July 11, 2009 | In: Politics and Society
Paranoid security
It’s good to be concerned with personal security at times. Things like encrypting sensitive computer files (like bank details, account details, personal information, and porn, as you’d never know when you misplace that data drive), installing deadbolt locks, and lugging around pepper spray. With what’s mucking about these days, you’d never know.
However, it’s irritating when other people try to do it for you. Just last week, I visited a bank and they were locked down like the Armageddon is coming. The security guards were frisking everyone like virgin teens raring to go to third base. They had to open the door and lift security shutters before letting anyone in. I asked the manong why he was trying to cop a feel and he said “Bomb scare kasi, ser.”
Oh yeah. The recent bomb scares in Quezon City and the bombings down south. Any jaded Filipino would dismiss these threats as propaganda leaving one to wonder whether the guards are just doing their jobs or plain manyak.
That should make any commercial institution paranoid as hell. Apart from the A(H1N1) thing, of course. Even without those “threats,” mall guards will still be searching you even if most don’t even have a clue what they’re looking for. (Unless, of course, you enter through parking lot entrances. In those cases, a quick flick of the metal detector’s enough.) Makes you wonder where is the most efficient hiding place on your person for a bomb just in case you happen to be an extremist or a psychopath.
Anyway, these things you just have to put up with. How many mishaps have they prevented through frisking? No one knows. It’s just a way to discriminate against people and not just with that class bullcrap. It’s just that these people are just protecting their businesses by thinking they know what’s best for you.
And guess which business is booming these days – surveillance gear. The next scandal to come out in the near future – boso videos and mall babes gone wild.
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