Compulsive Attention Seeker

A few weeks ago, I approached a TfL staff member (let's call him SM) after failing to exit the gate with my Oyster card. Chat transcript below.

Me: "Hi, I can't get out and the machine keeps telling me to seek attention..."

SM (grinning and slowly printing each word in my head): "seek attention? Are you sure the machine told you to seek attention"?

Me (mildly annoyed and a tad confused): "Yes, it displayed the words seek attention in flashing red letters!"

This goes on a few more rounds until SM, visibly amused, opens the gate and let's me through.

...

Today's note to self: the gate screens actually display the words "Seek Assistance"...