We accept that model without a quibble and yet there is a reluctance to accept that a natural feature can also have an identity.
Why do we allow corporates to be entities when - as recently revealed - multinationals are paying minimal or no tax on earnings in New Zealand?
If these corporates are indeed entities like a person, with the attended rights and responsibilities, then why can we not make them face tax evasion charges just like we do to others who rort the system.
Oops, I forgot that is easier for governments to tackle small fry whereas a huge multinational has suit-armoured squads of sharp lawyers who can prolong a legal stoush for years.
From a personal perspective, it has been interesting to observe the way various large New Zealand companies have behaved when asking them to stop providing their services.
The responses have been morose, unthinking and unhelpful - and, of course, getting to speak to a real person is the first hurdle on the merry-go-round of press this number if you want this or that or press another for these or those.
My unfavourite is a phone provider that does not have a phone number.
I guess that keeps complaints to a minimum but a phone company website that only gives the option of a computerised service is so counter-intuitive it makes my head hurt.
When you do actually use the call number you get a long-automated spiel about new plans. Basically, they are using your time to advertise their products rather than actually providing you with the service you are paying for.
After working your way through the numerous options, you finally get the bit you wanted.
It used to be possible to simply press a sequence of 2s to shortcut all the waffle but the company must have realised people were doing this to avoid all the blather about new plans so they changed the sequence to ensure we have to hear it all.
This example represents yet another version of what is termed "shadow work".
Along with the working week we have another set of hours we end up doing for companies - all the stuff that websites, phone companies, banks and even government departments get you to do online that saves them having to do that work.
The registration form that takes half an hour to fill in online is your time not the company's.
Anyone who has done an online form knows how badly they are often designed, how difficult they are to complete and how long it takes to correct the bits the form tells you have been missed or require completion.
An hour can go by while grappling with a format that does not allow you to enter things that they say are needed and then it does not send because it has expired and you have to start again.
■Terry Sarten (aka Tel) is writer, musician, social worker and part-time curmudgeon - feedback: tgs@inspire.net.nz
