Human Interaction - Who needs it?!

[Tom Bomb]

I own and listen to some of her music...Not because I love the music itself (although I really like Biophilia and the old song Bachelorette is one of my favorites) but becuase she is so darn creative!

Sorry for the thread derail...

Me too



Sorry.

 

[Richie Se7en]

Yeah, and back in the '60s:

- gas stations were not self serve
- cash registers were not self serve
- retail was not dying
- etc.

I agree with this... and sadly, it's just a small sampling of everything that's wrong with society these days.

Here is an often-altered view on the subject penned by Dr. Bob Moorehead in the 90's. It's been credited to everyone from the Dalai Lama to George Carlin. Most here have probably seen a version of it, but here it is anyway.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[slobake]

Around here we have Eatsa. You place your order on a touchpad and you pick it up in a little cubicle. No human interaction at all. The kitchen is hidden behind the wall of little cubicles and you never see the employees.

 

[Richie Se7en]

Granted. But it won't matter whether any of us wishes for it to, or not to be, or for nothing at all. And that is because...



True. But the industrialists of that day could only hope to dream of the technologies wielded by the corporate hegemony of today. So everyday people back then had little to worry about, if job market was the concern.

Now what do technological societies have in store? Take a page from all the dystopian sci-fi stories you ever read or watched. I predict that world war is unlikely (even the Terminator scenario). But once the tipping point is reached, wherein both 1. human labor is obviated, and 2. there is no longer a human agenda fundamental to society, then 3. only one question will remain: what will be done with the hundreds of millions of dead bodies?

When recently I posed that question to my own, dear mother (who started weaning me on science fiction circa 1970), she understood and immediately replied "Soylent Green."

So while our species races to the bottom as we watch, awaiting the imminent rise of our Synthetic Life Form Overlords, the super-rich glance impassively at the roiling sea of humankind, skimming the last profits from it, even as they ensure their own demise in the next phase.

We play (and get played in) this grim game of musical chairs, distracted to indifference by smartphones, politics, and pop culture. But be you a ditch digger or a neural network engineer, you can kiss your *ss goodbye. For better or worse, humankind as we knew it is not long for this world.

Good answer, GOOD answer! I like the way you think. I'm gonna be watching you! (R.I.P. Sam)

Speaking of Soylent Green - given the Liberal view on him, isn't it ironic that the film adaptation starred the late Charlton Heston?


~R7~

 

[bolophonic]

People that demand $15 minimum wage never take into account that they are pricing an employee out of the workplace.

Right. McDonalds just can't afford to pay it. When will people start thinking about poor McDonalds?

 

[guy n. cognito]

Right. McDonalds just can't afford to pay it. When will people start thinking about poor McDonalds?

And all the people that might have wanted/needed those $8-$9 an hours jobs.....

 

[Richie Se7en]

Around here we have Eatsa. You place your order on a touchpad and you pick it up in a little cubicle. No human interaction at all. The kitchen is hidden behind the wall of little cubicles and you never see the employees.

The 'Eatsa' post immediately brought this to mind....





Whew! Now I'm really thankful for my Italian heritage!

 

[ptg]

And all the people that might have wanted/needed those $8-$9 an hours jobs.....

But you can't live on that wage!

Please remember that for some people that is the best they can do. If they are working to their full capacity and working hard, I understand they should not make $100,000 a year but they should make enough money to put dinner on the table.

 

[guy n. cognito]

But you can't live on that wage!

Please remember that for some people that is the best they can do. If they are working to their full capacity and working hard, I understand they should not make $100,000 a year but they should make enough money to put dinner on the table.

Not every job is intended to be a self supporting, full time situation. Remember when jobs like this were held by high school kids and those looking for an easy second job? Yep, me too!

 

[bolophonic]

And all the people that might have wanted/needed those $8-$9 an hours jobs.....

McDonalds pays significantly higher wages in certain countries without equivalent price hikes. On the flip side: perhaps if a $.50 price difference in the cost of a Big Mac is too much of a trade off for some people, then they should maybe just accept that they cannot afford to eat at McDonald's in the first place.

 

[ptg]

Not every job is intended to be a self supporting, full time situation. Remember when jobs like this were held by high school kids and those looking for an easy second job? Yep, me too!

Agreed, but times have changed. For many people this is the only job that they can do. Most work hard and are trying to support themselves. Again, not saying they should earn a high wage but I do believe they should earn a living wage.

 

[Richland123]

That's how Sheetz gas stations operates their made to order food.
There's touchpads in the store & you punch up what you want, get a number & pay the cashier.

I was just going to mention Sheetz and then I saw your post. Sheetz got started in Altoona, PA, which is about a half hour drive from my office and they are everywhere around these parts. They have grown into a big deal and they started the self serve order kiosk idea many years ago with great success. Place your order, go pay the cashier, and pick up your food at the counter. Most of their food items are cooked fresh for each order such as French fries, chicken tenders, and many other items. Their milkshakes are really good.

 

[Mike N]

Remember when jobs like this were held by high school kids and those looking for an easy second job? Yep, me too!

Many of today's High School kids would rather play with their cell phones or Xbox than have to do any sort of manual labor.

You should see the entry level kids that come thru the shop i work at..... most are appauled at the thought of having to get dirty.

 

[duff beer]

Right. McDonalds just can't afford to pay it. When will people start thinking about poor McDonalds?

Those who think that McDonald's underpays their employees are free to open their own burger restaurant and pay the employees what they consider to be a "fair" wage.

But, they never do...their involvement only goes as far as demanding that others do it.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

That Eatsa place reminds me of George Orwell's idea of our future.

 

[Richie Se7en]

Those who think that McDonald's underpays their employees are free to open their own burger restaurant and pay the employees what they consider to be a "fair" wage.

But, they never do...their involvement only goes as far as demanding that others do it.

and Mr. Pink doesn't tip

 

[Richie Se7en]

That Eatsa place reminds me of George Orwell's idea of our future.

I hear that - and isn't it kinda scary that 1984 is 33 years ago and the book was published in the late-40's - IIRC?

 

[Snaxster]

Good answer, GOOD answer! I like the way you think. I'm gonna be watching you! (R.I.P. Sam)

Speaking of Soylent Green - given the Liberal view on him, isn't it ironic that the film adaptation starred the late Charlton Heston?


~R7~

Thanks, R7.

You're right about Charlton Heston and the film. Though ironic, it's fitting, too, however. The point of the story is that in such a future, all will be crushed underfoot, pitted against each other, stripped of empathy and humanity, vying for scant resources. In that scenario there is no more left vs. right, conservative vs. liberal; there is only grinding existence before death, and the artificial yet non-negotiable separation of those few who have from the multitude who don't.

 

[bolophonic]

Those who think that McDonald's underpays their employees are free to open their own burger restaurant and pay the employees what they consider to be a "fair" wage.

But, they never do...their involvement only goes as far as demanding that others do it.

My problem has to do more with subsidies, so would you suggest that I drop what I'm doing and create an alternate oil industry and then create an alternate corn and beef industry to address the situation?

 

[blue4]

Maybe, but the push for outrageous wages has pushed the timeframe up dramatically.

My only comment is that entire industries are drying up and changing faster than ever in history and we still think there are enough jobs that some are still just for teens and old people.

And that's all I have to say about that.