Why stupid people suck today.
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This morning as I was driving to the train station I was waved into a lay-by by a man in a high-vis jacket standing in the middle of the road. There were blue police style signs around and traffic cones blocking the main route. It all looked very official, lots of people in high-vis jackets and clipboards etc, but I quickly noticed that there were no actual police uniforms or cars anywhere. I was then approached by another gentleman who asked me for my full name and address. I very politely said, I was sorry, but I wasn't happy giving out personal information when he hadn't told me who he was. I also said I was on my way to catch a train and I was in a hurry, could I please continue. He told me I couldn't because I would have to wait for the 4 cars in front of me to finish. (Who were clearly totally happy to give out their personal details). I pointed out that It would have been nice for them to give me the option before forcing me into this voluntary traffic jam. He said it wasn't voluntary! This surprised me a little. How is answering travel questionnaires not voluntary. I didn't even give him any info anyway. So I missed my train. All because of 4 stupid people in front of me who were totally oblivious to the fact they were giving out all their personal details to total strangers. this problem of security works 2 ways: 1) Companies - If these people collecting data were legitimate they really should have had some ID. 2) People - If we all stop giving out our details to idiot companies unless they prove they have authority then they'll eventually stop asking.
Simon
As the prudential Kathrin Passig wrote, - quoted from memory: Any attempt at protecting our privacy is laughable. We've already given it up happily, all we can do is wave goodbye to it.
Don't attribute to stupidity what can be equally well explained by buerocracy.
My latest article | Linkify!| FoldWithUs! | sighistmodified on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:17 PM
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That's done here in Ontario, Canada, though it's done in a much more voluntary way. A group will set-up on the side of the road and take pictures of your car as you travel by. The photos are then scanned for the license plate and using department of transportaion information you eventually receive in the mail a voluntary survey to fill out. While it may seem a bit Big Brother like, it's all voluntary and surely doesn't impede your travelling. :)
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra]
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Or a motorbike. I often avoid roadblocks on the way to work by just doing a u-turn across the grass verge, right in front of the roadblock, with the cops watching.
Yeah, and you probably wearing a bullet-proof vest and titanium helmet…
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
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Yeah, and you probably wearing a bullet-proof vest and titanium helmet…
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
Nope. Our metro cops are quite laid back, and these are very routine road-blocks. As long as they have a queue of stopped cars to check licenses etc. they won't worry about me. This isn't Iran. Next time, I'll stop and get a photo for you before making my u-turn.
rules
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Veronica!
Tim Deveaux wrote:
Veronica!
Zemanova? OK, OK, I know it is the lounge... :-O
It is a crappy thing, but it's life -^ Carlo Pallini
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Nope. Our metro cops are quite laid back, and these are very routine road-blocks. As long as they have a queue of stopped cars to check licenses etc. they won't worry about me. This isn't Iran. Next time, I'll stop and get a photo for you before making my u-turn.
rules
Don't bother with a photo, I was just jocking.:)
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
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This morning as I was driving to the train station I was waved into a lay-by by a man in a high-vis jacket standing in the middle of the road. There were blue police style signs around and traffic cones blocking the main route. It all looked very official, lots of people in high-vis jackets and clipboards etc, but I quickly noticed that there were no actual police uniforms or cars anywhere. I was then approached by another gentleman who asked me for my full name and address. I very politely said, I was sorry, but I wasn't happy giving out personal information when he hadn't told me who he was. I also said I was on my way to catch a train and I was in a hurry, could I please continue. He told me I couldn't because I would have to wait for the 4 cars in front of me to finish. (Who were clearly totally happy to give out their personal details). I pointed out that It would have been nice for them to give me the option before forcing me into this voluntary traffic jam. He said it wasn't voluntary! This surprised me a little. How is answering travel questionnaires not voluntary. I didn't even give him any info anyway. So I missed my train. All because of 4 stupid people in front of me who were totally oblivious to the fact they were giving out all their personal details to total strangers. this problem of security works 2 ways: 1) Companies - If these people collecting data were legitimate they really should have had some ID. 2) People - If we all stop giving out our details to idiot companies unless they prove they have authority then they'll eventually stop asking.
Simon
I am perfectly willing to go further with this for you, by putting it through my complaints service. Please fill in the details below, to allow for the rapid processing of your complaint: Name .................... No, your real name .................... Address ...................................... ...................................... ...................................... Times When you are never home ............ to ............. ............ to ............. ............ to ............. Telephone Day ....................... Telephone Night ....................... Telephone other times ....................... Job title ............................. What your job title should really be .......................... Bank ...................... Bank address ...................................... ...................................... ...................................... Account number ......................... Pin/Pass number ............. Current balance ..................... Credit card number ......................... Secret number on the back of the credit card ............. Were you ever a member of the armed forces? Y/N Have you ever won any sporting events, e.g. boxing, judo, karate, sharpshooting? We will endeavour to complete all processes to our your satisfaction as soon as possible.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!