Things are changing too fast in the world for me

[Cravingahappymeal]

I don’t do well with change, discussions today with family about digital currency and a cashless society and what that may mean in the future are scaring me to death tbh.
Is it all true or is it conspiracy territory?

Where are you?

We're talking about cashless though, not "cashless " ( not sure what that is).

How would you ensure privacy at the same level as paying with cash?

Having a mobile phone is a choice though.

Having all your money stored electronically could easily be wiped out after a cyber war.
It can also be used as a form of control. Look at what happened to the truckers in Canada - they had their bank accounts frozen because they didn't want to have the covid jab in order to keep their jobs. It's scary.
I try and pay cash when I can even though contactless is a lot easier. The more people who pay cash the more likely that shops will keep accepting it. If they have to pay to bank just a few odd notes they will soon ditch accepting cash.

Not in a cashless society.

Hancock is pretty much public enemy no1 for me in this, in terms of England - and there's a lot of competition.

I've heard it said that he was a pawn who couldn't cope. I don't see that at all. I saw a man revelling in the control he had.

Wrong thread 🤦🏽‍♀️

Yeah, I'm shocked so many people don't see why this would be a very bad idea.

The trouble with cash is that it is easy to loose and a pita to carry round. Too easy to tax dodge ( i have no qualms about struggling folk taking cash in hand as i've been there myself).

I rely on cash too, and it scares me that anyone would think a cashless society would be a good idea.

Scotland

It has got strange.

You might like to sign this related to mucking around with the idea that there is no such thing as men and women, boys and girls, in the normal sense.
www.mumsnet.com/talk/petitions_noticeboard/4722618-petition-to-update-the-equality-act-thread-2

Exactly, to go all out digital would be nuts, whole financial systems open to cyber attacks. Countries could be fucked over without a bullet being fired and financial institutions will never admit to systems being compromised. We've all saw it in supermarkets, oh the system is down, if it was cashless how would you be able to purchase goods.

Not to mention with digital currency they can out time limits on it so you have to spend it all or lose it. So people can't really save.

Then yes look at what's happening in other countries, social credit etc.

And dont be naive that it won't happen here. Of course it will.

Nudge nudge nudge... thats what they do.

What people should consider is - if I lived in a country like China, or Russia, or even some others I won't mention, fill in whatever you like - would I want to be living in a cashless scenario?

Where the banks and governments are ultimately the ones controlling all of the money.

Because while you may trust your government and your banks right now, there is nothing to say they will always remain trustworthy. (And who trusts the banks, anyway? God knows what kind of service charges they'd bring in just for you to use your own money.)

A cashless CBDC (central bank digital currency) can also be "programmable" – that means the issuer (your employer, the jobcentre etc) could restrict what you spend your money on.

Maybe your employer doesn't want you to make environmentally-unfriendly purchases, or the government doesn't want people on benefits buying alcohol...

Considering that we were banned from hugging our own family members a few years ago 'for our own good', it's not too much of a stretch, is it?

I find cash inconvenient, but I would prefer mild inconvenience to loss of freedom and autonomy. In fact, I think we should be very wary of anything that glibly promises us more convenience.

I went on a work trip a few years ago to Stockholm- totally cashless. They wouldn’t accept cash anywhere. It was really annoying as I’d been given currency in cash by work but nowhere would accept it. So I had to pay for everything on my personal card and then claim it back on expenses.

not even taxis took cash

yes i got it all back - but only the correct amount - not the transaction charges on my card and also what if I couldn’t have afforded it?

I’m someone who never uses cash but that’s purely because I never have any - but actually being somewhere that actually refused to take any cash, anywhere was incredibly unnerving.

My DC are 22 and 19 and don’t want cash. If they get birthday money from family they ask me to transfer the amount to them and give me the cash . When youngest worked in a bar and would get cash tips, she’d do the same. I took her birthday was to the supermarket to do a food shop year and it felt very odd to pay in cash and get change!

*I took her birthday wad to the supermarket to do a food shop yesterday.

I live in Sweden. I agree with the downsides that have been mentioned by others (surveillances, cyber attack risks etc), but on a day to day basis I love it and don't miss cash at all.

OP

My local community shop ONLY accepts cash.

Last week I received a cheque book.

I think we will retain cash because for somethings it is available if there is a power cut or a bank's computer system goes down.

Can you imagine buying a poppy with a card?

Non of our local car park have card readers, so you either have to have cash or use an app. My phone runs on an old operating system, so I can't have the app. The amount of times I've driven into town and then had no cash and had to drive home has been a right PITA!
Many of our little independent shops won't take card, or only accept card if you spend £5 or more. I can't see us going cashless anytime soon.

You're right. But I'm thinking more along the lines of money being frozen. This would limit people's freedom.

Unless you keep all your wages in used fivers under your matress people who ise cash are just as vulnerable to bank accounts being closed and a certain amoi t of surveillance (they can tell when and where you withdrae cash).

Just remember cash has no more intrinsic value or safety than digital currency - one is a number on an app the other is just worthless bits of paper or metal. Both are worthless without the backing of the state.

Interesting to know why any government would want this. What are the benefits?