Quarter Life Crisis

The world according to Sven-S. Porst

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143 words

It’s a bit of a tradition that our friends over in the UK consider themselves to be different, even better, than everybody else in Europe. While in London last weekend I had the impression that pretty much every single person said something where ‘Europe’ was used as opposed to ‘Britain’ rather than considering the latter a part of the former. I just don’t get that. Particularly as it mainly means the inconvenience of having to exchange money and carry a passport just for leaving the country. How 20th century!

The point was charmingly rubbed in by the ticket I got at the design museum. I got a student ticket and it was labelled as Overseas Student Museum Admission.

Design Museum Ticket

Perhaps I’m just missing the irony here, but next let’s discuss whether their ticket design and typeface choices are worthy of a design museum…

September 13, 2007, 0:06

Comments

Comment by Thomas: User icon

Two things…

First of all the currency thing… annoying indeed, but then again, our economy has been doing a lot better then most of Western Europe for the last 7 years or so. Take your pick.

Secondly, if I would go to Germany, even coming from a Schengen country I would still have to bring my passport. Regardless. Because of Ausweispflicht, something that is not needed here whatsoever (even though the government wants to change it).

Just my 2 (insert local currency here).

Thomas

September 13, 2007, 10:46

Comment by ssp: User icon

I don’t know or care too much about ‘the economy’ to be honest. In particular, I’m not sure what exactly ‘the economy doing well’ means and whether it translates to most people having a better life. I don’t necessarily think that the latter is the case in the UK.

Similarly I’m not sure about the Ausweispflicht. I don’t think you actually have to carry your ID card at all times (you just have to own one and to show it when asked to by authorised people), but from a practical (rather than legal) POV you can run around Schengen countries without showing your ID card for quite a while, while travelling to the UK without it will leave you stuck at the border.

And even there the main inconvenience is the queueing at immigration rather than carrying that piece of paper.

September 13, 2007, 11:39

Comment by Thomas: User icon

Economy in this case probably means that more people have a job. And that is always good… regardless of the standard of living.

And it is my understanding that in Germany you have to be able to show your ID at any time… I was once told off by Dutch border patrol for not taking my passport to Germany. Not carrying it could result in a big fine.

To quote Johan Cruijff (Not that I care about football or so)… Elk voordeel, heb zijn nadeel.

Thomas

September 14, 2007, 16:16

Comment by John: User icon

Anyone who uses Arial should never be allowed to impart principles of good design.

September 16, 2007, 6:30

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