As I completed yet another lottery ticket the other day in the hope that this was the very one that would at last make me a millionaire, I came across a series of questions that always puzzles me. Not because I can't give the answers - the questions are easy enough - but because I fail to see why the information should be sought on a lottery ticket. The questions asked were Nationality, Age, and Sex.
Why are the answers these three questions needed? Will it make any difference as to who has the winning ticket? Will the person (assuming it is a person) pull out a ticket and, on seeing at the information contained therein, say: "No, we can't let this person win, he's British!" Or perhaps it's the age that counts -too old to be a winner - it would not look good in the promotional events and be unlikely to entice the younger generation to future draws.
And, having completed your name and all other details, why ask what the person's sex is? Should I answer "yes" and see if I become a winner? It is a tempting thought. But then one look at my age by the scrutinisers and they would know that subject was the furthest from my thoughts.
I wonder if the idea of asking for a person's sex is to ensure that no transsexuals, transvestites, homosexuals or hermaphrodites win. And if that is the motive behind this curious question, then doesn't that amount to sexuality discrimination, no matter how obtusely it may be applied? Or is it that the promoters are trying to sort out the men from the boys, the girls from the women so that the preferred choice is successful?
Don't look at me for the answers, I don't have them. Other than knowing the filtering system, whatever method is employed, successfully manages to exclude me every time. This is sad, because it merely confirms me as the loser I know myself to be. It sure keeps my ego in check - although I have every reason to believe my ego checked out some time ago.
Questionnaires
The need for making enquiries of the aforementioned kind can crop up in all sorts of odd places. I truly believe some people put them in to questionnaires merely to fill an empty space on the form. Unless, of course, there is a more devious intention behind it all: To sell the information to a marketing company, enabling them to pester you with unwanted merchandise for the rest of your life. And you, not knowing who, where or why this information was gained, fail to put a stop to it.
Having got lost on unmarked new roads the other day, I found myself passing under the Salik toll gate. This was unfortunate, to say the least, for I had imagined I would be able to go through life constantly finding detours to save myself the couple of bucks expenditure whenever I needed to pass from Bur Dubai to Deira or back. But it was not to be. My usual circuitous route seemed to have been removed, or I failed to find it among all the ongoing roadworks. I can only assume the construction of the new roads, without signs, is a deliberate attempt to encourage drivers to buy a Salik toll card. So I did.
While completing the application form for a card, what did I see but an inquiry as to my nationality, age and sex. Since it is my car that I am registering (hence a photocopy of the registration) I am at a loss to know why this information is needed. Surely they cannot be asking me about my vehicle? I know its nationality - it's American. I know its age - five years old. But sex? I always refer to my car as a "she" as many eccentric Brits do, but I suspect my car resents this, as it does not always respond to my commands as quickly as I would wish. Maybe I should read its autobiography.
