I don't need to read the article, it's well established that the average person acquiesces to perceived authority most of the time when they encounter it.
I figured it out in 1977 working for a private telcom company in Santa Clara.
We had no company uniforms or shirts, just our tool belts and butt-sets (clip-on test phone) bouncing as we walked along.
I was at one of our accounts adding some extensions, when my new (idiot) boss arrived to tell me some crap he thought was important, but wasn't.
After he finished his power trip I was a bit miffed and got cocky, saying to him, "See that computer room over there", as I pointed to the climate controlled sealed room with large glass windows and raised interior floor.
That room was full of large rack mounts computers, with large tape drives slowly starting and stopping and at least six white lab coat wearing people with clipboards walking from peripheral to peripheral looking very important, quite a futuristic looking scene at the time.
It was also guarded by a uniformed guy with a gun at the door and I told my (idiot) boss "Bet I can just walk right in that room", and he took the bait, so before he could say anything, I quickly started walking across the large room full of desks and such.
Just before reaching the guard, I made eye contact with him and he opened the door for me without a word! I thanked him, walked in, walked around the racks and people, looked behind a couple of pieces of gear and walked out.
There were no phones or phone equipment in that room, I knew that, and so did my boss, who was furious when I got back to him.
So I got another empty lecture and threatened with termination, but also knew my (idiot) boss really was an idiot, oh, and using my tool belt and a butt-set would open just about any doors for me.
So, I agree, if someone looks like they have a reason for being somewhere, they will only be questioned by authoritarians, then it's nearly always bad news with those kind, even if one has a legit reason to be somewhere.
So look for that Big Ring of Keys folks, it's the sure sign of one.
Reminds me of being a junior engineer doing radio signal measurements before and after a network optimisation.
With slightly worn hi-vis shirts, clipboards and our portable RF spetrum analyser, we got into all sorts of places from airport lounges (pre 9-11), F1 racetrack a few days before the big race to hotel suites and several corporate office buildings. We were always polite and asked permission before entering private property, but not once did anybody check our IDs nor call to confirm our story.
I figured it out in 1977 working for a private telcom company in Santa Clara.
We had no company uniforms or shirts, just our tool belts and butt-sets (clip-on test phone) bouncing as we walked along.
I was at one of our accounts adding some extensions, when my new (idiot) boss arrived to tell me some crap he thought was important, but wasn't.
After he finished his power trip I was a bit miffed and got cocky, saying to him, "See that computer room over there", as I pointed to the climate controlled sealed room with large glass windows and raised interior floor.
That room was full of large rack mounts computers, with large tape drives slowly starting and stopping and at least six white lab coat wearing people with clipboards walking from peripheral to peripheral looking very important, quite a futuristic looking scene at the time.
It was also guarded by a uniformed guy with a gun at the door and I told my (idiot) boss "Bet I can just walk right in that room", and he took the bait, so before he could say anything, I quickly started walking across the large room full of desks and such.
Just before reaching the guard, I made eye contact with him and he opened the door for me without a word! I thanked him, walked in, walked around the racks and people, looked behind a couple of pieces of gear and walked out.
There were no phones or phone equipment in that room, I knew that, and so did my boss, who was furious when I got back to him.
So I got another empty lecture and threatened with termination, but also knew my (idiot) boss really was an idiot, oh, and using my tool belt and a butt-set would open just about any doors for me.
So, I agree, if someone looks like they have a reason for being somewhere, they will only be questioned by authoritarians, then it's nearly always bad news with those kind, even if one has a legit reason to be somewhere.
So look for that Big Ring of Keys folks, it's the sure sign of one.