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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI apologize if I've put this in the wrong place. It is neither important, nor particularly informative,
It does point to the fact that we are already on the downside of the zenith of civilization, I think.
Yesterday, I had occasion to call MasterCard Fraud to report some fraudulent charges on my card. Not Earth-shaking, but $3000+ is significant to a pensioner, I'd say. During a pretty rigourous ID process, she asked me how old I am, and I told her.
Her next question. "And how old will you be next year?"
It took me far longer to answer this than you might think, because I was stunned. After a couple of seconds and a deep breath, I employed a skill I've had for a while - being able to add "1" to pretty much any other number enabled me to absolutely nail it first time. Impressed with either my encyclopedic knowledge of chronology or advanced number theory, she decided I was legit and we moved on.
After more than an hour of being on hold, or navigating my way through their IVR, I got THAT. Time well spent, I think.
Tadpole Raisin
(1,891 posts)number of standard deviations below that she might be.
On the other hand to be generous it may have been a quick way to make sure you werent a fraudster as they would take much longer to answer the question because they arent really your age (if you just went by the BD - but having just given your age Im bending over backwards on this one. SNAP!!).
LoisB
(12,362 posts)PoindexterOglethorpe
(28,454 posts)If I ever get that question, I think I'll respond with, "I dunno. What is (my current age) plus one?"
Abolishinist
(2,886 posts)I'll be as old as my tongue and a little older than my teeth.
Abolishinist
(2,886 posts)Woodycall
(594 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(60,320 posts)Gaugamela
(3,232 posts)undermining the intelligence of US society. Im not speaking metaphorically here. And its not just the political mayhem and rampant spread of conspiracy theories. I see it all the time in individual behavior, like what you describe. Maybe Im just turning into a senior cliche, but people didnt operate like this when I was in my twenties, and I dont see it when I travel abroad. This country is starting to look like Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
chowder66
(11,845 posts)BoRaGard
(7,591 posts)if ever their was one
nuxvomica
(13,890 posts)While scammers can readily report the age of their thoroughly researched victims, they can easily be caught off guard with that question...
MC rep: What is your age?
Scammer: Why 67, of course.
MC rep: And how old will you be next year?
Scammer: 25. Why do you ask...? Shit!
Regardless, your thesis is correct. People are stupider.
eppur_se_muova
(40,966 posts)I'm guessing "Huh?" would be a red flag.