The Boycott List
Here’s our working list1 of businesses, institutions and organisations to boycott.
Do not give these people your money, your attention, your downloads or anything else they’re counting on! By all means give them bad reviews, bad press and do not recommend. If you can, let them know you’ve done so and why.
The object is not to be nasty, but to make them aware that consumers/users are resisting. To encourage a change in policy. Once this is achieved, I will remove them from this list with the greatest pleasure.2
Readers, you are part of a team. A global resistance team. I am depending on your contributions! Contact me on offlinerights@substack.com. If you have friends living off-grid, elderly relatives who aren’t online, etc, etc, mail me so we work out a plan to get their contributions too! They can even write me a snail-mail letter or phone me!
CANADA
Food and drink aboard Via Rail’s Ocean train, operating between Montreal and Halifax. Because they do not accept cash. (But do keep using the train. Trains are good for the environment!)
SLOVENIA
Since the toll sticker required to use Slovenian highways is now only available digitally, stick to the back roads! (You’ll see much more of this lovely country anyway, and reduce your emissions into the bargain!)
SOUTH AFRICA
Vida e caffe at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. No cash, no coffee!
AUSTRIA
The ID Austria app. The easy, convenient, smartphone-based way for residents to do just about any bureaucratic tax/government/social security stuff online. Not compulsory yet, but some cases of coercion to use it are being reported. Do not download, and delete if you already did.
Catering at Vienna International Airport. Don’t give them a penny of your money until they abandon their no-cash policy. (I know, I also wanted to buy a coffee last time I was there. Having principles is hard but we have to hope that money talks!)
The Turmöl gas station in Illmitz, Burgenland. Because there are no humans to help you or take your payment. Supporting self-service ends in digital coercion and ultimately spells the end of human contact.
UNITED KINGDOM
Two Little Giraffes coffee shop in Wandsworth, London. Because they do not accept cash.
Someday Someday in Finsbury Park, London. Won’t take cash.
GERMANY
The smartphone version of the Deutschlandticket. There are app-free methods to use this ticket, however Deutsche Bahn is ‘railroading’ people towards the app as if there is no other option. Don’t fall for it. Be stubborn. Digital Courage has even put together a guide on how to sidestep the app.
GLOBAL/WEB
Vending machines everywhere. Because supporting these only makes it harder for real stores, staffed by real people, to survive. So go out of your way to spend your money with humans.
GoDaddy. Insists on two-factor authentication that presupposes smartphone ownership.
The vision here is that this list may evolve with some bells and whistles, and be duplicated in multiple places. That goes hand in hand with the vision that some volunteers will step in and help. The number of hours in the day is really limiting when working alone!
If you’re named on this list and have changed the wicked ways noted here, I will migrate you to the Good Guys list with great pleasure. Contact me on offlinerights@substack.com.