After moving house earlier this year, I noticed something very strange when I was updating my electoral enrolment details.
The lengthy form concludes with a request that you leave your “signature or mark”. Eh? Mark?
Now, I’m not completely certain what the government considers a “mark” – perhaps an official stamp of some sort? Imagine the delightful pretentiousness of being able to affix a wax seal to routine government forms.
But let’s be realistic: nobody can really afford to pump out wax seals every time they need to leave their mark. Won’t really work on the back of a credit card, either. That’s why I’m thinking that a gob of your own mucous would also surely suffice. You’ll be able to indignantly slag off shopkeepers in the face every time you need to reach for your MasterCard!
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I think that spit should qualify… I mean.. it contains your DNA, and what more do you need than someone entire genome.
Making your mark is for people who, for whatever reason – physical incapacity, illiteracy, etc – are unable to sign their name. Instead, they’d make their mark, typically an X to indicate agreement, which is then witnessed by another person, who is able to identify them.