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@kbin.social
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      1 year 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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        1 year 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@kbin.social
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          1 year 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.

    • SomeRandomWords
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      1 year ago

      This is interestingly straightforward for a lot of cases, if you haven’t done anything (like eat food that’s been made), then you likely haven’t incurred a debt. Purchasing your favorite new shirt from a clothing store doesn’t incur a debt just because you want to make the purchase.