It seems like more and more, the human experience is being eliminated. Greedy corporations are trying to maximize profit, while hiring as few people as they can.
I first noticed this at Wal*Mart. When self checkout was first introduced, it seemed great. You can go in, load up your cart, and make your purchase, all without having to interact with a single person. That is, until the machine malfunctions or jams up, or you scan something that requires ID verification. Then you have to flag down the single person whose job is to sit there and watch people check themselves out. That is, if there even is someone there, or if they're not busy helping someone else.
The result is 15 empty lines, of which only 1 or 2 are ever open at a time, save for busy seasons, and 2 self checkout areas, that are often flooded with people to wait behind. This is only conditioning people to be less social, and resulting in jobs for fewer people. Even the floor buffing machines are automated.
It's even crept its way into fast food restaurants, where people crowd around kiosks, taking forever to find what they want, and then figure out how to modify their orders, instead of going to the counter and telling a cashier, who's already trained in taking orders.
Then tonight I went into a gas station after not going there for a couple weeks, only to find on the counter a machine that you place all your items in and it automatically scans everything. The cashier had to come around, and demonstrate how it works, and even she struggled to get it working at first. And as I needed cigars, she needed to verify my ID, so she would have needed to be there anyway. I can only imagine how frustrating this must be for older people, and those who aren't as tech savvy.
If people keep quietly accepting this, I see a future where instead of isles and coolers, and friendly cashiers, there will instead be sterile environments with rows of vending machines. For machines containing tobacco and alcohol, you will need to scan your ID. And only 1 or 2 people will have jobs there, which will be to clean the floors, and to stock and service the machines. That is until they automate those positions as well.
We are sacrificing tiny pieces of our humanity for personal convenience.
I first noticed this at Wal*Mart. When self checkout was first introduced, it seemed great. You can go in, load up your cart, and make your purchase, all without having to interact with a single person. That is, until the machine malfunctions or jams up, or you scan something that requires ID verification. Then you have to flag down the single person whose job is to sit there and watch people check themselves out. That is, if there even is someone there, or if they're not busy helping someone else.
The result is 15 empty lines, of which only 1 or 2 are ever open at a time, save for busy seasons, and 2 self checkout areas, that are often flooded with people to wait behind. This is only conditioning people to be less social, and resulting in jobs for fewer people. Even the floor buffing machines are automated.
It's even crept its way into fast food restaurants, where people crowd around kiosks, taking forever to find what they want, and then figure out how to modify their orders, instead of going to the counter and telling a cashier, who's already trained in taking orders.
Then tonight I went into a gas station after not going there for a couple weeks, only to find on the counter a machine that you place all your items in and it automatically scans everything. The cashier had to come around, and demonstrate how it works, and even she struggled to get it working at first. And as I needed cigars, she needed to verify my ID, so she would have needed to be there anyway. I can only imagine how frustrating this must be for older people, and those who aren't as tech savvy.
If people keep quietly accepting this, I see a future where instead of isles and coolers, and friendly cashiers, there will instead be sterile environments with rows of vending machines. For machines containing tobacco and alcohol, you will need to scan your ID. And only 1 or 2 people will have jobs there, which will be to clean the floors, and to stock and service the machines. That is until they automate those positions as well.
We are sacrificing tiny pieces of our humanity for personal convenience.
Last edited by Xerokard,
