5 ms·

I would bet that almost everyone here values convenience higher than privacy - that is, privacy is generally seen as something very valuable, but in actuality,

by kleiba 2y ago

I would bet that almost everyone here values convenience higher than privacy - that is, privacy is generally seen as something very valuable, but in actuality, using plastic cards for all payments or point cards at the supermarket are just the two easiest examples of how we happily allow corporations to profile us, just because it offers convenience.

n4r9 2y ago
Although this is true, using cash is getting much harder over time. Here in London it's almost impossible to stick to cash as ATMs disappear and services stop accepting cash payments. To travel on a bus now you either have to use your plastic card or top up an Oyster card in advance. Some councils have removed their street parking meters so that you either use a parking app to pay by card, or you have to find and visit a Paypoint convenience store to pay (I have no idea how to do this!). Most of the self-checkout machines in my local Aldi are card-only. If you do try to pay with cash, you might struggle getting a lot of places to break a note as they're just not used to it anymore.
- kleiba 2y ago
  > you either have to use your plastic card or top up an Oyster card in advance My point, convenience over privacy.
  - n4r9 2y ago
    As I said, I agree, it's just that it's become really inconvenient to stay private.
0cf8612b2e1e 2y ago
Not that I disagree with your point, but with credit card rewards, it is actually cheaper to use the card. So there is frequently a financial incentive as well. You can still find a few oddball stores who will give you a cash discount relative to the credit price, but those are not common.
- kleiba 2y ago
  That's the whole reward card model. As the old adage goes: if it is free, you're the product. So, then I should extend my point to "convenience or money over privacy".

5 ms·

I would bet that almost everyone here values convenience higher than privacy - that is, privacy is generally seen as something very valuable, but in actuality,

by kleiba 2y ago

n4r9 2y ago
Although this is true, using cash is getting much harder over time. Here in London it's almost impossible to stick to cash as ATMs disappear and services stop accepting cash payments. To travel on a bus now you either have to use your plastic card or top up an Oyster card in advance. Some councils have removed their street parking meters so that you either use a parking app to pay by card, or you have to find and visit a Paypoint convenience store to pay (I have no idea how to do this!). Most of the self-checkout machines in my local Aldi are card-only. If you do try to pay with cash, you might struggle getting a lot of places to break a note as they're just not used to it anymore.
- kleiba 2y ago
  > you either have to use your plastic card or top up an Oyster card in advance My point, convenience over privacy.
  - n4r9 2y ago
    As I said, I agree, it's just that it's become really inconvenient to stay private.
0cf8612b2e1e 2y ago
Not that I disagree with your point, but with credit card rewards, it is actually cheaper to use the card. So there is frequently a financial incentive as well. You can still find a few oddball stores who will give you a cash discount relative to the credit price, but those are not common.
- kleiba 2y ago
  That's the whole reward card model. As the old adage goes: if it is free, you're the product. So, then I should extend my point to "convenience or money over privacy".