, so for public transport, from now on it legal, the only way to buy a ticket is an App. Do it without an Google account. But a postcard is a good example. Even the badest murder / raper in a prison will get a postcard.
  - jacquesm 4y ago
    > the only way to buy a ticket is an App That's horrific.
    - Xylakant 4y ago
      It also seems to be wrong, since the ZVV website explicitly mentions the app, the online ticket store and vending machines. [1] What seems to have happened though is that during the pandemic, the bus and tram personell that used to sell tickets as well stopped doing so to minimize contact. [2] This obviously is still a problem since not all stops have vending machines, so there’s the extra rule that you can buy your ticket at the next stop that has a vending machine. Inconvenient? Certainly. End of the anonymous travel? Certainly not. [1] https://www.zvv.ch/zvv/de/abos-und-tickets/tickets/einzelbillette-und-mehrfartenkarten.html https://www.zvv.ch/zvv/de/abos-und-tickets/tickets/einzelbil... [2] https://www.zvv.ch/zvv/de/allgemeine-seiten/medienmitteilungen/2020/coronavirus-massnahmen-mvu.html https://www.zvv.ch/zvv/de/allgemeine-seiten/medienmitteilung...
      - _trampeltier 4y ago
        https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/billettverkauf-in-zuercher-regionalbussen-wird-abgeschafft-884998852548 https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/billettverkauf-in-zuercher-regi... Änderung bei ÖV-Tickets Billettverkauf in Zürcher Regionalbussen wird abgeschafft
        Xylakant 4y ago
        "You can no longer buy a ticket on the bus" is different to "you have to use the app" You can't buy a ticket on a Subway, S-Bahn or regional train in Berlin - it's been like that for decades. You have to use a vending machine.
        _trampeltier 4y ago
        In regional bus, there are no machines in small bus stops.
lrem 4y ago
I'd totally do any government/police assisted dance, even if that cost a couple hundred bucks and needed an unpaid day off, to get a banhammer-immune Google account. And that's despite currently working there.

by ISL 4y ago

Xylakant 4y ago

I sent a postcard last week without providing a senders address. I also bought the stamp with cash.

croon 4y ago
Well, then you also don't need an email address, since you can just email from a random new one each time, so I think GP's point stands.
- Xylakant 4y ago
  You can also set up a mailbox at any address and receive actual letters there, no registration required. Needs permission of the owner of the place, but that’s similar with email. There are many states around the world where you can buy a prepaid SIM card without registration and participate in the public phone network. No permission at all required, cash payment works. There is no direct connection between “public” utility and “requires registration.” But many public utilities consist in a delivery to a specific place (water, electricity) or want to charge you. So they need your address to perform their service.
_trampeltier 4y ago
In Canton Zürich (Switzerland) the parlament argued, everybody has a smartphone today anyway, so for public transport, from now on it legal, the only way to buy a ticket is an App. Do it without an Google account. But a postcard is a good example. Even the badest murder / raper in a prison will get a postcard.
- jacquesm 4y ago
  > the only way to buy a ticket is an App That's horrific.
  - Xylakant 4y ago
    It also seems to be wrong, since the ZVV website explicitly mentions the app, the online ticket store and vending machines. [1] What seems to have happened though is that during the pandemic, the bus and tram personell that used to sell tickets as well stopped doing so to minimize contact. [2] This obviously is still a problem since not all stops have vending machines, so there’s the extra rule that you can buy your ticket at the next stop that has a vending machine. Inconvenient? Certainly. End of the anonymous travel? Certainly not. [1] https://www.zvv.ch/zvv/de/abos-und-tickets/tickets/einzelbillette-und-mehrfartenkarten.html https://www.zvv.ch/zvv/de/abos-und-tickets/tickets/einzelbil... [2] https://www.zvv.ch/zvv/de/allgemeine-seiten/medienmitteilungen/2020/coronavirus-massnahmen-mvu.html https://www.zvv.ch/zvv/de/allgemeine-seiten/medienmitteilung...
    - _trampeltier 4y ago
      https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/billettverkauf-in-zuercher-regionalbussen-wird-abgeschafft-884998852548 https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/billettverkauf-in-zuercher-regi... Änderung bei ÖV-Tickets Billettverkauf in Zürcher Regionalbussen wird abgeschafft
      - Xylakant 4y ago
        "You can no longer buy a ticket on the bus" is different to "you have to use the app" You can't buy a ticket on a Subway, S-Bahn or regional train in Berlin - it's been like that for decades. You have to use a vending machine.
        _trampeltier 4y ago
        In regional bus, there are no machines in small bus stops.

lrem 4y ago

I'd totally do any government/police assisted dance, even if that cost a couple hundred bucks and needed an unpaid day off, to get a banhammer-immune Google account. And that's despite currently working there.