More like it shows dangers of using only one provider for almost all IT infrastructure.
…why not both?
Because if everyone used cash, schedule systems, records systems, communication systems around the world, breakdown still.
If there's a verity of software vendors used in these systems, and financial systems, you don't get simultaneous global breakdowns any more.
Basically. Using cash won't prevent this from happening. Using several interoperable software providers and systems will.
Choice sounds like something people should not be fighting over :)
Because cash doesn't solve the problem. If the stores themselves rely on computers, and they do, it doesn't matter what's in your wallet. (In other words, you need more than just cash to have a reliable alternative. It's certainly possible to do so.)
Also, some of the big problems were in airports and hospitals where payment was not the serious concern.
because cash is disgusting
Agreed. While I agree with the privacy and security arguments against cashless payment methods, I'm still for them for the simple fact that as someone who works as a cashier for a living (or some semblance of one anyway), I'm more aware than the average public of just how DISGUSTING cash actually is.
Not necessarily one provider but one point of failure. In this case it was the update system that allowed one company to push something to production on other companies systems.
There's more to it. The mono-culture is one thing, but rolling out the update to millions of computers on the same days sounds like a bad idea.
Fun fact in 2008, with nuclear submarines, the mono-culture was not that bad yet.
It's interesting to note the UK went with a Windows XP variant and not Windows Vista, which is marketed as the more reliable OS. The USA never made the same calculations: The American Navy runs on Linux.
No wonder those Navy touchscreen controls killed people...
I personally have never had good luck with Linux touchscreens...
Navy: "we use Arch btw"
*global IT outage shows dangers of monopolies.
One problem no one has mentioned, is that it also makes life a lot harder for homeless people. I guess they need to open a bank account and start writing their account number on a cardboard.
This actually reminds me of when I went to a restaurant a while ago. I had some physical money to spend, so I figured I'd take it with me and pay with that. At the end of the meal, while my friends paid with a card, I asked if I could pay with cash. Immediately, the waiter's demeanor changed and he looked almost... disgusted? I don't even know. Then he asked me in a tone that matched his expression if I didn't have a card, and I answered something like "Well, I do, but it would be more convenient for me to pay with cash, if that's okay". Then he, for some reason, repeated the question, and I answered similarly. He didn't say anything and just avoided looking at me. While a friend next to me was paying I asked again, "so, can I pay with cash?", and without looking at me, he just barely shook his head yes. So I paid with cash, and then I awaited my 3€ change back (in my country it's not usually custom to tip because waiters actually get paid full salaries). Eventually he came back with our receipt, but no change. I just left without saying anything - at this point I wasn't going to argue about 3€ - but I'm most definitely not coming back to that place.
Still don't know what the dude's problem was, but it did leave me wondering how are homeless people expected to pay for anything, if even a person who isn't homeless can receive such cold treatment just for choosing to pay with cash.
In Europe it's so much more common to use cash than card anyway, that guy was a fucking weirdo
Europe is not a single country
Then why does my map have a big blob on it that says EUROPE??? Checkmate. King me.
I would have ripped him a new one right there and then in front of everyone. And I would not have asked more than once, I'd just drop my share in cash on the table and be done with it.
One problem no one has mentioned, is that it also makes life a lot harder for homeless people.
But to those who organise those systems, they're not consumers with disposable income or a credit line to spend. They are happy for them to fall through the cracks and people not using cash penalises them further by eradicating charity and widening divisions.
It is functioning as designed.
One problem no one has mentioned, is that it also makes life a lot harder for homeless people. I guess they need to open a bank account and start writing their account number on a cardboard.
And you need a permanent address for a bank account. Unfortunately, that's a feature of the cashless movement not a bug. Anything to make the lives of people experiencing homelessness harder.
There are more cashless options than using banks.
In some countries you can use phones (and phone credit, more or less) as your payment option. Doesn't even have to be a smart phone, though that makes it easier.
Beggers on the street with QR codes printed out. Or their phone number on cardboard.
And in other countries, you can use the local equivalent of the Uber app instead of a bank account.
Cashless is good. Safer for the homeless (harder to rob) and still easy to give money to them.
That's wild
I would of given that person a piece of my mind. I don't know about different customs but to me that's very disrespectful. They would've gone with no tip or a very small one. I only tip bigger when they pass the baseline of not being rude.
Not sure why you are being downvoted.
I guess depends what you would have said...
Either way, in the US you can just remind them they are legally obligated to take cash. Put down the cash, snap a picture and leave.
If they call police, allow them to explain to a government official how they refused to accept the legal tender in this here country 🐸
I generally don't advise schooling staff but this one is disrepect of liberty, and I don't care, they can get fucked for being a bootlicker.
Shit is disgusting, your preference on my payment method is not a thing and you are beyond out of line with such behavior. Freedom ain't free folks
cashless society is a really stupid idea. it's not worth sacrificing privacy and stability for a tiny bit of convenience.
Does anyone actually want a cashless society though?
I don't carry cash for the same reason I don't carry my socket wrench. I use it for specific things at specific times but I don't need it day to day. That doesn't mean I think socket wrenches should be outlawed.
Governments love the idea. It's much easier to collect taxes or punish dissidents in a cashless society.
Well, our own government has never said anything about it. If they did propose it I guess our democratic process would find the best way forward. The same could be said of a great many things that will never exist.
Also collecting taxes ought to be easy and fair. If no one cheats then no one pays too much if they do not cheat. Besides that, there's plenty of other measures that can be applied in 2024 to diminish tax evasion.
It's now illegal in many parts of Europe to make large cash transactions.
... but how could someone buy a new Audi during a blackout ?
I don't understand why we can't have multiple forms of payment. I'll keep cash and cards so I have options
Same here. In a more general way, I don't understand why people can't simply let things coexist in peace. Just because one doesn't like or use something, doesn't mean that others shouldn't. I'm getting tired of that behavior in our society, to be honest.
Need to send a friend some money? How about you download this proprietary app made by some random company who takes a cut out of the middle. Cash is so outdated we need to use phones for no reason
Regarding homeless people I'd say just carry a bunch of 2 euro coins. You can get them in a roll against a small payment at exchanges and it'll last you a long time. That way you can also budget your donations.
No, that is not correct. Global outage shows the dangers of centralized systems would be a better headline. Monero Worked all day throughout the entire outage with no problems.
What good is cash gonna do if the networked cash register doesn't open anymore?
They have paper and pens that they can track their transactions until the system is fixed.
Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.
In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.
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