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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.
Remember how easy and convenient air travel was before people realized they could throw planes at buildings? Now you get the TSA.
I have a friend who was inspired by the Abignale story to create his own Southwestern Bell employee ID. He used the artwork off his phone bill and a laminator. The result passed scrutiny of a cop who wanted to know why he was performing some late night "maintenance" on a phone box. Between his fake ID, a Bell hard hat and a tool belt with all the proper pieces including a butt set he could go just about anywhere.
Hey, these days, if you say you want to show a new phone guy your butt-set, he thinks your gay and hitting on him, crazy!
One service tech complained to his boss about me, who later told me (small town) that he had to explain to the guy what a butt-set was and that I wasn't hitting on him, I was just making small talk.
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…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
A classmate of mine who was a teenager in Las Vegas in the 80's used to tell me that he would get together with his friends, dress up in suits, dumpster dive for conference badges that had defects or typos, and just walk into conferences like CES. He also claimed his mates would go out into the desert to find orgies and break them up with bottle rockets. People were too scared about being busted and were too busy run…
Wtf? People do that in the desert?
It’s a wacky place. (I’m In Vegas as i type.)
As a cyclist, I've worn a hi-vis vest while walking around after riding, and it's been weird how many people assume that I am a repair guy or even a police officer. The thesis of the article matches my experience. If you wear the vest confidently you could probably get into many things free.
I've walked confidently into concerts (deadmau5!), sports games, bars, sales events.....