General Discussion

Grammy23

(6,113 posts)

21. My husband has been buying ice for the cooler for quite a while from

Tue Feb 28, 2017, 12:05 PM

Feb 2017

a free standing trailer that has a place to load your money and a platform for your bag or cooler to hold the ice. The owner of this ice house comes by periodically to collect the money and restock the supplies, but otherwise it is completely without employees. The price for ice from this vending operation is the cheapest place near us. Located in the parking lot of a small retail area, he can drive up, load the ice and be on his way in 5 minutes.

You never hear the so-called labor experts talk about simple facts. Our advances in technology have made some types of work obsolete. The guys who made buggy whips had to find a different way to use their skills to make a living when buggies pulled by horses were replaced with motor driven vehicles. The same thing is happening now. Welcome to the 21st Century because we're not going back.

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Wendy's is replacing its lowest-paid workers with robots [View all] Ohioblue22 Feb 2017 OP

How long until no one is human? shenmue Feb 2017 #1

Flashy headline, but a kiosk isn't really a robot Renew Deal Feb 2017 #2

ATM is a robot. AngryAmish Feb 2017 #19

'Robot' fits well within the standard definition. LanternWaste Feb 2017 #24

I think it's not a robot in the same sense that your cell phone is not a robot. forgotmylogin Feb 2017 #83

robot came from the Czech word robota, meaning "forced labor." BlueStateLib Feb 2017 #96

A robot is a machine, but a machine is not necessarily a robot. forgotmylogin Feb 2017 #97

the word that should be used here is "Automation" for when machines replace humans in a process. TeamPooka Feb 2017 #99

Too much drama caused by having humans in the mix, you know. Odoreida Feb 2017 #3

Robots consume electricity. yallerdawg Feb 2017 #17

I'll have to be starving before I use a kiosk at Wendy's LakeVermilion Feb 2017 #4

I'm with you. safeinOhio Feb 2017 #6

Do you print your boarding passes at a kiosk or always go up to an agent snooper2 Feb 2017 #11

I either print mine at home or have it on my cell phone. MineralMan Feb 2017 #16

I do whatever I can to enhance labor whenever I can, but I am human and sometimes Eliot Rosewater Feb 2017 #76

I print them at a kiosk because generally there's not another option. LisaM Feb 2017 #101

Me too Bettie Feb 2017 #46

I even refuse to use self checkouts. If a store does not think enough of me to appleannie1943 Feb 2017 #5

Yup. Other chains will do the opposite and promote the friendly personal service and blow them brewens Feb 2017 #9

I doubt it Amishman Feb 2017 #27

I would love a kiosk at Qdoba/Chipotle citood Feb 2017 #82

I actually doubt that citood Feb 2017 #80

About those self-serve checkouts DeminPennswoods Feb 2017 #63

I actually don't mind using them if I only have a few items. Half the time they only have a couple Luciferous Feb 2017 #75

Ok angrychair Feb 2017 #7

actually, i'm pretty confident some of those savings would indeed be passed on to customers. unblock Feb 2017 #12

You think the owners will order new price menus? Ilsa Feb 2017 #25

no, it's an average, over time. unblock Feb 2017 #29

Actually, what will probably happen Bettie Feb 2017 #47

I think they'll raise prices again, as much as the market will bear, Ilsa Feb 2017 #55

i think you've overestimated it a bit. nt TheFrenchRazor Feb 2017 #105

They will do what they always do. fescuerescue Feb 2017 #107

What happens when those machines need to be maintained? Who will maintain them? Initech Feb 2017 #8

the kiosk repairman snooper2 Feb 2017 #14

The kiosk robot will be repaired by the kiosk robot repair robot. NCjack Feb 2017 #54

This message was self-deleted by its author NCjack Feb 2017 #56

LOL- I can't tell if this is serious or not snooper2 Feb 2017 #58

Misfire. Removing. Thanks. NCjack Feb 2017 #61

Robots wont just take jobs, theyll create them progressoid Feb 2017 #94

Automation should mean that larger corporations need to start profit-sharing KittyWampus Feb 2017 #10

That's actually a good idea . . . . HughBeaumont Feb 2017 #20

Universal Income. sarcasmo Feb 2017 #33

ideally, *all* corporations would have a fair distribution of profits, but so far, that idea TheFrenchRazor Feb 2017 #106

I haven't encountered any of those "order bots." MineralMan Feb 2017 #13

Can you say, with a hundred percent accuracy.... usedtobedemgurl Feb 2017 #34

I can't really say anything with 100% accuracy. MineralMan Feb 2017 #41

My general experience has been Johonny Feb 2017 #39

That's true. However, after I use one of those systems once, MineralMan Feb 2017 #48

Someone probably grabbed the wrong bag Bettie Feb 2017 #50

Possibly, but the order had my value menu onion rings in it. MineralMan Feb 2017 #51

Lol about the onion rings. EllieBC Mar 2017 #113

That's really funny! MineralMan Mar 2017 #115

I've seen these popup every so often at various fast food places xor Feb 2017 #15

They seem to be popular in Europe BannonsLiver Feb 2017 #98

"THIS IS PROGRESS! Don't blame Capitalism, Republicans or Rich People! They're Your HEROES!" HughBeaumont Feb 2017 #18

My husband has been buying ice for the cooler for quite a while from Grammy23 Feb 2017 #21

The problem is soon robots and artificial intelligence will replace Blue_true Feb 2017 #71

Can't disagree with your prediction of the future based on current trends. Grammy23 Feb 2017 #92

If your grandchildren become proficient in automation they will have a good life MichMan Feb 2017 #102

I used to have a job bagging ice. Endless hours bagging and tying. citood Feb 2017 #85

People need to get out of their cars, go inside and demand a manager take their order Maraya1969 Feb 2017 #22

I don't think this applies to the drive-through, yet. briv1016 Mar 2017 #112

This message was self-deleted by its author democratisphere Feb 2017 #23

They will lose some technophobes, like my parents, that love their chili and frosties Freethinker65 Feb 2017 #26

I love Tech but hate greedy bastards who think robots should replace people. Demsrule86 Feb 2017 #45

Look, robots WILL replace people, that simply is going to happen. Blue_true Feb 2017 #72

When I was young... citood Feb 2017 #87

There goes ANY CHANCE get the red out Feb 2017 #28

A properly designed intelligent interface will give you endless options for a burger. nt Blue_true Feb 2017 #73

Wait!!! atreides1 Feb 2017 #30

Universal income is needed now, not in 10 or 20 years. sarcasmo Feb 2017 #31

Yes, leaders must start beta efforts on that now. Blue_true Feb 2017 #74

Either that get the red out Feb 2017 #93

Exactly. sarcasmo Feb 2017 #104

Wish I could boycott them. Jakes Progress Feb 2017 #32

As smart machines take over more jobs, well financed food corporations Blue_true Feb 2017 #77

So I have another yet another liberalhistorian Feb 2017 #35

Yip, Wendy's was also one of the only chains breaking the unionized labor in Florida, buying UTUSN Feb 2017 #36

But I thought Don the Con was going to bring back jobs... usedtobedemgurl Feb 2017 #37

Some McDonalds in Europe have them BannonsLiver Feb 2017 #38

I am not buying food from robots...these greedy bastards can kiss my derriere. Demsrule86 Feb 2017 #43

I hope you don't use ATM's. Same principle. BannonsLiver Feb 2017 #95

The quality of Wendy's food has declined to the point where I Laurian Feb 2017 #40

I agree! Buckeye_Democrat Mar 2017 #110

Another reason to avoid Wendy's...besides their shitty food. Demsrule86 Feb 2017 #42

That's progress, baby! Jake Stern Feb 2017 #44

Smart machine use will only grow. We need to start a discussion Blue_true Feb 2017 #78

Yes this very much! Nt. Locut0s Feb 2017 #84

Well YOU KNOW THIS WILL WORK OUT!! yuiyoshida Feb 2017 #49

F--k wendys jimjc Feb 2017 #52

Fools who oppose an increased minimum wage ALWAYS cite this kind of thing Orrex Feb 2017 #53

Or they say fast food workers are just teenagers who don't deserve more than minimum wage Jake Stern Feb 2017 #57

Exactly correct Orrex Feb 2017 #60

I realize that automation is coming, I am a technologist, if I can have a machine Blue_true Feb 2017 #86

I'm not a Luddite by any stretch but I still prefer interacting with a human. Jake Stern Feb 2017 #91

They are going to be everywhere anyway snooper2 Feb 2017 #62

Sheetz is a convenience chain in Pennsylvania Orrex Feb 2017 #66

This is actually a good reason to OldHippieChick Feb 2017 #59

Waiting for the return of the Automat! DeminPennswoods Feb 2017 #64

A couple of years ago they tried that at the Jack In The Box that I go to. Iggo Feb 2017 #65

NICE one. HughBeaumont Feb 2017 #67

"Your children are in the custody of Carl's Jr." lame54 Feb 2017 #68

Funny Dem2 Feb 2017 #69

eventually, no one will be able to afford Wendy's because they do not have jobs egold2604 Feb 2017 #70

We should replace Congress with robots ymetca Feb 2017 #79

I'm of 2 minds about automation. Overall our society is far better off now because of it... Locut0s Feb 2017 #81

At some point, increased use of smart machines will cause gigantic social disruption Blue_true Feb 2017 #88

Agreed we need to plan for this. A universal income would go a long way... Locut0s Feb 2017 #90

Never tick off the robot that prepares your food. Buns_of_Fire Feb 2017 #89

While labor savings provide justification for installing such devices, they are not the only reason MichMan Feb 2017 #100

Seems like some great career opportunities will be available MichMan Feb 2017 #103

We can always just not eat there bravenak Mar 2017 #108

Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 2017 #109

Why was no one this upset over self check out or ATMs? EllieBC Mar 2017 #111

it would appear so.... MichMan Mar 2017 #114