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this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2023
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I also am particular about how I bag things. I agree with the sentiment of self checkouts being lame and taking jobs and all that jazz, but eh. There's bigger fish to fry than this one, and many people like it anyway
Same. When I’m forced to go through a cashier because my cart has too many items, I meticulously put items in batches on the conveyor so similar stuff stay together; only for the cashier or bagger to mix them all up in the bags anyway. I try as much as possible to bag them myself but it’s kinda awkward to tell the bagger not to do their job. Or if there’s no bagger, it’s awkward seeing the cashier and the next customer waiting for me to finish bagging so they can start ringing up stuff. It’s self-checkout for me definitely.
The employees where I shop are underpaid and understaffed. They have to be there for the elderly, kids and differently-abled though. I'm happy to give them a break and scan my own shit. Usually they get to just stand around and talk to each other while I do, if they aren't busy, which makes me feel kind of nice.
With the automation tech of 10 years ago we could have 70% unemployment world-wide and still produce western middle-class living standards for absolutely everyone, and tech only became better since then. Cars would be an issue but who needs one when there's proper public transit but a home, healthy food, education, healthcare, PC and washing machine with integrated dryer? No problem.
Capital isn't going for it because the ROI on most automation is just too long-term and R&D doesn't look good on quarterly profits, for now it's cheaper to hire humans in many areas especially when you can outsource. But it's not a question of whether it'll happen but when, and whether it'll be an utopia or fuckers like Thiel will be able to create their preferred neo-feudal societies.