It gets even better as time passes. I remember when the island of Kauai (Hawaii) passed their plastic grocery bag ban in 2009-2010. The amount of plastic you didn't even notice because it was randomly "just there" gets to the point where a plastic bag out in the wild becomes something that sticks out.

Lot of free and low-cost reusable bags out there. Before the MLBPAA got stingy with their yearly renewals (not an ex player, just in it for 50% off mlbtv) they used to send out a rather nice sized reusable every year.

My starting tip is 20% then it goes up or down depending on the service.

I tip much more than I did 20 years ago I figure if someone’s willing to work and has a good attitude they deserve it .
Transgender boxer wins in 45 seconds at the Olympics .
I own one of the nicest examples of the earliest Hamms beer can (fall 1935)
I bought some chicken thighs at Walmart and the package was too big for the bags they had .

+1. It's amazing how little it takes in comparison to the total bill to bump it up even to 30% to let the server know that you recognize how good they--and the establishment--were.

Took my grandson to his 1st regular season MLB game and asked for a hard ticket. Was directed to fan services and he was given a button. I said it doesn't even have the date on it, so they wrote it on the back in sharpie. Later I contacted the office and ranted a little bit about how easy (and inexpensive) it would be to print out a little commemorative ticket or email something that could be printed out. He was sympathetic. He sounded like he was in his 30's and said he has the ticket to his first game and would bring it up as a suggestion to his team.

I WILL be following up after the season, lol. But he will never have a first game again.

And most days I haven't had more than $25 in my wallet since 2012. I have had to walk out of places that don't accept credit/debit many times. I know to hit the ATM if I want to get some Delco cheesesteaks. We can all adapt somewhat. :D

I still think it's crazy when businesses don't accept cash! Same thing with tickets. It wouldn't be difficult at all to make a ticket that can be printed out at home....

True, but that opens up another can of worms. Ticket forgery would be made very easy. How to prevent this? I can't honestly see teams hiring people to man a booth where people wait in line to have a MLB authenticity hologram applied to their self-printed tickets.

Old man stuck in his ways vent
 

Interesting thread.

I can understand a lot of familiar longings for things past here, indeed as all of us ostensibly collect physical things; cards, ephemera, and have found the value in even the “throw-away” tangible things that somehow still exist in the 21st century when they should have wound up on the ash heap of history decades ago if not longer.

That said, (I’m 47) I will also admit that I can’t imagine life and certainly the portion of it that is involved with my hobby now without some of our technological advances and modern conveniences. E-mail, text messages, social media, etc. were all huge improvements to me in this world from my perception as a fairly introverted young person, and even today with cards - we have much better tools than pulling out the latest BBCM to look up a price. I couldn’t have navigated the National last month without my phone, online vendor maps, Uber to get me there, etc. etc. Going further in the hobby - we have a lot more community and sounding boards now than when I opened my first pack of 1986 Topps. Message boards, N54, Facebook, even YouTube and just in general a lot easier means of connecting with folks that have similar hobby interests as you do. None of this existed really even when I went to college in the mid-90’s. While I certainly get the longing for many “analog” ways of doing things, overall I’d have to land on the side that evolution in thought and acceptance of new methods is a necessity.

But hey, I’m Gen X, right? Actually, having been born in 1977, I’m kind of right at that intersection; I once heard it called “Xennial.” Our childhoods at least as little kids were totally devoid of technology as we think of it today, unless perhaps you count the introduction of video games. But the telephones and stereos and televisions I grew up with would have been more recognizable to generations before mine in the 1950’s and 60’s than they would even my own daughters here in the 21st century. Fast forward (excuse the technology pun...) to after high school and college - and my life is now invaded with digital technology. I didn’t own my first cell phone until I was 22 years old, but finding and embracing that type of technology then certainly beats being 50 years older than that and having to accept it, IMO. I guess I don’t care so much about the cashless or stub-less thing, but then again, I’m not a ticket collector. I could understand being pissed about that if I was, LOL.


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You think your old and things have changed.

I agree. Back when a ticket cost about $10, and computers with printers weren't commonplace, there wasn't much risk to printed tickets, besides losing them. But now, with some tickets at $80 or more, there's a big risk. I've bought tickets from scalpers outside the stadium many times and haven't been burned but imagine how easy it would be to print multiples, perhaps altering row or seat number so they couldn't be traced back to the original buyer.

Why not preserve memory of the event another way? Buy a program and score it, either during the game or days later, by pulling up the game account online. Take a picture with the kids, the field in the background, print on quality photo paper, and then glue the game box score on the back. I'd think those types of things would be more cherished than a plain, barcoded ticket stub.

In the specific case I was referring to, e ticket is already used and a facsimile could be issued. They could even charge a fee for anyone who wanted one. I'm sure the line at the booth would be a lot shorter than the men's room middle of the 7th. Working on the idea of an email, sent AFTER the game along with their 'How'd we do' survey, would allow no piracy.

I think they purely went after this ticketless/cashless gig is great, with out taking into account a lot of us hoarder types

The world is constantly changing due to new technology, social forces,, and other things, and it can be frustrating to have to constantly adapt and learn new things. In the old days, it was a simpler life. It seems like one needs an app for everything now. More automation and less personal interaction. Plus, all the damn fraudsters and hackers out there make using automation that much more frustrating. To access on line systems, you need a pin, a passcode, a password that needs to be changed routinely. It’s very chaotic and frustrating.

The upside is that some things are more convenient. Purchases on line can be fairly fast and easy. We have access to tons of information and timely status. Parcels can be tracked. Games and movies can be watched on line.

So there is upside, but plenty of hassle too.

The place I get fresh baked bread from has switched to requiring the use of an app if you want to get every 10th loaf for free. Name, address, date of birth. For ******* bread?! You're offering one of the simplest items conceivable. Out of all businesses, you don't get to data mine from me. I'm not giving you my firstborn for some focaccia.

I called my auto insurance company today. After about 10 minutes of speaking with the automated system, I was finally able to talk to a human. I gave that person my name, SSN, password, and phone #. All were correct, but my phone # was my old #, and she needed to send me a code via text message. Since I did not have my old phone to send a code, their system would not allow me to make a transaction. So I wasted 20 minutes. Had to go on line, enter the system, and update my phone#. That took another 10 minutes. So it took 30 minutes just to access the system before I could even begin a new auto policy. Then I spent another 20 minutes to actually add the policy. 50 minutes!

This kind of thing happens to me a lot, partly because of my somewhat antiquated technology (hey, I'm on a computer right now!) partly because I'm not very savvy about this stuff, and partly because a lot of these things are just not very user friendly. They're just not.

If I were formerly a notorious, but now reformed, donut thief, I would want the receipt to show law enforcement that tails me 24 hours a day that I am now on the up and up.

Brian

I understand the argument against (and for) going cashless, but for the love of God, please - nobody argue with the part-time hourly employee behind the counter that they have a legal obligation to accept cash.

They dont care, they dont have authority, and they sure as hell dont get paid enough to listen to theoretical blowhards.

Call me old fashioned but my solution would be...... to just eat the evidence. Whatcha gonna do NOW, copper?

As many know, there is an area in the Pacific Ocean the size of Rhode Island comprised of nothing but plastic refuse. I hope some bright minds are trying to come up with a bright solution to eliminate it.

+1.
Don't shoot the messenger.

I’ve been in some hotels recently that add 20% to the restaurant bill as a tip automatically. It drives me nuts. Same hotel in Chicago adds 20% tip to the guy who delivers the cart to the room for room service PLUS a 3% “service charge” (whatever that is) PLUS a $7.50 “delivery charge.” Then I have the option to add an additional tip which I never do and I always feel guilty. How much of a tip does the guy who wheels the cart to my room deserve?

Wha? 23%+$7.50 for room service? That IS nuts. Think I'd stay someplace else next time. Should be the same as it's always been, like the bellboy, if they still have them. (Not sure I've ever stayed in a place that did!) A few bucks for humping your luggage up to the room, a few bucks for bringing your food to you, nothing wrong with that. But it should always be up to you. Like any other transaction, if you think you're getting ripped off, protest to the management, fight back.

You pay the guy (or girl) who parks your car, you tip the attentive bell boy, you pay the "required" tip at the restaurant and for room service, if a concierge helps you out with arrangements, he deserves a tip and then you get a bill when you check out and WTF is a


RESORT FEE???

That's easy. They'll resort to anything to squeeze another few bucks out of you! No way I'm paying that without asking what it's for, and if I'm not satisfied with the answer, demanding it be taken off the bill.

That's why you stay at Motel 6. The way things are going, they'll start charging a Hepatitis Fee.

Ha! Stayed at one once, Lafayette, Ind., about ten years ago. Skanky! Don't know if it was because it was a college town, or just badly managed, but it was really filthy and I'll never stay at another one.

I always figured Motel6 was on a rating scale from Motel1 to Motel100.

25-30 years ago, I found most of them to be really bare bones, but "clean" and fine, especially for the discounted rate as compared to the competition. I've stayed at a few after that, and it's been awful.

We all know that it doesn't matter how much we spend on lodging, it ain't truly clean. Thanks, Inside Edition!

I'm a frugal guy to a fault
 

but my favorite Motel 6 story is I'm trying to check in at a facility in Michigan with a reservation and find myself in a line of about six. It gets confusing at this point, but for some reason credit cards could not be accepted. Cash only, which many people do not carry, of course. Some guys simply leave. Line moves very slowly, then stops altogether when the clerk says -- "I don't have any change, I'll have to go across the street to get some." (true story) And did so. When he came back, I told him to cancel my reservation, left and slept in my station wagon overnight.

Back in the day, a motel opened and charged $6 per night. They decided to call it “Motel 6.” At that same time - early 1960s - four star hotels only cost $20 per night and baseball game tickets cost a few bucks! Sadly, those days are long gone!