Ele Ludemann: Minding other people’s business

What drives people to mind other people’s business?

. . . Her name — and her number plate — are the same: Karen. And now an email from Waka Kotahi NZTA has told her that someone, somewhere has complained about it.

Apparently the complaint to NZTA says:

“KAREN is: Offensive. I can’t believe this is allowed.”

That’s what NZTA was passing on, along with a request that Wilson reply within 10 days to advise the intended message of the plate.

This explanation would then go to the Personalised Plate Review Group for their consideration.

That process could take two to three months and could result in Wilson forfeiting her KAREN plate, or having to add an explanatory message to the edge of the plate. . .

Good grief!

Why on earth would it take two to three months to sort out the issue and why bother the plate owner at all?

Karen is a name, one which belongs to three of my friends.

I know it is also used as an insult for women, but how hypersensitive is the complainant that s/he would go to the trouble of writing to NZTA? What induces someone who happens to see a number plate that offends them to go to such effort to mind other people’s business?

Having received the complaint why didn’t NZTA react with a politely worded get-a-life-and-mind-your-own-business letter to the complainant and get on to its core business of looking after our roads?

NZTA said there isn’t a large department working on plate complaints, just a few people who also have other roles, and it is continuing with a review of the entire process.

That may see it raise the bar for what is worth spending its time — and our money — on. . .

One can but hope the bar is raised far, far higher.

Ele Ludemann is a North Otago farmer and journalist, who blogs HERE - where this article was sourced.