The individual vs. automation

[question everything]

There is an ad on TV these days, promoting the use of 'VISA Check Card" - whatever that means.

There is a nicely choreographed movement of people at a cafeteria, with orders being placed and food and beverage being delivered all in one smooth movement without anyone ever paused, including going by the check register by simply swiping a card. Until... someone decides to pay cash. This means that he actually stops at the cash register and the people behind him, used to just moving along, bump and like domino pieces things collapse.

And as I was watching this one, again, earlier this evening, all of a sudden I thought that here is an individual who will not do what everyone else does, will not be part of an assembly line of people, but will do his own thing.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. that commercial makes me ill

I never want to be one of those robots. :scared:

[Cobalt-60]

2. it looks like a place to pay in pennies

[WinstonSmith4740]

3. I agree...

That commercial makes me want to puke. There's so much underneath it also. Besides the obvious "be a sheep" message, and the fact it's just another way for the credit card company's to pick someone's pocket (in this case, the vendor), being encouraged to never use cash just makes it easier for Big Brother to track your purchases. I used to work in a restaurant, and someone actually wanted to use his debit card to buy a $1.00 coffee. I mean, please.

[Greyhound]

4. This POS enraged me the first time I saw it.

It is offensive on so many levels, and not very subtle in it conditioning.

Watch for the increased calls to eliminate cash altogether in the next few years, you think it's bad now, just wait until they can literally control your every move.

[question everything]

20. And, of course, when you pay with a card, you purchase more than

you can afford. Then you either have to pay finance charges, or overdraft fees, etc.

These days, banks and credit card companies do not generate much revenue from finance charges, but from various fees.

[sweetheart]

5. The next commercial...

...shows all the people being arrested for terrorist expenditure as it turns out the cafeteria
donated some money to hamas... and the one who spent cash gets to sleep in.

Privacy is so inconvenient, and so worth it to everyone but corporate fascists.

[xchrom]

6. it's a disturbing commercial indeed.

[exploited]

7. I thought it worked the other way around.

It does. I'm sure it does.

I always pay cash and sometimes even have the correct amount. I'm ready to go baby(!!1!one!!eleven!)....... yet I still have to wait in line for all the sheeple's plastic to clear.

[Crandor]

8. So being an "individual" means wasting other people's time?

Gee, all this time I thought telemarketers were annoying, but obviously they're rebelling against this oppressive collectivist society! :sarcasm:

[question everything]

22. Only the assembly line people

have you seen this ad?

With telemarketing it is exactly the opposite, of course, They put several calls at the same time - their own assembly line. Thus, when I answer the phone and there is that few seconds pause, I immediately hang up, thus disrupting their assembly line.

Most evenings though, when everyone is at home, we screen all calls. And, yes, I do feel like a prisoner in my own home, not being able to answer the phone.

[lectrobyte]

9. It sucks. I reject this whole "use the credit card as much as possible"

bullshit. For some people, it can lead to spending money they don't have. It's 3% off the top for the credit card company, which might be OK to a national chain, but it's money out of the small businessman's pocket or another pressure for prices to rise: most folks are using credit cards, so I'll raise prices 3% to cover it... Not to mention the possible abuses of credit card records and loss of privacy.

Now that I have that off my chest:

The reason the commercial bugs me is that it flips the whole notion of customer service on its head. Move along, consumer, do not interrupt *our* flow. If you have that many people being served, open another checkout line or two (I'm looking at you, Home Depot).

[bryant69]

10. I like those machines but they are obviously ways to get rid of jobs

I'm a hypocrite I guess - if I see one of those machines I inevitably go to it.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Crandor]

16. If machines could "get rid of jobs" we would have 95%+ unemployment now.

That's not how the economy works. Automation just shifts jobs into other sectors of the economy, resulting in growth of those sectors and a higher standard of living.

[bryant69]

18. Yes we all get to be walmart greeters

Bryant

[MadHound]

11. Another little piece of propaganda to discourage people from using cash

Instead, use plastic, leave a trail of purchases to be data mined and analyzed. And by all means, pay good money in order to spend money:eyes:

I hate credit cards, and think that this country would be a great place without them. The average cardholder is carrying $10,000 balances on their cards these days, that is ridiculous. Not to mention that increased card usage fuels the wave of ID theft in this country.

There is no need for most people to have a card. I'm sick of being stuck in line behind somebody waiting while they use their plastic to purchase a scone and coffee.

[question everything]

21. With some exceptions. Sometimes, if you get shoddy merchandise

or you lost your luggage, the only way you can get resolution is with the power of the credit card issuer.

Of course, if businesses were honest there would be no need for the intervention of the 600 lbs gorilla.

[JitterbugPerfume]

12. it upsets me on many levels

you used to get a smile and a "have a nice day" or something. Now you just get a "move along" attitude

[slackmaster]

13. Here's a fun way to REALLY mess up a well-oiled machine

Get into the drive-through at a McDonalds. Make a small order, then bail out of line and watch hilarity ensue as orders and customers get out of sync.

[Crandor]

15. So annoying people for no reason whatsoever is "hilarious"

Logically, setting the building on fire would be even better, right? I bet that would piss them off more.

[slackmaster]

19. I didn't say anything about doing something for no reason whatsoever

RIF.

Logically, setting the building on fire would be even better, right? I bet that would piss them off more.

Lighten up, Crandor.

[genie_weenie]

14. He's a luddite. Visa Check Cards should replace money

that way your nice friendly Government official can know your location and what you are purchasing. And, if you are buying the wrong things, say high fat foodstuffs or Rage Against the Machine albums, then your cell phone records can be accessed and your mail opened to ensure your neighbors are safe.

[exploited]

17. Wink

Word is born
Fight the war, fuck the norm
Now I got no patience
Sick of complacence
With the D the E the F the I the A the N the C the E
The mind of a revolutionary
So clear the lane
The finger to the land of the chains
What? The land of the free?
Whoever told you that is your enemy.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

23. Yeah, While Holding Everyone Up! I Hope They Have A Separate Line For The Cash Payers Someday! LOL

Kinda like for tolls on the highways. You got the EZ Pass lanes and the throw your coins in a bucket lanes. As shopping becomes more automated, let's hope a similar structure will be incorporated.

Nothing wrong with automation whatsoever in my opinion. Our technology progresses and I enjoy the fruits of those progressions. Like the 'Self-Checkout' lines we have now in a lot of stores. I love them (Or at least when there are enough that you don't really have to wait in too long of a line to go through).

[MadHound]

24. Technology is a two edged sword, remember that

Those self checkout lanes that you love are taking away at least a couple of jobs. What are those people supposed to do? Go find another place to work, sure, until that job is taken by automation, as is the one after and the one after, etc.

And while you are beaming about getting through the checkout line in five minutes, a former checker is wondering where their next meal is coming from and where they're going to lay their head tonight. That's why I refuse to use those lanes, it is a stark reminder of jobs lost and lives ruined.

Double edged sword friend, remember that.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

25. Technology May Come With A Price, But That Shouldn't Stop Its Progression And Implementation.

Furthermore, there are jobs created by the advancement of technology as well. Where one may now need to look for a meal, another has found it.

We have different perceptions of this issue, obviously. Personally, I feel no shame nor guilt when I go through those self checkout lanes. I enjoy technological advancements and know there is so much capability and benefit that has come from it. I don't look at it as a two-edged sword at all. I look at it merely as progression of society. Thankfully, as a race we are brilliant at adapting to new circumstance. As technology advances further, I'm sure it will undoubtedly change the landscape of many things and will require that we adapt to an ever changing and progressing world. I'm confident most of us will.

[The2ndWheel]

26. America wouldn't exist without that advance at any cost

All those damn people living here before the Europeans. Nothing comes for free though.

"Thankfully, as a race we are brilliant at adapting to new circumstance."

Adapt? We control more and more. See I think we got tired of adapting. Much easier if we can make every second and aspect of life as predictable as possible.

"I look at it merely as progression of society."

To what end? Is there an end? Can there be an end? As soon as it might stop, no more progression, which obviously means death. So there can be no end to it. So we're progressing to nobody knows where, as quickly as we can, because we can't spare a second, as that would allow chance to have a moment to take over.

[MadHound]

27. Yes, but still that progress comes with a price

Cars were/are a wonder of technology, one that is contributing mightily to our myriad pollution problems. Electricity is a marvel, except for all of the greenhouse gases it puts into the air. You get to breeze through a checkout line, while some poor soul who formerly had that job wonders how to get a meal now.

Technology is indeed a marvel, a wonder to behold. But don't let all of the bright lights and shiny things blind you to dark side technology brings.

I always consider my tech use wisely, not only for the impact it will have on me, but also on my fellow humans and the Earth in general. Sometimes this consideration means that I don't use said tech, other times it means I combine it with another in order to offset the negative potential(for instance using a computer or other electrical device hooked up to solar or wind).

But one really shouldn't invest oneself in the great god of technology as being the be all and end all of humanity. Yes, mankind is brilliant at adapting to change, but mankind is also becoming brilliant at killing, destroying and bringing immense sorrow, all because of technology. If we weren't so damn dependent on fossil fuel tech friend, there wouldn't be tens of thousands dead in Iraq right now, would there?

[blues90]

28. This reminds me of the self checkout in many stores

It becomes a form of forced pressure so everyone feels like they must become one of the slaves to this machine processed world .

Every machine kills many jobs and where it will end , who knows . I see in the near future going into a car repair dealeship where you swipe a card specific for your car and then touch screen the problems your car has and off you go . no more human contact just like banks and many other things .

Soon we won;t need actual workers for anything other than toe ones who slave away in the background for min wage all in uniform as one big work camp and easily replaced with one sick day .

Screw automation and screw the corporations and screw the dead american dream , the dream is dead and long over and here we are , many just play along and cut their own throats in the process .