Getting Carded
Getting Carded
By Kathy Reschini Sweeney
First off - sorry this blog is late. Last night was Halloween and so forth. So since I am already apologizing for the time, I will also apologize for typos since I am writing this live and on the fly.
So - when was the last time you got carded? If you go to the movies at Lowe's in Pittsburgh, you get a free one - apparently they card everyone now. Because I look like many things, but 20 is not one of them.
A couple of years ago, near the end of a Locks of Love project (hair everywhere, including in my face all the time) I got carded at Best Buy over a video game for my son. A GAME.
I remember dreading getting carded - of course, that was when the card I was using was not exactly the one issued to me by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Funny how when you are 19 and cute (and who isn't at that age?) the bouncers don't seem to spend much time checking formal credentials, especially if you choose the right v-neck. That's right. I admit it - I used cleavage to manipulate. Anyone who hasn't really should try it out because - and no offense to the mature and gracious Men of The Blog - other men are stunningly dumbstruck if they think they are going to see a breast or two. Don't spend much time trying to figure it out - you end up with a Greek tragedy or some Freudian images you're simply better off without.
Then, I went throught the phase of being flattered by being carded. This did not last. Because once you hit 40, who gives a damn what some idiot sitting on a bar stool outside on the sidewalk thinks? It's not like these guys are known for their observational or critical thinking skills - they usually have no discernable neck.
Now, getting carded irks me from a Constitutional standpoint. I get merchants requests because that helps prevent fraud, although so few actually do it, that it's laughable. Try writing "Ask for ID" on the back of your debit/credit card and see how many times people actually look at the damn thing. Even people who clearly have necks can be thick-headed too. But this business of people asking for your social security number to buy cold medicine? No. Freaking. Way. I don't even like my doctor's tracking data that way (that's how insurance companies do it too - your health care ID number is probably a not-so-cleverly disguised part of your SSN) and they have to comply with a ton of state and federal regs. You should know that you are not obligated to give out your SSN to everyone including the pizza delivery guy. And don't carry your SSN card in your wallet - geez - that is still one of the primary original souces to confirm your actual identity - if someone steals your wallet and they get your SSN card - buh-buy credit rating!
And all those "Special Member" cards that get you discounts at your grocery store/department store/gas station/strip club/electronics store/gun show/movie theater - they are great as long as you know that they are tracking and selling your data. Forwarned, and so forth.
Finally, at age 50, one enters a whole new era of carding - the DISCOUNT phase. That's right, my friends - don't scoff at those pretty, red, white and blue AARP cards - those things are little gold mines. Hell, I don't mind telling anyone how old I am if I can get into the movies for half price - have you been to the movies lately? They're priced more like thee-ahhh-ter tickets than thee-ter tickets. 
What about you? Got carded lately?
