I often think about giving up electronic cash and going back to actual cash, for, oh so many reasons, not the least of which is privacy. If I buy something with cash, there is no record. Well, perhaps there is because the gas station no doubt has security cameras and there I would be, handing over my $40 for the fill up. Is that even what a fill-up costs me these days? I can’t say that I actually know, since I just swipe my credit card. Then I pay the bill with a bank transfer at the beginning of the month – along with my grocery purchases, any trips to Wal-Mart, any online games I bought, train tickets, dining out, summer weekend at the beach, that oriental rug I accidentally won on the online auction, the month’s birthday presents, a new garden hose, and who knows what all. The total is always more than I expect it to be! I don’t think I do any counting of how much I spend at all! The plastic card (or its numbers if I’m online) is just this token I have to use so they let me leave the store with my things. The experience is so obviously different from paying with cash. Paying with cash requires counting, planning, limiting. It’s not convenient. It’s not effortless. It’s finite. I find myself questioning my motives for considering reverting to inconvenient cash. Cash requires care. Am I motivated by the idea that using cash is a more primal mode of being, using cash is more authentic, using cash is more pure, using cash is more moral, using cash is more conscious? Am I motivated by the idea of doing something difficult? Am I motivated by the idea of more intense experience? Am I motivated by the concept of austerity? I have no idea. I also sort of think that the odds are quite in favor of continuing on with plastic. If I want more authenticity, purity, morality, consciousness, difficulty, intensity, austerity, I’m sure that I can dredge up these qualities in endeavors more worthwhile than reverting to cash. As for privacy, well, I guess my life will continue being an open book.
Great commentary to go with this lovely shot.
You know, I often thought how difficult it would be to travel across Canada (or the States in your case) without anyone knowing.
You can't buy a ticket with just cash anymore since everyone wants to see some sort of ID. You can't rent a hotel room without a credit card even if you plan on paying cash.
Heck, there are even some parking lots that will not accept cash!
Nope, the days of privacy are long gone.
Love the focus on the rim of the coins. Your commentary is spot on: it’s digital vs. analogue... On the privacy side, I agree with you: none of us would go unnoticed even using cash only, and the downside of cash is it’s the main means of payment of illicit activities.... However, whatever the instrument, I would be so happy if I could tank with 40$ only!
You know, I often thought how difficult it would be to travel across Canada (or the States in your case) without anyone knowing.
You can't buy a ticket with just cash anymore since everyone wants to see some sort of ID. You can't rent a hotel room without a credit card even if you plan on paying cash.
Heck, there are even some parking lots that will not accept cash!
Nope, the days of privacy are long gone.
These coins do not look like real money; they are not even silver!