I don't have any of those things, neither old ones nor current ones. As a start, I don't go to casinos so that eliminates one thing. For other items, I'm happy to participate in rewards programs but want nothing more than a number to note in a digital file I keep for such things. Which I rarely have need to access because most programs can find my account with my name or other identifying info.

No cards please.

I think I still have a Blockbuster card somewhere. AAA sends me ten cards a year but those I toss. Its so easy to accumulate useless stuff.

AAA sends you ten cards a year?!? They haven't send me a new one in as long as I can remember -- I just pay my yearly dues and the membership remains active, old card is still good.

No membership cards here.

They can find me on their system. I switch my purse/wallet out frequently and get rid of unnecessary items.

Definitely not 10 cards, but AAA sends new membership cards annually for us with new expiration dates.

"Definitely not 10 cards, but AAA sends new cards annually for us with new expiration dates."

It must vary by state.

AAA is divided into a number of regional companies.

sushipup is right but it can be looked at the other way around too.

There are several dozen regional and independent AAA organizations that operate on their own and with their own exclusive territories. They happen to have a voluntary national federation referred to as Triple A.

I stopped collecting those long ago, once I learned it was mainly for data farming. The memberships I have at some retailers are input by giving my ph. number now.

Even my library card is on my phone, in their app. I did a deep dive into the drawer where I toss my purse contents when I travel light or change purses. I found a bunch of gift cards, some from companies that have closed but others are still around. I should take a day to drive around and check on then, and buy something to use them up. Dumb reason I know, but could be fun.

" I stopped collecting those long ago, once I learned it was mainly for data farming. "

You must have assessed this practice leads to the likelihood of problems or personal risks for you. What are your concerns?

" You must have assessed this practice leads to the likelihood of problems or personal risks for you. What are your concerns? "

Why would you assume that's her reason? The reason I hesitate and consider whether I want to give out my email address isn't because of any personal risk, it's because I only give away valuable information if I get something worthwhile in return. I decide whether the "benefits" will actually be beneficial to me.

" Why would you assume that's her reason? "

Because she said so.

Who here wants more spam, I wonder?

@ bpath - are all the stores only local, or are some national chains? I've been able to find out the credit am't on old gift cards through the retailer's website.

You seemed to say it was a consequence of what you called "data farming". What's the connection?

When I first started working as the school lab tech at the high school in the next town over, I found the lab was in a horrible mess. The school had last had a proper lab technician about three years previously, and she had unexpectedly passed away during a term break, and the school had been unable to replace her. So for about two years the teachers had to do all their own lab set ups, and if I was being charitable I would say that a lack of time meant that when they put things away, they went anywhere, instead of where they were supposed to go.

Then they hired the daughter of the then registrar, who was studying tertiary level chemistry remotely. From what I observed of her when I was asked to come in for a couple of days to see if I was interested in coming in to temporarily take over while this girl went on maternity leave, she spent the bulk of her time studying on the computer and none of it cleaning.

When I did take over, I walked into a filthy (I’m talking when you pick something up off a grey shelf and discover it’s white due to the clean spot the item was covering) and very disorganised (very little equipment in the boxes the labels indicated they should contain) lab which was also a safety hazard due to the dangerous chemicals left sitting out. As it was the year’s last term, when experiment work slows down, I spent most of my time thoroughly cleaning everything and relocating it so it could easily be found. (Using a screwdriver to prise fossilised cow’s eyeballs fused onto the bottom of a large glass beaker I found in the fridge was not one of the things I had visualised myself doing when I took on the job 😳.)

Cleaning out one of the chemical storerooms and taking everything off the shelves to clean them down before returning the cleaned storage bottles and jars, I found tucked behind some of the storage jars a small, locked cash box. Using lockpicking skills garnered from playing a lot of video games and a pair of dissecting probes, I managed to get the box open. Inside I found the deceased lab tech’s school credit card, which she presumably kept in there for safekeeping as the chem store had a lock on it as well as the main lab door lock. Obviously, my immediate predecessor had not cleaned in there and so did not find it. It was long expired but I handed it in to the new school registrar.

Not so much membership cards, but I do find odd things when indeep clean. Old lists, souvenirs, memorabilia.

" Because she said so. "'

Where? I don't see it.

I love purses. I have about 30 so I like to rotate. When I do, I get rid of whatever is old at that time so I don't have old membership cards or anything like that.

But I do hate when I am interested in something on Facebook (usually a new purse) I have to give them my email address. This results in getting lots of "ad" emails that I then have to unsubscibe. But it's not that big a deal and I have gotten a few great purses that way. :)

I have a second email that I use to sign up for things.

I do that too.

" Where? I don't see it. "

As lawyers like to say in court - Asked and answered.

" As lawyers like to say in court - Asked and answered. "

Whatever, dude.

I downloaded the Key Ring app, took pictures of the ones I use/wanted to keep. All in one place. No credit cards, just the rewards type cards.

I'm on the other end of the spectrum. I refuse to give my phone number. It's funny to see the odd looks I get from the very young cashiers when I tell them my number is unlisted. If they insist, it's 234-5678. I'm no longer surprised when they'll give a different name than mine since others likely agree with the idea of NOT giving out phone numbers. Can you say spam? Stop giving out your number if you don't want spam.

I will use an app and there is often a card for the business on that.

" Stop giving out your number if you don't want ..... "

I ALWAYS provide my phone number when it's requested by a legit business or organization and I get very few unwanted calls.

I'm not sure what you do is a "solution" if there really is no problem.

One of my favorite Python skits. I wasn't arguing, It was a contradiction.

Oh, the irony!

Not irony, colleen. Astonishment and a slight bit of sarcasm.

No its not.

Excellent!