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.

Jay was telling me today about a recent story where Emma Clarke, the voice over artist who provides (until recently) the anouncements on the London Underground was sacked because some thing she said was not liked by LG. Never mind she was mis-quoted and has the right to freedom of speech, they still sacked her. And without even telling her - she found out in the paper.

There is speculation that one of the reasons LG have fallen out with her is because she made a series of recordings in the style of the LG recordings but humurous in nature, which she put up on her website. Here is one:

My favourite is:

Why can’t a person be employed by a company and be entitled to free speech without the risk of loosing their job? And why do recordings which are generally humorous in nature but reflective of the tube have to be a bad thing?

You know, I’m betting LGs lawyers heard the recording asking americans to keep their voice down and thought “Shit. Sack her, or the whole of america is going to sue us”.

BBC News Story

Emma Clarke Spoof LG Recordings

I came across Brain Haw (http://www.parliament-square.org.uk, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Haw) while reading this http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7124575.stm BBC news story on the winner of this years turner prize. I hope the winner of the £25,000 prize, Mark Wallinger, gives it all to Brain Haw. It would be a crime to profit by doing otherwise. I mean sure, he probably shelled out a bit to employ the 15 people for 6 months to make it (sadly though I don’t see their names next to WINNER) but still, Brian has been sat in the centre of London for over 6 years.

Right here (it’s a Quicktime VR movie, drag the image around..):

I think what he is doing is great and under our laws he has the right to do what he is doing. Until now. The police came and took away everything in the image above; all his legal documents, his personal items - everything. This was done under anti-terrorism laws because the objects apparently posed a threat and could possibly conceal explosives. Why they chose to do this in the middle of the night, and instead of search for explosives or terrorist threats take everything it’s either easy or hard to say depending on your perspective, but what can be said is that now this brave man who is standing in the face of so much opposition while he is speaking out for what is fair and just, now has nothing. What little effect he was having has been diminished as much as possible. The law has been twisted to oppress the very people it serves, and more depressingly in a way which never fully confronts the issue justly. It speaks volumes on our country. I’ll say no more about it for the time being.It is also interesting to note that the subject of him being there is an issue in itself as the government passed a law effectively making it illegal to protest within 1km of the capital buildings. Check out http://www.markthomasinfo.com/demo/, theres a lot of other really good information on his site relating to the subject.