I teach an underwater photography class at a university. One night a few years ago, we were going to do a night dive and a thunderstorm rolled in. Scuba diving and lightning don't mix, so we had to cancel the dive.

Students were all 21 or 22, and decided they wanted to go to a local pub for dinner, and asked me to join. I decided to go, and when we got to the pub the door guy was taking his job really seriously. He was examining their IDs super close, bending them and shining a flashlight through them, etc. It was taking a while because he was doing this for each of my students.

When I got to him and started handing over my ID, he just looked at me and said, "You're good, man."

[–] Flocklesscrow@lemm.ee 24 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Scuba, lightning, AND emotional damage. What a night

[–] gezginorman@lemmy.ml 37 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

2019 borns are 60 now, feel old yet?

[–] sepi@piefed.social 6 points 3 weeks ago

Bro 2019 is only 30 years ago!

[–] TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 27 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (3 children)

If you were born in 19XX and are somehow still getting ID'd then you're one of the lucky ones.

[–] MutilationWave@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Many places in the US make it mandatory, of course even then you have places that give a shit and some that don't. Where I lived twenty years ago the cops were getting 20 year old girls made up and wigged to look like old ladies, send them in to try to buy a bottle, and if the employee didn't check ID they were guilty of a crime, with the employee and the business fined thousands of bucks.

I don't know if cops still pull that shit or they'd rather use their time to physically abuse people.

[–] Unforeseen@sh.itjust.works 12 points 3 weeks ago

I don't know if cops still pull that shit or they'd rather use their time to physically abuse people.

[–] jballs@sh.itjust.works 7 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I guess technically there are people who are still 25 that were born in the 1900s. So not completely unreasonable.

But yeah, as someone born in the 1900s and not anywhere near my 20s, I just wanted to share what hopefully is a common experience:

Like many people, I got a new driver's license when I turned 21. Being 21, I was in the best shape of my life, looked nice and fit, still had hair, etc.

Fast forward 10 years when I need a license renewal, and I can just do it all online, no need for a new picture. Fast forward another few years when life has taken it's toll a bit - no longer in good shape, hair is a distant memory, etc. I went out to a restaurant and ordered a beer, and the waitress goes "this ID doesn't look like you at all."

Oof.

[–] TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

True, I guess I was being a bit Eurocentric when I made my comment and completely forgot about the US drinking age. I don't even know if that applies to all states or not...?

I went out to a restaurant and ordered a beer, and the waitress goes "this ID doesn't look like you at all."

Haha that's definitely an oof 💀

[–] Noodle07@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

I'm from Europe and somehow I got carded like 3 or 4 times in my life and I was 18+ at the time even though I bought stuff like alcohol before that. It feels so weird to me but now that I'm older I'm shocked of all the things I got away with

[–] TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

True, it feels like places are a lot more strict about it now than they used to be.

When I was younger, despite it technically not being legal, it was normal to let teenagers drink in pubs, because it was seen as better to have them there where adults could keep an eye on them than out on the street at night. That just isn't a thing in pubs anymore in my experience.

(My experience is based on the UK and Ireland, I'm not sure about elsewhere)

[–] Demdaru@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah, it is more strict. Parents are bombarded with pedophilia news 24/7, same as kidnappings, bullying, deaths...

Meanwhile buisnesses are under constant threat of checks from authority and a lot of legal threat in case shit goes down the drain.

We made world safer, but also...dry and constricting. And then people wonder what's up with generations becoming less social.

[–] Noodle07@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

Yeah if theres a control and 1 kid buy alcohol the business is done for and the owner is in for a lot of troubles too

[–] Emi@ani.social 2 points 3 weeks ago

It's all for The greater good.

[–] Khrux@ttrpg.network 4 points 3 weeks ago

For me it's the weird ones. I never get ID'd buying alcohol, and it's got to the point where I often don't bring it out (I don't drive). But then I'll be buying a wood file where I need to be 16+ and get ID'd.

[–] sexy_peach@feddit.org 24 points 3 weeks ago

It will stop entirely at one point

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 16 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (3 children)

I wish it was that fast for me. I literally grew a 4 inch long half gray beard for my ID, born in the early 1980s, and yet they still gotta scan the barcode on the back of my ID.

Like hell, ain't I already ugly enough to obviously be old enough to [redacted]?

[–] metaStatic@kbin.earth 22 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

barcode

the fuck?

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 16 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Um, yes, it's been a thing in the USA for like 20+ years. The back side of our ID cards has a barcode.

I keep all my old ID cards, and just double checked, my ID from 2004 already had a barcode on it.

[–] metaStatic@kbin.earth 5 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

not surprised at all but was kinda expecting some place I'd never heard of.

[–] Cavemanfreak@lemm.ee 3 points 3 weeks ago

We have them in Sweden as well, on our driver's licenser (which double as ID cards). Or rather, it's actually QR codes, but practically it works the same.

[–] kernelle@0d.gs 2 points 3 weeks ago

Cannot recall how long they've been there but EU passports have barcodes too. A 2D matrix on the back.

[–] Zwiebel@feddit.org 3 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Does it not have rfid?

[–] notthebees@reddthat.com 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Some states do. New York, Washington, Vermont and Michigan have enhanced driver's licenses with RFID tags. But it's optional and largely used for border crossings into Canada. More states are apparently looking into this.

I live in Pennsylvania so my state ID is just barcode

[–] PieMePlenty@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I wouldnt be surprised if american id's were just a laminated piece of paper.

[–] halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world 10 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Sometimes, it's just for the (digital) paperwork. Especially if it's a larger company, easier to link an ID scan to a sale for legal protection of their sales license.

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago

Pretty much yeah. It's usually to protect the new cashiers that just don't particularly know you yet.

And I totally respect that, I don't want them getting in trouble or losing their job for not following official procedures.

[–] Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world 9 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I used to think this was normal. Few years ago I moved to England and have not once been carded. I don't even have local ID outside of my UK passport. People even remark how young I look for my age and still nothing.

[–] over_clox@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Oh, cool cool 👍

It's not usually a problem for me, at least in my hometown area, unless they recently hired new employees that don't yet know me. Totally understandable.

[–] Rusty@lemmy.ca 15 points 3 weeks ago

Be glad that you look young enough that cashiers/bartenders still ask for your ID.

[–] gmtom@lemmy.world 9 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Memes from 2018

[–] stebo02@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

yeah which 26 year old still has to show their id lol

[–] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 12 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I'm approaching 40 and I get carded fairly often compared to my friends.

[–] Flocklesscrow@lemm.ee 7 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Millennials' superpower is not looking as haggard as other generations

[–] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 4 points 3 weeks ago

I don't have any kids too. I think that has helped.

[–] UltraGiGaGigantic@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 weeks ago

I am from the past also.

[–] WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today 7 points 3 weeks ago

Someone somehow mistuck me for a 19 year old. I'm 29 and feel 10.000

[–] Goldholz@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 3 weeks ago

I got asked for my ID on a christmas market recently. Made me feel cute for the moment

[–] Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I never got carded... ive looked clearly old enough to drink since i turned 20 😞

[–] TriflingToad@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 weeks ago

woah OP is 2,006 years old!

[–] tetris11@lemmy.ml 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I look forward to the time when my age and the last two digits of my birth year match. It's impossible to predict or calculate, and not even world best supercomputers can comprehend it.