In China, you can’t exist without a smartphone, because for all existential things you have to do (paying bills, buying tickets etc.) , you are forced to use the almighty wechat app. Smartphones are a tool to manipulate and to spy on the population. It is a tool utilized by the ruling class, to control the masses. I hate the future and I hate “progress”.

    • kirklennon
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      1111 months ago

      What happened to “this note is legal tender for all debts, public and private"?

      The key word is debts. When you want to buy something in a store, you owe money if you want it, but you have not incurred a debt. You can just not buy it. You and the seller start at an even place, trade goods/services for money, and end even. If you have a debt, you’re starting the transaction at a negative place and are trying to get back to even.

      • @howlingecko@sh.itjust.works
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        711 months ago

        If one were to consume the product before getting to the register, is it then considered a debt? Asking for a friend that is going to get some beer.

        • kirklennon
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          711 months ago

          No, that’s technically stealing. It would be a debt if they agreed in advance to give you an interest-free loan of the beer while in the store.