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Comment by blakesterz | Hacker News Reader

https://paleofuture.com/blog/2009/3/23/computer-criminals-of...

  "The 1981 book School, Work and Play (World of Tomorrow) features this beautiful two-page spread. Apparently, thanks to computers, there's no crime in the future outside of the computerized variety. The "computer criminal" pictured really doesn't appear to be running very fast. Maybe they're playing a game of freeze-tag. Or maybe that policeman's gun has special settings the author didn't tell us about. I like to believe the former, but that's just me."

The book is full of really cool images like that one of "The Future" as seen from '81

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> Computers will make the world of tomorrow a much safe place. They will do away with cash, so that you need no longer fear being attacked for your money.

Hahaha

It's not wrong. You no longer have to be physically present to have your money stolen. It's safer for everyone.

Yeah it's an interesting thought. Credit card scams, phishing, etc. have made new ways of stealing possible.

It's 'safer' as in I think you can claim muggings or burglaries (or losses to these) have reduced because people just don't carry as much cash anymore.

There is even a song written about that :)

> You don't have to rob me

> It's not really worth it

> I only have credit cards

> And I can just cancel them

> Know that you needed cash

> But what the fuck's up with that?

(DOMi & JD BECK - U DON'T HAVE TO ROB ME)

The growing use of Debit and Credit Cards eliminating the need to carry a hundred or so with you at all times for spending/errand purposes without requiring the merchant to take the risk of taking personal cheques was a huge revolution made possible by mass computerisation in the finance industry. This includes the current discussions many governments are currently having about simply not issuing cash money any longer.

Cash money still has its uses. I always carry some for tips and for when a business's payment card reader goes down and nobody knows how to process a card without it.

> when a business's payment card reader goes down and nobody knows how to process a card without it.

Online fraud prevention is the most important part of online card processing, and can't be done offline.

I was paying for services rendered at the optician, and luckily had a wad of cash, but what's the user story there other than wait while they call support? I guess they could have invoiced me.

Online fraud prevention is the most important part of online card processing, and can't be done offline

It was done offline for decades.

All the world's computers talking to one another is far more recent than credit cards.

You are completely right but the core issue is that they don’t want to process credit cards or avoid fees.

Having money with you though is good in emergencies. Carrying a one dollar, five dollar and or a ten / twenty though is always a good idea.

Since the pandemic especially, a number of businesses don't take cash, only cards, particularly some small breweries and independent fast food places in our area (Silicon Valley). I guess if the card readers all go down they are out of business until they fix it.

what a horrible website. Takes over my trackpad so I cannot zoom in on the image.

Where did we go so wrong? as to literally remove UX for no benefit

I can zoom in.

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