> otherwise, why are you replying to strangers that you are unlikely to ever meet or speak to again?
The act of writing out your thoughts gives them added clarity. This holds for long(er)-form comment-based sites such as HN and Reddit, not so much for FB and Twitter.
I can confirm, when I first came to the UK four years ago, only major retailers seemed willing to accept my Canadian CC, and even then, the cashier usually had to call the manager to confirm that it's ok.
Another thing I have to credit Europe with is the lack of proprietary debit card systems like Interac or Plus. It's all done via Visa/Mastercard Debit, so you're never forced to do your online shopping on credit.
You'd be surprised at the level of intimate details discussed by street hustlers on prepaid mobile phones. I'm not sure if prepaid throwaway ipv6 addresses would be viable, but it may not hurt to start thinking in this direction.
When I get an bright idea that will make me a lot of money and bring me fame, I'm sure I'll figure out a way to keep it secret when I communicate it to a few trusted advisors.
The act of writing out your thoughts gives them added clarity. This holds for long(er)-form comment-based sites such as HN and Reddit, not so much for FB and Twitter.