Jack Vening and Deirdre Fidge Debate Personalised Number Plates in frankie Issue 133

In issue 133 of frankie magazine, writers Jack Vening and Deirdre Fidge engage in a humorous debate over personalised number plates. Vening argues that custom plates are a bewildering but harmless form of self-expression, comparing them to the 'misery of democracy' described in Donald Barthelme's short story 'I Bought a Little City.' He admits to a morbid curiosity and delight upon spotting plates like G.UN1T on a PT Cruiser or WEGGY on a convertible, and suggests such useless expression resembles art. Vening says he would only use a personalised plate if courts required convicted criminals to display their offences, citing 'PAUPER' or 'BIGAMIST' as examples for his 2016 Corolla. Fidge counters with data from VicRoads: of Victoria's 6.84 million registered vehicles, 1.71 million have custom plates, meaning one in six drivers has what she calls 'vanity plate brainworms' (VPB). She finds this alarming and argues that vanity plates signal deep psychic disturbance, comparing them to toddler name labels. Fidge criticises plates like MYBMW and MYRAV4, and worries about safety, citing a near-miss with a P-plater in a Ford Laser with SXYGRL plates. She also fears her own state-issued plates, which coincidentally match her initials, might be mistaken for vanity plates. The debate appears in frankie issue 133, available from the frankie shop and stockists.