Independent still doesn't get the web

I tried to put a comment on an Independent article today.

It required me to create an account.

It required an email address "so we can send you important information."

No opt-out. No definition of what is important information.

Some people for instance think it is important that I should know about their willingness to marry me. Mainly Russian women.

Some people think it is incredibly important that I have access to the important information of where to buy the cheapest Viagra.

And some people want to send me interesting adverts for ski holidays. Oh, that was the Daily Telegraph.

For the record; I hate snow, don't ski, and have no desire to sit in a chalet with a load of Daily Telegraph readers.

The Independent also states that "by law" I am "required" to give my date of birth.

What law? Is the Independent now a pornography site?

By the way, this is a newspaper whose journalists frequently write about issues such as, er, liberty, freedom of information, why we shouldn't have a national citizen database, and why we shouldn't have identity cards.

Well, would some of the journalists like to try talking to their database administrators?