Earlier quoted context omitted.
He shouldn't even need a reason. "I don't want a smartphone" should be sufficient and should not lock one out of commerce, events, and other cultural experiences. When I run into this (most recently at a hospital), I tell them "The court doesn't allow me to have a smart phone because I'm a hazard to national security.†" When they argue (very rarely), I tell them "Take it up with judge Kelso in the 225th District Cour…
My man, they just think you’re crazy
81yo Dodgers fan can no longer get tickets because he doesn't have a smartphone
411–420 of 500 posts
Re: 81yo Dodgers fan can no longer get tickets because he doesn't have a smartphone
#412Earlier quoted context omitted.
I’m not sure how exactly this should be worded in law, but I really wish they would pass a law requiring supporting people without smartphone apps. Obviously there would be some exceptions where justified, even for things other than “the app is the whole point” and those need to be thought through, but in this case and plenty of others, there’s just no reason they can’t accommodate non app users. “It costs more to su…
> “It costs more to support non app users” is not a sufficient justification. Then why is 'I don't wanna' sufficient justification to force non-critical services to support your preferences forever?
- people should have more rights and protections than corporations
- people should be able to have a normal, full life in society without being constantly surveilled and manipulated
- people should be given reasonable accommodations to live in said society
Re: 81yo Dodgers fan can no longer get tickets because he doesn't have a smartphone
#413Earlier quoted context omitted.
I’m not sure how exactly this should be worded in law, but I really wish they would pass a law requiring supporting people without smartphone apps. Obviously there would be some exceptions where justified, even for things other than “the app is the whole point” and those need to be thought through, but in this case and plenty of others, there’s just no reason they can’t accommodate non app users. “It costs more to su…
> “It costs more to support non app users” is not a sufficient justification. For sure. If that was true the answer would be "charge the non-app users a nominal fee to cover the cost". Invasive tracking is the point, not the cost. It's anti-consumer.
>Invasive tracking is the point, not the cost. It's anti-consumer.
The last (and likely the last) time I went to an MLB game (not the Dodgers), perhaps six years ago or so, I was required to install a smartphone app when I purchased my tickets, keep that app on my smartphone for before and during the actual game. In the several months after buying a ticket and seeing the game, I received no less that 100 spam email messages (I was required to provide an email address as well) from the team's "partners."
What's more, not only was there no option for a paper ticket, if I left my seat during the game to get food/drink, I was required to have my smartphone and present my "ticket" via their app to security personnel when I returned to my seat. Every time.
As I said, even though I was (and am) a life-long fan, I will never go back to the stadium to see a game. It was far too invasive and inconvenient.
Edit: I'd add that I couldn't even block emails (which I routinely do at the server for other emails) from those "partners" because there were emails that were required to obtain my tickets. That isn't me not wanting to "learn" something, that's me not wanting to receive multiple spam emails every day from the same source.
Re: 81yo Dodgers fan can no longer get tickets because he doesn't have a smartphone
#414Earlier quoted context omitted.
Have you had the pleasure of coaching a technologically illiterate grandparent through the process of learning how to use a smartphone? It’s a never-ending job and disheartening for all parties involved. Modern mobile UX is not designed with accessibility for the elderly in mind, and it is constantly changing in a way that demands constant re-learning. Not to mention the disabilities and neurological conditions often…
I think the most frustrating thing is that UI's largely haven't improved in 10-15 years, yet we still get constant changes from people trying to justify their jobs or manufacture "impact".
Re: 81yo Dodgers fan can no longer get tickets because he doesn't have a smartphone
#415Earlier quoted context omitted.
"Cheap android phone" on Google Shopping shows options for $30. Didn't even know they get that cheap.
Is then logging into your Google account (if you have one) also without cost and tradeoffs?
Re: 81yo Dodgers fan can no longer get tickets because he doesn't have a smartphone
#416Earlier quoted context omitted.
If the app is meant to defeat counterfeits or reselling the Dodgers won’t be willing to accept printed tickets.
It's not possible to make counterfeits with a modern ticketing system. Each ticket is a unique code, and they are scanned on entry to match with the codes in the system. As for resale: The attendee name is tied to the ticket in these cases, and ID is checked at the door. I guess an app could be more effective for preventing this than normal digital/paper tickets.
>As for resale: The attendee name is tied to the ticket in these cases, and ID is checked at the door. I guess an app could be more effective for preventing this than normal digital/paper tickets.
That's as may be, and that would be great for MLB games, but it's not the way it works[0]. The process requires the smartphone app from purchase through accessing your seat after using the restroom during the game. No paper tickets ever any more.
Re: 81yo Dodgers fan can no longer get tickets because he doesn't have a smartphone
#417Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is a strong disagree from me. What this is implying is that the customer now has to buy into two ecosystems: the expensive, Dodgers, tickets, and stadium world; and the far more perilous, casino in your pocket, attention sucking, hell, that's smartphones. Countless articles are being written on the effect of smartphones on the elderly (and teens). But you know what? Fuck'em. Because progress. Another comment sug…
Iga Swiatek (the tennis player) was denied entry in the player area for her own match. Situation was quickly resolved. I doubt VIPs go through the same entrance, lines and checks as regular folks. Yes that older dude should have been treated as VIP.
>I doubt VIPs go through the same entrance, lines and checks as regular folks.
For those of you unfamiliar with professional women's tennis, Swiatek is currently ranked #4 in the world and to date has spent 125 weeks as the #1 women's tennis player in the world.
It doesn't get much more VIP than that.
Re: 81yo Dodgers fan can no longer get tickets because he doesn't have a smartphone
#418Earlier quoted context omitted.
He can get a smartphone dedicated to the ticket app if it is such a huge piece of his life/hobby
"Cheap android phone" on Google Shopping shows options for $30. Didn't even know they get that cheap.
Also will you need a $xx/month cell phone subscription plan? With a credit check and everything?
Re: 81yo Dodgers fan can no longer get tickets because he doesn't have a smartphone
#419Earlier quoted context omitted.
None of this is comparable lock-in. You could buy checks from hundreds of different vendors and none had any lock-in on you. You could use a different vendor each time if you wanted. By certain type of card I assume credit cards, which can also be had from thousands of different banks. Also, credit cards are free to get and checks cost a few pennies. Not remotely comparable to being forced to buy a phone to get to a…
Plenty of people can't get credit cards. Plenty of people can't even get bank accounts. It's absolutely comparable lock-in.
Bank accounts and credit cards can be had for free, and if you can't get one from one place there are literally thousands of other places to try.
(Also I'm not sure how one can't get some bank account? I grew up very poor and still had a bank account in my teens. Credit cards, indeed, can be much more difficult. But these days pre-paid cards exist which is a way in.)
In contrast, there are only two choices for phone platforms and neither is cheap and both require a recurring nontrivial monthly expense. So no, not at all comparable.
Re: 81yo Dodgers fan can no longer get tickets because he doesn't have a smartphone
#420Earlier quoted context omitted.
Paper also does not run out of battery or smash if you drop it.
It does, however, easily get lost or left behind. Phones, on the other hand, can be charged. And if they're smashed, you can just log into your account on a friend's phone if you haven't replaced yours yet. If you can't even do that, you can go to the ticket window and they can look up your account information and verify your ticket.
So, the app isn't necessary then?