But can the Gulf countries actually say no to the US? They don’t have Iran’s drone fleet or tunnel network, and are much more dependent financially on the dollar. I get the feeling that they’re caught between a rock and a hard place here. And at least some of those ‘accidents’ and ‘friendly fire’ could be them doing what they can get away with.

The system in my country is that the QR code is meant to be public, and contains either your mobile number, or if you want to hide that, a UPI ID (which you can set and can be a random alphanumeric string). But having access to a person’s QR only lets you send money to them. The payment verification happens between the sender and the central database, on behalf of the sender’s bank, and can be done using a PIN / OTP.

For example, I go to a shop and buy sweets. The shopkeeper would have their QR code displayed prominently throughout the shop. I scan it to get their phone number / UPI ID, and then tell the app to send them so many rupees. The central database asks me to verify the payment. Once I verify, both I and the shopkeeper get an SMS saying x rupees was debited / credited. The app can also store transaction history in case there is any confusion later.

If I’m sending money to a friend, I already know their mobile number, so I can bypass the whole QR business and tell the app to just send money to their number.

See my reply to [email protected].

Thank you, but I’m from India and we’re mostly QR now. Cards exist and a few people use them, but most shops are phasing them out since they have to pay a transaction fee (QR payments are free). SEA and parts of West Asia also use QR, but the systems aren’t interconnected.

But isn’t there an annual service fee?

The way it is implemented in my country, the QR itself is just a standard QR code that tells your phone the recipient’s phone number / upi address. So you could, say, replace a shop’s QR code with yours and get any money customers send them, although it would be pretty easy for the police to find you.

Oh yes I know cards use NFC. My question was about phones.

Yes, you need a phone network, but not internet. Also there is a small charge.

As I said above, the people being forced to sell their dignity are the victims, and need help and rehabilitation. My hatred and disgust are reserved exclusively for those who exploit them, and the economic and social system which enables such behaviour.

Interesting. But why would people get a card if you already have the QR system? Isn’t it more expensive?

That makes sense. I’m in India, and I think most of Asia (except Japan) uses QR.

It can work without internet only for amounts below 2000 rupees, and only if you’ve enabled that option.

The backend is a government system called NPCI. The frontend can be any app that follows the standards laid down by NPCI. This includes Google Pay, Walmart’s Phonepay, SoftBank’s PayTM and NPCI’s own BHIM. Many banks also have their own apps, but most of these are BHIM reskins.

Isn’t the Senate your upper (smaller, less powerful) house? The Opposition Leader is the leader of the biggest opposition party in the lower (larger, more powerful) house.

There was a tar performance by Ali Ghamsari at the Damavand power station to protest attacks on energy infrastructure.

do you believe that all sex work is dangerous or difficult?

Emotional toll aside, putting yourself at the mercy of a stronger person who has already shown that he does not care about right and wrong, day after day, is very much dangerous.

do you believe that easy & safe but compulsory work as a means to get obtain food and shelter is an ideal world?

People do enjoy work when it is pleasant and interesting. Should it be compulsory? I don’t know. Rich people who don’t have to do any work often lose touch with the world. So perhaps even in that ideal world where we have amazing robots that can do anything, we should have people do a little bit of some work of their choice.

But all this is just speculation. For now, the focus should be on freeing people from the most dangerous and difficult jobs.

I think there are no worst offenders here, all labor is valid as in all labor is exploitative in a capitalist system

There is no difference in work quality between painting and coal mining? Teaching children and soldering diodes? Really?

I think you can be a sex worker and keep your dignity

Again, I’m not talking about the exceptions here. Having to sell yourself for money is a horrible fate to most, to the extent that we make laws against that. You can think of this the same way.

The escorts I’ve spoken with enjoy the work itself

Like I said, I’m sure there are people who enjoy this, but the system is still exploitative and harmful.

What you’re saying about the horrors of pornography and prostitution apply to ALL people that need to work for a living …

Yes. In an ideal world, people won’t have to do any dangerous or difficult jobs. But for now, we can’t start with the worst offenders.

Slaves could get paid and buy their freedom in many historical societies.

Of course, I understand it when it’s forced or when someone only does it to survive against their will. But if people genuinely want to do it, why do people hate on them?

Replace ‘porn star’ with ‘slave’ and you’ll understand. There might be a section of the population that would like to be a slave, but we have, as a society, decided that people shouldn’t be bought and sold like furniture.

Of course, the hatred should be aimed at the economic and social systems that allow people to buy others’ dignity, not at the victims of that system.