This is becoming more common in my town. I just either feel like an ass saying I dont have cash, or lying, but I also can’t be giving out 20’s to everyone who asks.
I feel bad for most of them but at the same time I get anxiety walking down the sidewalk and seeing someone up ahead that I know is going to ask me for money. Its not like you can say “oh no, I donate to services that help the needy” because that person isn’t necessarily being helped by that. And ignoring completely feels so mean, plus I tried that one time and the person was screaming at me as i walked away that I ignored them.
I also dont want my city to round them up and send them to prison camps, something they are planning and that I know a lot of people would vote for just to “get rid of them” but im not supporting that at all.
Its tough.
Like ten years back, in a Finnish abandoned soap factory turned into hackerspace, I jokingly asked if I can pay by card for something silly. My jaw almost dropped as this private individual whips out a legit card reader and says yes. The devices are somewhat common now but that was my first interaction with it
Idk what hoops they’d require you to jump through, maybe you need to be incorporated depending on the country or so, but I’d not be too surprised if they start supporting this sooner or later
Think I’ve also heard about proposals or trials to transfer from phone to phone. What will be hard to not sound like a lie is that I don’t have any sort of banking app on my phone… The future is bright ^^