ethical microchipping

Microchipping people has stirred up some ethical debates in the past. The usual arguements (some convincing, some not-so-convincing, some downright paranoiod) float around until they just seem to go away. It seems the time to make a case for microchipping people.

People have been microchipping their pets for some time, for very utilitarian reasons. If the pet gets lost, you scan the chip imbedded just under their skin, and you can get info placed on the chip when it was implanted. Usually this info is the owner's name, address etc. Chipping people so that they can be returned to their rightful owner, however, is not necessary. Chipping people so their actions can be 'edited' is extremely necessary.

What do I mean by 'editing'? Very simple really. For example, let's look at self check-out lines that have become popular at box-stores and grocery stores. The first time you use one of these devices, the store proprietors should be allowed to monitor your ability to use the device, then retain your performance statistics. Your 'score' would determine your authorization to use the self-checkout service, and this information would be stored on your chip. Therefore, if you are a reasonably intelligent, competent person, you would likely receive a passing score, and would be allowed to use the self-checkout lines. If, however, you are a drooling moron who, despite repeated tries, still doesn't understand that the device weighs each item after you scan it, so you must put it in a bag, your chip will reflect your inability to deal with simple tools and automatically tell the self-checkout machine to shut down upon your approach.

Critics of this plan would probably cry foul, that this is discrimination. Well... they would be right. But if you can move the morons out of the way, and convince them that having someone else scan and bag their groceries is a special service, then any perception of discrimination would be eliminated. The rest of us would be able to use the self-checkout lines without the fear of being stuck behind someone who scans their purchases and immediately puts them in their cart, then wonders why the device keeps 'stopping'.