Re: An appeal to use cash more often
(I’m referring to this post.)
I like Bear blogs, but I feel we often devolve into a dick-measuring contest of who can reject modern technology the most.
That’s all well and good, and I largely agree with the author’s sentiment. There are many valid reasons to still use cash today. However, I felt compelled to respond to some of these claims:
“Cash is universally accepted within the boundaries of your country”
I don’t know about your country, but in my country it is common for vendors to not accept cash. For example, most major stadiums that host sporting events and concerts are now completely “cashless.”
“Cash is … anonymous”
Most countries print serial numbers on their banknotes precisely so they can be tracked. Banks and law enforcement can use these unique identifiers to track you. That’s why bank robbers in the movies frequently ask for non-sequential bills.
“Transactions require no intermediary”
True. But unless you personally store all the cash you use (which I would advise against), you have to use some kind of institution like a bank or ATM to withdraw. That is an intermediary, albeit it is not involved directly when spending your cash.
“It is tangible and has no cybersecurity vulnerabilities”
Also true. But it has physical vulnerabilities. This is a trade-off. Someone can mug or pickpocket you and steal your cash. On the other hand, someone can steal your credit card, but you can then call your provider to deactivate it. If you carry cash, you can forget your wallet/purse somewhere. If you store cash at home, it can be destroyed in a fire or natural disaster. These are all physical vulnerabilities, and while credit cards and online banking may have cybersecurity vulnerabilities, they are less susceptible to physical ones.
“We might only realize what we had once it is gone. If you can, use it more often”
Once again, I want to be clear I agree with the author’s sentiment. I see what they were going for. But, I had difficulty reading a post that was almost entirely false without at least playing devil’s advocate. Especially when it was #2 Trending on Bear’s Discovery Feed at the time I stumbled upon it.
