They’re everywhere: on the bus in the morning, at happy hour, and occasionally at work: prominently displayed ID badges. Reuters has an “oddly enough” article about D.C.’s love of nametags, saying that the city’s “denizens recognize it as Tagtown.” While we’ve never heard that nickname for our fair city, we do recognize the fact that people wear badges everywhere, and we are not impressed. The article quotes American University professor Edward Smith, who says:

“People wear these things as if they were bars on their uniform,” Smith said. “I think that some people, particularly young people, want that extra patina of prestige. In Washington, you are much more recognized as a position than as a personality.”

Sounds about right. However, we go out of our way not to look at people’s badges, though it is fun to see what kind of lanyards people have — those with Jagermeister lanyards get extra points. But please, at least do the right thing and tuck the badge into your front pocket.