Can you articulate* exactly the asking of ID offends you?
Is it simply because it is "against the rules" and you feel the need to be the unofficial enforcer of said rules? Is it because you fear the Rain Man will memorize your information and come get you in the middle of the night?
Yes, my questions are sarcastic, but know that I get offended also. For me, it's simply that I feel I have been accused of being a bad person just by the question. It's as if they're saying, "We think you're a thief, prove your innocence.". There's always that underlying presumptive body language and tone of guilt (yours) when they ask, also... then they get all cheery after you've successfully jumped through the hoops. I'm sorry (not really), but that offends me.
Some say, "I don't mind, they're matching me with my card and protecting me.". I don't buy that because I have zero-liability**. If zero liability were to cease, I would probably suck it up and be more accepting of ID checks, even if they remained against the rules, because at that point they would be protecting me (to some degree).
Oh, and the whole "I can get a fake ID in 30 seconds" bit is just laughable. Don't even go there.
Thanks for playing. :-)
* - Articulate does not include cut-and-paste responses. This thread is not about what to do, but rather how you think and/or feel.
** - Granted, 'zero liability' is not foolproof and does not work all the time, but it does a vast majority of the time.
I don't get offended. I take two approaches.
1. If there is a line behind me, I comply, show an ID (preferably my military ID as no key information is on the front, the SSN is on the back), and report them to Visa/Mc/Amex/whomever. NOTE: If they tell me that my military ID isn't a legit ID (this has happened), I tell them to get their manager RIGHT NOW, regardless of how long the line is. Enterprise pulled this crap on me once, so while my wife wasted their time inspecting the car we hadn't paid for yet, I rented a car at Hertz then grabbed her. I went straight to corporate for that one.
2. If there is no line behind me, I politely refuse to show my ID. If they still insist, I ask them if they understand that it is against their terms/contract with Visa/MC to require ID for a credit card purchase. If the cashier insists, I request to speak with the manager. When the manager says the same, I comply, and tell him that I wanted the fine from Visa/MC to be attributed to him by name, and not his employee who is just following his misguided rules. I then submit the complaint to Visa/MC with time/date and the name of the manager.
I don't get offended, I just don't want to be an ID theft victim. That's why I show a legal government ID that gives them the least info possible.