Thread: Bureaucracy Gone Mad?

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

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The final indignity was that after losing the card for three weeks it was found where SWMBO had had a clear up and swept up the wallet with some other gear!

I am going to look at the positive side of this, at least it was not stolen.

Time to get LOYL's eyes checked I think a wallet is no small item to not see when sweeping. There must not have been any $$$$ in it or she would have never missed it. See plastic can be a good thing.

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

. . . .The final indignity was that after losing the card for three weeks it was found where SWMBO had had a clear up and swept up the wallet with some other gear!

Reminds me of a friend of mine who had her handbag stolen from inside her house while she was asleep. The bag also had her wallet and full set of keys (house, cars, boat etc) in it.
As you can imagine replacing all cards, keys and locks etc cost was a right PITA. 2 weeks later while doing some gardening out the front of her place, the handbag with all the keys in it an the wallet (minus cash) was found behind a large shrub.

Originally Posted by wheelinround

Time to get LOYL's eyes checked I think a wallet is no small item to not see when sweeping. There must not have been any $$$$ in it or she would have never missed it. See plastic can be a good thing.

I agree . She scooped up a pile of items off the table, she has worn glasses ever since I have known her and you're absolutely right about the lack of money as she got that before it ever reached the wallet .

Consequently I spent three weeks of angst.

One thing I am reviewing is the wisdom of keeping so much plastic in the same wallet .

Regards
Paul

Best ever example of bureaucratic BS I have ever heard was during the Viet Nam era.

Some Bloke in a high up military office sent for a file - as was the sop's in those days you initialed the cover as well as any additions or deletions. One day he sent for a file, initialed it, then discovered it had been security upgraded beyond his level so he sent it back. About a month later it came back with a very terse notice attached ordering that he erase his initials and initial his erasure.

Do I really need to say any more..................

There is also the story of the NSW Public Service Department (Lands I believe) in the seventies that ran out of order forms for ordering order forms. The place ground to a halt for about a month before they could get things going again.

Seriously though, my paranoia about the information being kept on everyone nowadays is getting a bit out of control. I know the excuse is that it is harmless unless you are one of the "them" but the definition of "them" is alarmingly flexible. Anyone who grew up or experienced Eastern Europe or Russia in the fifties, sixties and seventies can tell you about the misuse of all of this kind of information. And now that auto face recognition technology is becoming inexpensive I can see a society where your every movement is tracked. The potential for misuse is staggering. Im glad they at least tell you what they know about you because its a fraction of what they actually know about you.