when I was at university, I read a book by George Ritzer, called 'The McDonaldisation of Society' ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/McDonaldization-Society-George-Ritzer/dp/0761988122 )

It was very interesting, and basically an examination of how things which are supposed to make our lives easier actually make them much much more complicated and irritating and irrational. All this 'blameless culture' stuff.

Case in point: two months ago, I decided, at the end of my contract, to switch from one internet provider to another. Something which I imagine happens ALL THE TIME BEING AS THAT IS WHAT THESE COMPANIES DO. I still have no new internet, and I spent two hours yesterday phoning Homechoice/BT/AOL again and again and again while they all said there was nothing they could do and blamed the other companies.

So, why has this happened? Has anyone ever thought 'I'm so glad that I could talk to a computer rather than a person?' or 'I'm so glad each person at the company only has one area of specific skill rather than understanding the whole company?'. Will I ever have the internet at home again? Why why why why why?