Rogues’ Blog: Privacy Policy Read Aloud to Entire Queue

FICTIONAL SATIRE | All institutions, scenes and dialogue are invented. The target is institutional behaviour, not disabled people.

The fictional Ballycommon Collection Desk has strengthened confidentiality by asking everyone in the waiting area to confirm they cannot hear the person being served.

Manager Mr Gloss described this as a listening exercise. A customer suggested moving sensitive conversations away from the till. Mr Gloss explained that the privacy screen was already in the annual report, where it offered excellent protection from criticism.

Stan put a small sign beside the counter: Would you prefer to speak somewhere private? The first person pointed to it. A colleague quietly showed them where to go. Nobody explained their reason to a roomful of strangers.

Management requested a copy of the successful interaction for the newsletter. Stan offered a photograph of the sign. Mr Gloss was disappointed. It contained no confidential information at all.