Yeah, I can understand some FUBARS and confusion right after 9-11, but it's been a while. ;) I've always checked what documentation was needed before showing up to an agency.
Marriage, divorce, adoption, or just legal name changes -- all have legal documentation to go with them. If you lose them, there are means of getting them replaced too. While I'll grant the staff was either ill trained or jerks, the information is out there. I can understand an old woman not being internet savvy in finding it, but to go back 4 times? That doesn't make sense.
I suppose the reason why this strikes me as catering to the ignorant is because I've gone through name changes a few times in my life, and while it has it's hassles, it's really not unreasonable. Yeah there are several places to update, but that's pretty standard too. Irritating? yeah, but I'd rather some irritation than anyone being able to cry their way into a false ID at the DMV.
In getting my daughters ID's it's been the same thing. When I went on a cruise with my youngest daughter (15) last June, our last names were different and we had to provide extra documentation. I completely understood because hey, how can they know she's my daughter if I don't have proof? What if she wasn't my kid and was running away and I was taking her against her parents consent? That's why these rules are in place. As we were sorting it all out, you know what they said? "wow, thanks for being so understanding -- usually people scream at us and freak out and create a huge scene." They were incredibly helpful and we were on our way, but it was sad to hear how my reaction (reasonable) was the exception, not the rule.
If I didn't know the process well myself, I'd probably be more sympathetic, but it seems that the reporter is making these people out to be the victims, and honestly...they're not. Victims of rude staff, sure, but I don't think they're victims of an unfair process. *shrug*
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timeasmymeasure
Re: Thought that was standard
Date: 2009-11-06 03:40 pm (UTC)Marriage, divorce, adoption, or just legal name changes -- all have legal documentation to go with them. If you lose them, there are means of getting them replaced too. While I'll grant the staff was either ill trained or jerks, the information is out there. I can understand an old woman not being internet savvy in finding it, but to go back 4 times? That doesn't make sense.
I suppose the reason why this strikes me as catering to the ignorant is because I've gone through name changes a few times in my life, and while it has it's hassles, it's really not unreasonable. Yeah there are several places to update, but that's pretty standard too. Irritating? yeah, but I'd rather some irritation than anyone being able to cry their way into a false ID at the DMV.
In getting my daughters ID's it's been the same thing. When I went on a cruise with my youngest daughter (15) last June, our last names were different and we had to provide extra documentation. I completely understood because hey, how can they know she's my daughter if I don't have proof? What if she wasn't my kid and was running away and I was taking her against her parents consent? That's why these rules are in place. As we were sorting it all out, you know what they said? "wow, thanks for being so understanding -- usually people scream at us and freak out and create a huge scene." They were incredibly helpful and we were on our way, but it was sad to hear how my reaction (reasonable) was the exception, not the rule.
If I didn't know the process well myself, I'd probably be more sympathetic, but it seems that the reporter is making these people out to be the victims, and honestly...they're not. Victims of rude staff, sure, but I don't think they're victims of an unfair process. *shrug*