15 aug 07
For my new job I have a security badge to get in and out of the building. It has my name, a picture, and the department where I work, and that I am totally awesome. (It also says press on it, although I am not press. Do you think I could use it as a press pass? Can I get backstage? Can I? Can I?) I’m pretty sure it operates on an RFID tag, as does my MARTA card. So, if you are a couple of feet away from me during my workday and commute, you can track my movements at all times. Of course, if you are a couple of feet away from me during my workday and commute, you can watch my movements at all times.
A lot of people at work think having a badge is stupid or silly. They hide them in their pockets and only bring them out when they are coming or going. Since I am new, and since I don’t care, I pretty much own having to wear a badge. I throw the lanyard over my head when I leave in the morning and sometimes forget about it by the time I am home at night. I see a lot of people on the train in the morning with badges, too, and when I am out at lunch. It vaguely reminds me of when I used to have an office job that involved a lot of talking on the phone, and everyone would go out for break with their headsets on, because it was such a pain to have to get them situated just right again.
Tonight I was walking home from the station and I passed a guy on 8th Street going the opposite way. And, I swear, this is what really happened, I looked at him and his badge clipped on his pocket and he looked at me and my badge hanging around my neck, and then we said hello to each other.
Kelvin / 16 aug 2007 / 12:52 p.m.
I’ve been wearing a badge since 2002 or so, and I’ve been known to wear my badge to bars, public outings, and even on the weekends where I don’t even go to work! It’s just so routine to have my badge around for access to buildings, rooms, etc, that I too think nothing of it’s presence.
What’s always great is when somebody at a store or restaurant brings up the “Primate” part of my badge, and I have to explain to them what exactly that entails. Ooh bad choice of words, no pun intended.
-k
Tashya Dennis / 16 aug 2007 / 3:03 p.m.
That is so hot. I have been working in ATL for 3 years and no guy has ever stopped because of my badge. You r sooo lucky
jason / 16 aug 2007 / 5:06 p.m.
It reminds me of that Seinfeld episode where Frank Costanza had the idea that everyone should wear name tags so that people could be more friendly and personable with one another. Hello Sam! How ya doing, Joe? If I remember correctly, he got his neighbor’s son (George’s rival) to recommend this to Mayor Dinkins as part of his reelection campaign and was fired.
Cori / 16 aug 2007 / 9:41 p.m.
i had to wear a badge at my last job, since obviously wearing a badge is the number one way to keep people from shooting up schools. that lasted for a month or so, and then i just attached it to my keys. why i bothered, i don’t know… everyone thought i was a student for the first two months or so.
i have no idea if they’ll make me wear one at my new job - this school freaking latches all of their side doors open and doesn’t really question unfamiliar people (me) who happen to be walking around the building. they may as well as invest in a giant neon sign that says “everyone with the crazy is welcome here!!”
Meredith / 15 aug 2007 / 9:45 p.m.
Well, now I want a badge. I’m sold.