Last week, while I was at work in testing, a woman came in for some certification exam, I don't remember which.
I was getting her checked in, and at one point, I had to get a digital signature from her. She signed the pad, and I saw that she'd drawn a little cat face as part of her signature. She had an "i" in her name, the dot of the "i" was the cat's nose. I'll demonstrate via this dramatization:
It's my understanding that cursive is no longer taught in elementary school. I think my kids were taught cursive, but if so, they were of the last. Meego may not have made the cut. I know they learned keyboarding early on, whereas I took typing as an elective in high school.
When we collect signatures from people in their 20's and younger, the result is often a sloppy printed version of their name, as in this dramatization, using my non-dominant hand for accuracy:
I'm not saying it's wrong to no longer teach people cursive as there's very little use for it these days. Some things still require signatures, but maybe that's going away too. Some of the tests we give don't require signatures but rather fingerprints. I wonder, if I had to take a test that required a fingerprint, would it work? Our fingerprints wear down as we age and become less readable, so I'm told. Well, actually, I had to be fingerprinted multiple times in the recent past before I got a decent image, so I know first hand. Mine are on their way out.
*side note: I'm not a criminal. People who work in public schools get fingerprinted. Recall my illustrious lunch lady career*
Maybe eventually, people will just have chips inserted at birth, doing away with any need for proof of identity. "Handwriting" will be an ancient word in anthropological archives
Do you like your handwriting?
Yes I do like writing. But I'm an old fart.
ReplyDeleteI'm a member of that club.
DeleteSo I still write in script and when I worked at one office the youngins would sometimes come to me to ask me to read the script for them. I love it. But I love writing by hand in all kinds of handwriting. Just love it.
ReplyDeleteI've been writing more lately, and am having fun with cursive. It's fun when a youngster needs help deciphering cursive - like we hold the key to the rosetta stone!
Deletelol yes. They can't read script to save their lives, at times.
DeleteI like my handwriting and often get compliments on it. I'm upset that they quit teaching cursive since not only can't my Grandkids write it, they can't read it either. I don't like Electronic Signatures, it's a Criminal's Wet Dream... makes forgery effortless now to pretend to be anyone with an electronically generated legally binding agreement nobody ever actually signs and has notorized now.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate how everyone's cursive is unique. I recognize my own handwriting... even if I can't always read it 😐
DeleteI've been fingerprinted twice. Once when applying for a concealed carry permit and again when I was getting the job I currently have. If I ever commit a crime, I'll have to wear gloves for sure!!! I'll have to ask my daughter if they teach cursive at my grandson's school,
ReplyDeleteOh and I used to like my handwriting but since going to college years ago and taking copious notes, I have not been able to write good since!
ReplyDeleteMine is pretty messy, and the more I write the messier it gets.
DeleteI don't recall having to get fingerprinted at the care facility I worked at. Your workplace is probably higher class!