Protecting Our Financial Institutions from Midgets and the Handicapped (488 hits)
Category: Business & FinancialRating: 1.5 on 8 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Rubixxcube (View user info) at 2006-11-03 14:30:15 EST
I think its a great idea that everyone is very security conscious these days. What I don't like is the fact that it really is only perceived security and the holes in our secuirty systems are very absurd in several areas.
For example,you are stripped of nail clippers and some similiar items by airport security however many of these items or similiar ones are still sold in many gift shops in airports past the security checkpoints. A short list of items you can buy at the gift shop: belts with sharp metal buckles, brooches with long pins, stain-glass ornaments shaped like death stars, wine bottles in metal holders and metal toy fighter jets with long nose-cone needles.
Another example of great security came at the US-Canadian Border. A few months back my fiance and I were coming back into the US from Niagara Falls. We are asked for our ids etc. and they ask my fiance where she was born(She was adopted from Korea). She tells them she was born in korea and they ask to see her naturlization/citizenship papers. We conveniently had brought a copy of the originals but the guard tells us that these are not acceptable since they are copies and that they must see the originals. In fact it is illegal to make copies so we get this 5 minute lecture on how she broke the law by making copies and she shouldn't be allowed back into the country and she should be arrested blah blah blah... but then he lets us back into the US and tells us to bring the originals next time. I was releived that we were not detained and were allowed back into the country but also slightly dismayed at the fact that we were merely told that next time bring the original. It's a shame to know that our northern border is protected like this but on a posistive note any illegal immigrants or terrorists feel free to take the rainbow bridge into the US from Canada and ask for Brad as everybody gets 1 free pass into the US from Brad but just be sure to bring your ID next time, really, we don't mind.
This brings me to my current situation. Recently at my job the company(A financial institution/Major credit card company) has announced that they would be spending lots of money to beef up security at our building. So in several entrance ways to the building they installed these wonderful turnstyles that you must swipe a card through to open to get out of the lobby (Now is a good time to look at the picture below).
I want to know why we wasted our money on these kindergarden turnstyles. Notice that the turnstyles are a gigantic 3 feet high but don't worry there are large 3 foot walls right next to them. I have inquired with several people at my company as to who exactly these turnstyles were meant to keep out. Clearly you don't need to exactly be an olympic hurdler or expert climber to get over the 3 foot wall directly next to the turnstyle. Seriously who are we protecting ourselves from, non athletically inclined midgets and cripples in wheelchairs? I was told not to worry that security is close by in case somebody tries to circumvent the trunstyles or if someone illegally opens a gate. If you look closely you will see the gates that open and close are made of glass and on many occasions my id has not triggered the gate fast enough and I was simply able to push the glass open with my hand. A minor alarm went off, others around me laughed and no security came, I even sat by the gate and gave them 5 minutes but alas I was left alone. Sometimes now if I am lazy and don't feel like getting my badge out I simply push them open and keep on walking. Even if security were to come I could have probably just bribed them with some ensure and a box of depends as I think the average age of our security staff is in their early 60's. A few months back somebody was mugged in our parking lot so now security escorts to your car are avaialable. No thanks, about the only thing maryanne, the 50 year old 4 foot tall women securiy guard, would be good for in that situation is to act as my human shield while I run to my car. Its great that we are taking steps to protect our business, our employees and your personal information but hey maybe in the future we get some security gates that would at least keep out children and hire some security guards that don't have osteoporosis.
User Reviews
Submitted by ripple (user info) at 2006-11-04 11:51:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
meh
Submitted by kuroneko_sama (user info) at 2006-11-04 06:38:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
i work for a hotel with no locks on the main enterance and one staff on the overnight... there was a discussion on how the 2 locking doors on the side were a security risk because one was found propped open. even though the main enterance that is never locked cannot be manned the entire shift due to the one staff neededing to do other things that involve leaving the main enterance.
i just said the only way to be secure is to have guests lock their rooms, or lock the entire facillity.
Submitted by rodyarask (user info) at 2006-11-03 18:02:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I used to work as "Chief of Security" as a location similar to your building. This so-called-security is there just to make you feel better. There is no actual security. The guards make 10 bucks an hour (at most, sometimes 7) and most cannot be trusted to put on their own pants. I once had to send a guard home to change because she SHARTED (tried to fart, but crapped a little) in her pants, at work. Another one had to be taught how to USE THE PHONE. I am not kidding. They are basically there to call the cops in case anything happens, but I was always afraid that the ones on my staff would not be able to even do that. One or two of them would have figured out to call 911, but would still have problems explaining where the cops should go. Once the fire alarm went off and I watched this moron ask the fire-truck driver "Who are you here to see, sir?" before opening the gate for him (I had to yell at him to do it, the driver was just baffled into silence). Just thinking about that job right tnow makes me want to cry. Do not expect any improvements.
Submitted by thesushiking (user info) at 2006-11-03 17:58:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
It's not about actually keeping people out. It's all about letting you know that there's someone there watching.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panopticon
Submitted by Maltese (user info) at 2006-11-03 17:52:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-11-03 15:43:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
We are asked for our ids etc. and they ask my fiance where she was born(She was adopted from Korea). She tells them she was born in korea and they ask to see her naturlization/citizenship papers
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She shoulda just said, 'no habla ingles', and they would have given her a pass right through.
Submitted by coley (user info) at 2006-11-03 14:59:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I have inquired with several people at my company as to who exactly these turnstyles were meant to keep out. Clearly you don't need to exactly be an olympic hurdler or expert climber to get over the 3 foot wall directly next to the turnstyle. Seriously who are we protecting ourselves from, non athletically inclined midgets and cripples in wheelchairs?
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HEH
they're more dangerous than you think
WHICH IS EXACTLY WHERE TEH DANGER LIES...in the SURPRISE ATTACK
Submitted by Amontillado (user info) at 2006-11-03 14:33:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Midgets will take over the earth if we don't put walls everywhere.