This seems to examplify something i've noticed (and has been noted frequently by many others in the past) about the american national mindset. American culture seems to have this almost slavish devotion to following writern rules even though they may be illogical or impractical. Bill Bryson made a very good example of this some years ago when he was trying to check in for an internal US flight. They asked him for some sort of ID. so he produced his old divers licence which they refused to take because it was no longer valid, nerv mind that it still baring his name, photo and other details. he then produced a copy of his latest book which had his name in big letters on it and his photo printed on the back; but because niether an expired drivers licence or the book was a list of approved forms of ID they wouldn't let him on. never mind that both actually did the job that the ID check was for, it didn't fit with what was writern. every time i'm in the states it's omethign that baffles me (actually many things baffle me about the states; years of travel only seem to enhance that wonderful feeling of culture-shock). I suppose it's the same mindset that gave rise to the compensation culture, sueing for the stupidest things totaly ignoring commonsense (abit like the British insistance on playing cricket, but more profitable). but when people let burocracy get in the way stuff like this,... it's just sickening,...
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2005-09-21 09:56 am (UTC)American culture seems to have this almost slavish devotion to following writern rules even though they may be illogical or impractical.
Bill Bryson made a very good example of this some years ago when he was trying to check in for an internal US flight. They asked him for some sort of ID. so he produced his old divers licence which they refused to take because it was no longer valid, nerv mind that it still baring his name, photo and other details. he then produced a copy of his latest book which had his name in big letters on it and his photo printed on the back; but because niether an expired drivers licence or the book was a list of approved forms of ID they wouldn't let him on. never mind that both actually did the job that the ID check was for, it didn't fit with what was writern.
every time i'm in the states it's omethign that baffles me (actually many things baffle me about the states; years of travel only seem to enhance that wonderful feeling of culture-shock).
I suppose it's the same mindset that gave rise to the compensation culture, sueing for the stupidest things totaly ignoring commonsense (abit like the British insistance on playing cricket, but more profitable).
but when people let burocracy get in the way stuff like this,... it's just sickening,...