I was baffled by your response, because it was so different from how I would ever respond to any situation.  Good learning experience about others, I guess.  If the tables had been turned, and you said something to me I took the wrong way, instead of an angry or indignant reply I would become very depressed and extra self-loathing.  I don't ever have a "how dare you" type reaction, but I ALWAYS have a "I'm a piece of shit" reaction, and I guess I forget sometimes that people are different and this exchange has helped me remember that.

I know what you mean about psychic attack (maybe) read my "swollen meat creature" thread under spirituality.  Scroll down to "here's the interesting part" if you like.   It's not at all really what you just described but something strange and perhaps astral nonetheless.  More along the lines of what you described, I have had periods where I feel like what you described, but I don't really know what to tell you.  Don't read my posts perhaps?  *grin*  Hope you feel better.

Ok.  I didn't read the whole reply.  Too much energy in it, which wasn't what I meant to inspire.  I am very very sorry you took this the wrong way.  You may well say "I did NOT take it the wrong way" which I guess would be true to your interpretation, but please trust me that the way you are taking it is not the way I intended it, please trust me on that even if you wildly disagree and please accept my apologies.  It's a case of the tone of voice I hear in my head as I type is vastly different to the tone of voice imagined as my voice by the reader, a type of problem encountered often online.  Sorry.

No problem.  And my apologies for reacting so harshly.  It's been a.......................weird weekend.  Something very very strange is going on this weekend, won't get into it here, but it seems like maybe it's a psychic attack.  I'm not even sure what that might feel like, but this could be it.  It's like being in a pressure cooker, like being a lab rat trapped in a box, and I keep getting poked to the point where I feel like literally running in circles pulling my hair out, stomach in clenched knots.  So I read that post and thought WHAT THE!!! AHH!   YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW THE FULL STORY!!!  AHHH!   So yeah, apologies on my end as well.  Overreaction due to other unknown stresses...

lyra wrote:

But I don't need to justify why I would be in a Starbucks or Barnes and Noble.   So I've deleted it all, because it's not worth it.  I don't have to explain the entire story behind it.

Now, see, I was afraid you'd take it the wrong way, which is why I included a couple of caveats that I was not trying to be judgmental, and stated that I too find myself in those types of stores often.  My point was that avoiding these types of stores in general helps our cause, but wasn't trying to pass judgment for not "playing by my rules" or something to that effect.  Because, as I've stated, I shop at these kind of places too, but in general try to avoid it.  My question if there were any locally owned bookstores/coffeeshops was an honest question, I really was asking if there were, because in many places there aren't.

Thoughtcrime............it wasn't just an honest question, asking if there was a locally owned bookstore, because if it had been, then I wouldn't have told you to sit down and shut the f*ck up.   You said this:

but why were you at the Starbucks in B&N in the first place, lyra?

... talking down to me like I'm an idiot child, and making it seem like I "owe you an explanation" for my actions.  Which I don't.  I don't even know you.   

You don't know me.  You don't know montalk.  There was a reason we were at Barnes and Noble.  And maybe it was because the "independently owned bookstore" you're asking about, called Quest Books, located downtown on West Main Street......owned and operated by Kay, whom Montalk and I have dined with..........was CLOSED BY 5:30 PM.   So being that it was PAST 8:00 AT NIGHT, there were no other bookstores in town to go to that were still open.   And GOD FORBID I should feel like browsing around looking at books after 8:00 p.m. and be forced to go to a GASP!!!!!!!!!!!!   Barnes and Noble, because that's all that's open.

You know, God forbid.  I mean, WHAT WOULD THOUGHT CRIME THINK??????????   OH NO.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand.  If thoughtcrime can stop judging people for five seconds and feeling like people owe him/her an explanation for their actions. 

But I don't need to justify why I would be in a Starbucks or Barnes and Noble.   So I've deleted it all, because it's not worth it.  I don't have to explain the entire story behind it.

Now, see, I was afraid you'd take it the wrong way, which is why I included a couple of caveats that I was not trying to be judgmental, and stated that I too find myself in those types of stores often.  My point was that avoiding these types of stores in general helps our cause, but wasn't trying to pass judgment for not "playing by my rules" or something to that effect.  Because, as I've stated, I shop at these kind of places too, but in general try to avoid it.  My question if there were any locally owned bookstores/coffeeshops was an honest question, I really was asking if there were, because in many places there aren't. 

It's not quite the cashless society this thread was about, but along similar lines:  self-checkout lanes.  In my area, only Albertson's has these (big grocery store chain).  My Dad in Georgia says Wal-mart has them too, now, and I imagine other big name stores will follow suit.  I dislike these on principle, and since I don't like this trend I try not to shop at Albertson's.  Of course, if I need groceries at 3 a.m. there is no other choice.  But when I can, I like to shop at the locally owned grocery stores for a variety of reasons, one being that I know they won't ever have self-checkout lanes.  So that's kind of an aside but still relates thematically.  Many of these trends that some of us see as negative come from the big name stores, so avoiding them helps at least delay these trends, even if only slightly.  So I meant only as suggestion, sorry it was taken the wrong way apparently.

I originally told thoughtcrime that a nice dose of "sit down and shut the f*ck up" is in order here, because he/she doesn't know the full story, and well, I don't answer to him/her.   But I don't need to justify why I would be in a Starbucks or Barnes and Noble.   So I've deleted it all, because it's not worth it.  I don't have to explain the entire story behind it.

two - I'm not trying to be "holier than thou" or anything like that, cuz I am not for sure and am as guilty as anyone else in succumbing to convenience when I know better, but why were you at the Starbucks in B&N in the first place, lyra?  Again, not trying to be smug or anything, but aren't there any locally owned bookstores or coffeeshops in your area?  That's an honest question, because in many many areas there simply are not because they run the local guys out.  I realize B&N is a very comfortable store, but I go there to read and sit in the comfy chairs, discover books then buy them elsewhere. 

As an aside, and not trying to encourage anything illegal of course, but I used to work at B&N and know they have one of the most liberal shoplifting policies around.  THis was in 2000 of course, but the policy then was that someone could obviously walk out with a stack of books, and we had to ask, like it was always our fault, "I'm so sorry, I must have forgotten to ring those up, can I help you?" and they could say "no, I'm leaving now" and we couldn't do anything, no police call or nothing.  That may have changed though.  Again, just FYI not encouraging anything.  I do recommend spending money at local places anyway, though.

That is just so frustrating though to think of how stupid people are that they fall for teddy bears and girls!!   

I recommend that WE ALL speak up.  WE ALL should make a vow to kick up a stink, anyway we can when it crosses our paths.

Right on, I'm with you on this 100%.   

Raise your voice so the other people HEAR you.  Point out loudly the insulting nature of the teddy bears and girls ... if a manager is around, ask out loud "do you really think we're that stupid?"   Of course, you personally know that everyone IS actually that stupid, but you don't mention that part.   I bet the other customers who hear your ruckus will at least remember it.    Maybe their egos will kick in and cause them to take at least a tiny bit of notice of what you're talking about -- no one wants to think they're getting taken for a fool, after all.   

I try and do this sort of thing when the opportunity presents itself.   If I'm in line at a store and see something grossly offensive like that on a sign or TV screen, I'll talk out loud to the other people, assuming for the sake of the performance that they are ALL intelligent, freedom-loving individuals.  Even if they're not, for some the mere fact of being treated like one for a change might be a novelty they find enjoyable ... and the idea might grow on them. 

On the surface, this sort of thing may sound like a pathetic little protest in the face of the overwhelming mass-programming we have going on with television, public schools, etc.   But this is a "quality vs. quantity" issue, and you never know who's hearing you and what the ripple effects may be.  Remember the message of "It's a Wonderful Life."

!!!!

That is just so frustrating though to think of how stupid people are that they fall for teddy bears and girls!!   

I recommend that WE ALL speak up.  WE ALL should make a vow to kick up a stink, anyway we can when it crosses our paths.   I learned my lesson, as I'm kicking myself for remaining quiet with that guy at Starbucks.

You'd be surprised how many others become braver and more willing to speak up and go "Yeah....!" when somebody else speaks up first.     I've seen this phenomenon, so I know it's real.    So, let's be those people who speak up first!!!   We can't just go belly up with this stuff.  That's what they're counting on.  We can never know what seeds we're planting and what we're affecting when we speak up....

I talked to some of the store employees about it, but they brushed me off like I'm making a big deal out of nothing. I tried to stay courteous since I don't think anyone is going to physically put a gun to our heads and force us to use the system. But soon we can look forward to theives cutting people's fingers off (well at least if you're in Indonesia and drive an expensive fingerprint started BMW (or was it Mercedes?))..

It sucks cause they act like you have a choice, you don't have to participate etc. Then they get enough morons signed up on it, then when a lot of people are used to using it, they'll take away other options and make it more and more difficult to opt out. Like those grocery loyalty card where if you don't use one and let them track your habits you have to pay significantly more for the same groceries. Microsoft might be a better example with their slight "improvements" that make competitor's products malfunction so they can improve their own sales. I heard a good catch phrase: the totalitarian tiptoe ...

In retrospect, I wish I'd had the guts to speak up and say something to challenge this guy's "great idea" about paying with your fingerprints.  DAH.  That makes me mad now that I think about it, that I didn't say something, and yell out about "BIG BROTHER!" or whatever.  oh well.   Next time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh yeah....and check it out......last week we were at Barnes and Noble. Well, I was getting a coffee at their Starbucks and I hear the guy behind me lamenting to the cashier that what they need are one of those finger scanners, so you don't have to bother with cash and cards and all that.   !!  Made a big point to loudly proclaim this nto once, but several times so everybody around would be sure to hear, and take this idea in.  He was a 50-ish white guy, one of those guys who's really confident and full of himself.  Probably has a lot of money, one of those successful Baby Boomers based on how he looked and carried himself.  But that's the type of person who's going to be behind something like this.  It's not going to be the younger generation.........but they've been dumbed down so much that they'll probably just go along with it, unfortunately.     

Here's another thread that gets into the cashless society thing, if you're interested:

http://forum.noblerealms.org/viewtopic.php?id=722

http://money.guardian.co.uk/news_/story … 62,00.html