Slowly Boiled Frogs

My husband Thomas called right after I walked through the doors at #Costco today.

I was flustered.

He asked what was wrong.

I told him I was about to get kicked out. He was surprised. But was he?! Lol

The lady at the door was shouting like I stole something.

For 3 months(?) they've been making us line up to come in and reach out our hand with our card and scan ourselves in.

I had enough today.

I wouldn't scan.

They used to use a human to just look at our card.

I drive an hour each way and spend an average of $1000 a month there.

I pay for a membership.

I get a vote.

We all have so much power.

The power to keep walking.

To leave. To take your money elsewhere. To say no.

I was prepared to leave $800 worth of food sitting there.

We can Go Live on social media.

We can tag stores.

We can boycott.

Always firm but polite.

Today I decided to defy the door "guard".

I held my card up to her to show it to her eyes.

She said I had to scan it to the machine to come in. I told her they check it when I check out and that's enough.

And then they do the stupid pretend going over your whole receipt at the door while snooping through your cart when you go out.

I reached my limit with them over this new coming in thing.

I said no.

She insisted and raised her voice.

She refused to look at my card.

I told her watch me keep walking then. She yelled to come back.

I said "or what?"

She said she'd call the manager and make me leave.

I told her the manager could come find me and I'd show that human my card. And I kept going.

You should have seen the looks as I kept walking.

She pleaded and yelled.

"Ma'am Stop!"

I've walked through for decades without the stupid barscan machine.

So getting hysterical like I was robbing them was so silly.

That's when my phone rang.

My husband listened to my story.

He paused and said "Be careful cause you have kids with you."

I told him it's all coming too fast.

It's scary how draconic the world suddenly is and we're not going to notice how far we've gone until it's too late unless we refuse *now*.

We have to leave manual and physical options available.

I won't want to live in a digital prison.

I don't want it for my kids.

He agreed.

And he said these words that comforted me while I planned on getting kicked out without my cart of groceries when a manager finally caught up with me.

But his words also fit going forward in all these #SarahConnor situations that I will face.

His words will always stick with me.

He said they might come find you and give you a really hard time.

And when they get to you remember this:

"Pick the line baby.

Just like you did.

And no matter what.

Don't let them push you past it.

Stand your ground.

You got this."

I thanked him and felt my reserves fill back up.

I have hated Costco's new practice because I know where this is headed.

Complete digital world.

Scanning the chips in our cards in our pockets as we walk in.

And eventually our biodigital signatures.

And eventually much more.

It starts with small practices to temper us bit by bit.

Like you reaching out to scan yourself in after 20 years of just showing your card.

Then the next step.

Many places track your face now while you shop with unacceptable amounts of technology.

I stopped going inside at #QuickTrip because of their facial recognition techniques.

Some places it's fully digital and no cash.

#Whole Foods and #Amazon have #PalmPay.

Have you thought about this?

To choose where *you* draw the line now.

Is it ID that has a chip and can track you?

What if they just call it "smart"?

What if it helps with fighting against illnesses or "terrorists" or "illegal immigrants"?

What if it's a tracking box you put in your car to save money on insurance?

What if it's "for your safety"?

What about if it's illegal to leave home without your phone or tracking device?

Will you go in stores that track your face?

A cashless concert like at #BOKCenter?

A store like #Walmart with no checkers anymore?

Will you let them take your temperature to fly?

Are you already letting them nose swab your kids to go back to school after being sick?

Do you give them doctors notes before they can go back to public school?

What about geo tracking/fencing?

Registration of your farm animals?

Vaccine passport?

Vaccine proof in public? For a job? To shop? To get food?

What about all these new #SmartCities like #OKC or #Tulsa?

What about being tracked while using toll apps like #PikePass in a freedom loving state like #Oklahoma who has a freedom loving Governor like Kevin Stitt? Even here.

Where is your line? Find it now.

Write it down.

Tell loved ones.

Make a plan.

Will you go past it for convenience?

What would make you give in?

What about when it's illegal?

Will you break the law?

What if you can't really go "inside" anymore?

What if you're standing alone?

Will you give up?

I drew another line today.

The manager never came.

"Don't let them push you past it baby".

#MinorityReport

And screw these huge mega corps.

Don't forget about good people and better options like

#AzureStandard,

#BuyingClubs,

#Bartering,

#BuyingLocal

#FarmersMarket,

#NaturalGrocers

#FoodCoop

#Decentralize

Your courage gives others courage to do the same.....

______________________

-Author Unknown

Special Thanks to Leza For Finding This One

Dedicated To “Power Girl” Christina, Who Separately Had The Courage To Take On The Costco Nazis At The Height Of CV1984 1.0