Elton One

I just got ID’d again. Fuckin sick of it. Do I look like a kid? No. Is there anything I am too young to buy? I don’t think so. Of course I don’t carry my ID everywhere I go for fear of loosing either my passport or driving licence or birth certificate and there are no other acceptable forms of ID unless you pay for a citizen card or one of the many alternatives. I resent the fact that I am expected to carry ID. Why should I, and how does it even prove my identity or age anyway?

It wasn’t too bad but then ‘Challenge 21′ came out (if you look under 21 you get ID’d) and now we’ve got fucking ‘Challenge 25′. Why? You have to be 18 or over to buy alcohol and tobacco (and stupidly anything smoking related like rizlas which are made only of paper and gum) so why isn’t it ‘Challenge 18′? Who can even tell how old anyone is? I get ID’d all the time and I’m 24 so obviously the practice is inaccurate.

It’s all a pain but the real issue is by having such over-zealous regulations that retailers have to enforce themselves or risk financial penalties and legal action (in most cases the penalty is actually payable by the staff member involved!), people will reluctantly be forced to always carry ID and those who work in relevant industries will always ask for ID to protect themselves while becoming used to such a situation and accepting it. This is very advantageous for the Pro ID Card debate. If everyone is carrying ID already and sees it maybe not as agreeable, but ‘the way things are’, bringing out standardised ID Cards does not seem to much of a shock. Then bringing out biometric ID is not a great departure. Iris scans. DNA fingerprinting. Rectal probes. Where does it stop?

Here’s an interesting forum post with similar views: http://new.edp24.co.uk/cs/forums/1199144/ShowPost.aspx

I don’t like it. If large companies universally support the regulations there is very little any one can do but be forced to always carry ID. On the flip side I find it odd though that in most stores and call centres the staff will not give you their full name, even if you want to complain. As an example I had a call from the bank the other day and was asked to confirm my date of birth, address and sort code. I asked for some proof of their identification (if they were the bank they would be able to tell me my security code) but they would not so I discontinued the call. Large companies generate a great deal more financially than people (despite being sustained by the people) so when it’s a choice for the government between respecting the rights, freedoms and wishes of the people or making loads of cash with Tesco guess who comes out on top.

So what do we need? No IDing people, or a totally foolproof ID system? I don’t know but probably neither - definitely a rethink on how society works and what people and the planet need, not want. I do however find it very oppressive that carrying ID permanently is necessary and increasingly seen as acceptable not only to buy booze and fags but for a night out or to buy a train ticket or just to prove you are in fact yourself after having you identity stolen online.

Maybe everyone should just be rounded up and barcoded sooner rather than later - it seems to be the direction social liberties are heading in the UK.

While looking through the Apple site I came across this page: Airport Extreme 802.11n Enabler for Mac

I think it is totally shit of Apple to charge people $1.99 to ‘enable’ a function that already exists on their computer (and to release it free with a purchase of a Airport Extreme router thus locking you in to using Apple products even more). 802.11n support was left out on the release of computers with 802.11n compatible cards and now it makes me think this was done on purpose knowing that it would be the next wireless protocol and if left out it could be added as a pay for upgrade. That’s not cool. What next? Laptops that ship with out the screen working so you have pay a fee to see any thing? Or maybe you’ll have to pay every time you turn your computer on?

Apple - sort your fucking life out, make products that work and are productive and don’t be cunts by milking every last penny. You don’t need it and people need computers that work. It’s not that much to ask..