opinions // 16 Delay tap-and-pay » The desire for quick payment methods leaves us vulnerable Aidan Mouellic Staff Writer ’m consistently amazed by how lazy and anti-social we are here in North America. We do everything we can to minimize human interaction— whether on purpose or asa side effect of our rapidly advancing technologies, I don’t know. But on New Year’s Day, I was recovering from the previous night’s festivities by lying ona couch and ordering a movie on Video On Demand. I used my smartphone to order three piz- zas on Pizza Hut’s app, and then : my friends did something very kind and retro: they paid the pizza deliverer in cash before I managed to get offthe couch. How is that kindand retro? : Well, other people paying for food that you ordered is very kind, and using cash to pay for things is fast becoming retro. The prominent rise of debit card and credit card—plastic payments—occurred years ago, but nowa new player has entered the payment-method game: tap-and-pay. Many new credit cards now come equipped with Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) chips built into the cards, which allows for tap-and- pay actions to be completed at many businesses. Credit cards that allow this function bypass the need to input a Personal Identification Number (PIN) : when completing a purchase, : and this is a major security : risk. Now, ifyou lose your : wallet or if someone is crafty : enough to steal it, they can : just pull out your credit card : and tap around town, buying : gas, food, or Venti soy lattes. Many banks provide debit and credit cards fitted : with chips that make Interac : and credit fraud more ofa : challenge to those who do ; that sort ofthing. These cards : require users to type ina PIN : when completing a credit card purchase; this increases secu- : rity, compared with just : signing a receipt. Why then do we have credit cards that completely : disregard security, sidestep- : ping signatures and PINs? Is : it because spending an extra : moment at the till typingina : PIN requires too much effort? I : don’t know, but I do know that : ’drather spend a few extra : seconds typing ina four-digit : number than feel the wrath : of someone going ona tap- : and-pay spree with my card. To make matters worse, : most smartphones now come : with RFID or Near Field : Communication (NFC) chips : built in that allow the phone to become a virtual wallet. A solid : move for lazy convenience at : the checkout, but a terrible : move if you want to boost : your financial security. If : you lose your RFID- or NFC- : enabled phone and it isn’t : secure, then someone could : take advantage of that. Technology is amazing, : and being able to pay for : something by swiping a piece of : : plastic in the air is really cool; : but it com- : promises : our theotherpress.ca : financial security if thieves get : hold of our cards or phones. : Also, being able to buy things : with such ease might make us : not think twice about spend- : ing. Staying on budget is hard : for students, and making it : even easier to go into debt is : perhaps not the best move. The : on-screen prompts and waiting at the till have given me the * time to rethink my purchases before; perhaps tap-and-pay is in the best interests of the banks, then. Nice guys finish last—but they get second chances » Passion versus reputation : Elliot Chan =. Opinions Editor © opinions @theotherpress.ca Il through our upbringing, people have told us to behave nicely to each other, but there was always this voice in the back reminding us that perhaps we're getting pushed around and being taken advantage of. We try to puff out our chests and keep our heads up high, but it always seems that when the time comes to make a complicated decision or to say no, we turn soft. For those of us who want to be successful, being nice might : just be the one quality to hold : us back—but I believe that : opportunities are bountiful : for those who are kind. : As Eminem sang, “Youonly : : get one shot, do not miss your : chance to blow, this opportu- : nity comes once ina lifetime, : yo!” There is a general consen- : sus that opportunities do not : come around that often, so : when one does arise, it’s impor- : tant to seize it. It’s good to have : goals and pursue them with : a passion, but ambition can : becomea pretty ugly trait when : you start pushing people over to : : achieve your academic, profes- : sional, or personal objectives. Compassion may not be in : the same category as work ethic : or drive, but it’s a soft skill that : will help you gain friends and : supporters, rather than rivals : and competitors. We always talk about getting a slice of the : pie, but let’s be honest: ifthere : isa pie, we aren't getting a slice : of it. We're scurrying around : under the table and we're : waiting for crumbs. It sounds : pathetic, but that is how we : live. Work together with those : who may threaten your ability : to move up, not against them. : To quote Chinese general, Sun : Tzu, and The Godfather: Part IT, “keep your friends close : and your enemies closer.” Regardless of who succeeds : inthe end, having a tight : network of friends is more : valuable than having a one- : track mind. Being a self-made : manor woman is great, but : it’sanillusion. Society is built : upona strong foundation, : and that is constructed : through kindness and shared : Opportunities—not through : backstabbing and selfish acts. The Bureau of Labor : Statistics shows that on : average, people change : jobs approximately 11 times : throughout the course of their : lives. Meanwhile, research from : : Penn State University shows : that 80 per cent of American : students are uncertain about : their majors, and over 50 per : cent change their major at least : once. That means what you : want now might not actually : be what you want later. So : don't fret, make friends, and : learn more about yourself : as you go before you act : self-righteous, damage your : reputation, and harm others. It doesn’t matter if you end : up being a leader of a small : technology start-up company : or the mayor of Toronto, it’s : always important to have sym- : pathy and kindness towards : others. Life is not one destina- tion, it’s a journey—if you waste : allyour energy reaching a : once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, : you'll realize that you have : wasted all you second chances : onthe petty little things.