Why would IBM need to know a visitor's religion

Lisa Simpson

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From this week's commentary:

J.J., I had a grand time once many years ago when I visited the corporate offices of IBM, at their request, on business. There was a box on the get-an-identity-badge form I filled out, for “religion,” and I entered, “Druid.” I was questioned on it, a fuss was made, and I told them that they should inform the assembled IBM officers I was there to meet with, that I was unable to attend the conference. You can believe me when I tell you that the rules were quickly adjusted to meet my needs!
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Even "many years ago" why would IBM (or any other company) need to know the religious viewpoint of a person entering their building? Would they have denied a visitor's pass to someone less famous than Randi who claimed to be a Druid?

Maybe it's just that I'm young enough (hah!) that such an idea is unfathomable.
 
Some weird health and safety requirement - if you had an accident on the premises they knew the best way to treat your carcass?
 
considering IBM's reputation for bloat back in the day I fail to see why there has be a logical reason.
 
I'm more concerned with the guy called in for jury duty getting the boot for not having a religion. So much for a jury of my peers...
 
delphi_ote said:
I'm more concerned with the guy called in for jury duty getting the boot for not having a religion. So much for a jury of my peers...
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Well, of course you wouldn't get a jury with an atheist. Most atheists are already in prison, or are on the lam from the cops because atheists just can't stop raping and murdering and pillaging.

:p
 
Lisa Simpson said:
Well, of course you wouldn't get a jury with an atheist. Most atheists are already in prison, or are on the lam from the cops because atheists just can't stop raping and murdering and pillaging.

:p
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Without an imaginary friend in the sky to keep me in check, how can I resist?! I especially like the the first two. Pillaging is a little overrated.
 
Now we know what to write: "Flying Spaghetti Monster" :D


.....if Ed won't smite us, of course...
 
CFLarsen said:
Now we know what to write: "Flying Spaghetti Monster" :D (...)
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That should be a completely foolproof way of getting out of jury duty. Another benefit of this excellent religion. :)

If anybody is interested, it's much easier in Norway. The people being called to jury duty are almost exclusively from the membership lists of the various political parties. So just avoid politics. At least criminal politicians get a jury of their peers...

According to a recent survey, only 36 % of Norwegians consider themselves to be religious, so my guess is that they would even allow atheists (9 % of the population) to be jurors.
 
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The thing with IBM was that back in the early 1980's, just when they moved into computers and gave birth to the PC by chance, it would take them 18 months to ship an empty box (from order by customer to the customer getting the empty box).

Now, thanks to Randi, we know why it would take so long.

They were asking each other stupid questions about religion and not ones like "Why would someone order an empty box from IBM?"
 
Looking at the article about IBM on Wikipedia, it says--

...the infamous Control-Alt-Delete keystroke (David Bradley, 2001: "I invented it, but it was Bill [Gates] that made it famous"), also invented at IBM, is still frequently used on PCs running Windows operating systems.
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...the infamous Control-Alt-Delete keystroke (David Bradley, 2001: "I invented it, but it was Bill [Gates] that made it famous")
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Famous seems to be a bit of an understatement.
 
How about if I pillage a tv and it goes wrong - am I still protected under the consumer laws?-hodgy

Only if you have a tv licence.
 
Yes ok, really sorry about that. yes I goofed. I meant that IBM moved into Personal Computers, to compliment their Business computer range in the early 1980's to rival the Apple 2.

It still took them 18 months to ship the empty box though.
 
hodgy said:
How about if I pillage a tv and it goes wrong - am I still protected under the consumer laws?
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<Insert hot-button political rant about U.S. gun manufacturers being sued over acts committed with stolen guns>
 
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