I don't use the self-service checkouts because they are being introduced to replace checkout staff. The sad thing is, some of the staff don't even realise these machines threaten their jobs.
I think the OP does have a point. There are lots of people whose only social interaction is with people in shops, the doctors surgery or a hospital waiting room. My mother, for example, doesn't have any friends and doesn't see anyone apart from her children (once or twice a week) unless she has a medical appointment. She can't walk very well at all now, and refuses to use one of those electric scooters, so she is mostly dependent on her children to take her out, except on the rare occasions she feels well enough to walk around the corner to the shops.
I've tried encouraging her to make friends and socialise more, but she has always had pretty terrible social skills, and they aren't improving as she gets older. She's even worse at making friends than I am!
I hate the self-service tills and stand their arguing with them with everyone around thinking I'm the local nutter. (I am, but that's not the point)
"Please put the item in the bagging area"
"I HAVE!"
"Please put the item in the bagging area"
"I HAVE! I HAVE!"
"Please put the item in the bagging area"
"I HAVE! I HAVE! I HAVE! Oh FFS! &£*"^"*"!!!!!!!"
"Please insert cash or credit card"
"Please insert cash or credit card"
"Please insert cash or credit card"
"Please insert cash or credit card"
"Can I actually get my wallet out first?"
"Please insert cash or credit card"
And I always seem to have at least 1 item that a 3 year old can't have and have to call the assistant over who is always either chatting to some other member of staff or just with their back to me picking their nose.
It's quicker to use the till with the real person.
Must admit, I don't like self-service checkouts. I always worry that something will go wrong and I'll end up looking like a muppet.
On topic, I find it a little contradictory that the same OP who laments a reduction in check-out workers also advocates the removal of trained teachers so that kids can learn from the internet.
Seems like some people just say whatever comes into their heads at the time.
Must admit, I don't like self-service checkouts. I always worry that something will go wrong and I'll end up looking like a muppet.
On topic, I find it a little contradictory that the same OP who laments a reduction in check-out workers also advocates the removal of trained teachers so that kids can learn from the internet.
Seems like some people just say whatever comes into their heads at the time.
You could have said the same thing about supermarkets. Instead of going to lots of individual shops and talking to the staff in each one, you just go to one shop and just talk to one person.
Supermarkets cost lots of people their jobs but it resulted in things being cheaper and a much wider range of products being available. It's just progress I guess. I do worry for the future though, as more and more low-skilled jobs disappear, we are going to have a lot of people that simply aren't capable of working.
I'm more concerned about people losing their jobs when self-service checkouts become more popular. How can the government moan about people on benefits on the one hand but allow jobs to dissapear on the other? Even many call centres are situated abroad now.
Having said that, having worked behind a till myself, it's definately a very tedious job when you're not allowed a break in 5 hours. :sleep:
It isn't the governments job to prevent jobs from disappearing due to technological advancement. Otherwise we'd still be using typewriters and spinning jennys.
It isn't the governments job to prevent jobs from disappearing due to technological advancement. Otherwise we'd still be using typewriters and spinning jennys.
I agree - although situating call centres in a different country to where the customer lives isn't about advancing technology but saving money - but they need to understand that not everyone on benefits is a lazy so-and-so who's never worked and that just because they haven't found another job within 12 weeks of Woolworths closing down, it doesn't mean the person is not trying hard enough.
On topic, I find it a little contradictory that the same OP who laments a reduction in check-out workers also advocates the removal of trained teachers so that kids can learn from the internet
I think the OP does have a point. There are lots of people whose only social interaction is with people in shops, the doctors surgery or a hospital waiting room. My mother, for example, doesn't have any friends and doesn't see anyone apart from her children (once or twice a week) unless she has a medical appointment. She can't walk very well at all now, and refuses to use one of those electric scooters, so she is mostly dependent on her children to take her out, except on the rare occasions she feels well enough to walk around the corner to the shops.
I've tried encouraging her to make friends and socialise more, but she has always had pretty terrible social skills, and they aren't improving as she gets older. She's even worse at making friends than I am!
Hello:)
Local Post Offices closing- NHS Direct- soon Doctors will diagnose via the internet, probably.
Self Service Tills- busy sons and daughters.
The opportunity for real human contact is diminishing and that must have a psychological impact on 'intrinsically social' humans.
Isolation breeds warped perception and that can either manifest itself in self-harm cycles of behaviour, or outward aggression, even murderous intent.
Is that the only concern OP? What about erosion of choice when a supermarket opens? The bribery used by supermarkets to open their stores (S106 money, money off vouchers that they send out to encourage shoppers to use the over local shops), the myth that they are cheaper than a local market or shop?, loss of community as local shops can't keep up trade?
I agree with your statement that they are confusing but in my mum's experience of using them, she said they go wrong so often that it's the easier way to get a conversation since she needs help so often
I'm more concerned about people losing their jobs when self-service checkouts become more popular. How can the government moan about people on benefits on the one hand but allow jobs to dissapear on the other? Even many call centres are situated abroad now.
Having said that, having worked behind a till myself, it's definately a very tedious job when you're not allowed a break in 5 hours. :sleep:
Should we also remove ATMs and go back to queuing in banks, during bank business hours, to make a cash withdrawl?
I left my debit card in a self-service machine the other week so that's a bad point to them. I am sure I am not the only one as they do not pop out like in a bank cash machine and obviously there is no-one there to remind you to take your card.
I left my debit card in a self-service machine the other week so that's a bad point to them. I am sure I am not the only one as they do not pop out like in a bank cash machine and obviously there is no-one there to remind you to take your card.
At Tesco's the machine audibly says 'please take your card'.
Comments
I think the OP may have a point.
It's not the mentally disturbed being denied human contact we need to worry about.
It's the normally sane having to cope with "unexpected item in baggage area" that are being driven to the edge.:eek:
(and it's not a "poor machine", it's the incarnation of Bealzebub himself hiding behind that glass screen. Don't be fooled by the voice.)
I've tried encouraging her to make friends and socialise more, but she has always had pretty terrible social skills, and they aren't improving as she gets older. She's even worse at making friends than I am!
...and as a Gay, I always go to the one with the cute young man on it and have wicked thoughts!
I'd hate the think what the people who use self-service are thinking about.
"Please put the item in the bagging area"
"I HAVE!"
"Please put the item in the bagging area"
"I HAVE! I HAVE!"
"Please put the item in the bagging area"
"I HAVE! I HAVE! I HAVE! Oh FFS! &£*"^"*"!!!!!!!"
"Please insert cash or credit card"
"Please insert cash or credit card"
"Please insert cash or credit card"
"Please insert cash or credit card"
"Can I actually get my wallet out first?"
"Please insert cash or credit card"
And I always seem to have at least 1 item that a 3 year old can't have and have to call the assistant over who is always either chatting to some other member of staff or just with their back to me picking their nose.
It's quicker to use the till with the real person.
See my post above.
It's normally that I want to break the machine before my blood pressure get to a point where I need an Ambulance.
On topic, I find it a little contradictory that the same OP who laments a reduction in check-out workers also advocates the removal of trained teachers so that kids can learn from the internet.
Seems like some people just say whatever comes into their heads at the time.
god bless the internet.
Supermarkets cost lots of people their jobs but it resulted in things being cheaper and a much wider range of products being available. It's just progress I guess. I do worry for the future though, as more and more low-skilled jobs disappear, we are going to have a lot of people that simply aren't capable of working.
Having said that, having worked behind a till myself, it's definately a very tedious job when you're not allowed a break in 5 hours. :sleep:
I agree - although situating call centres in a different country to where the customer lives isn't about advancing technology but saving money - but they need to understand that not everyone on benefits is a lazy so-and-so who's never worked and that just because they haven't found another job within 12 weeks of Woolworths closing down, it doesn't mean the person is not trying hard enough.
Hello:)
I did say as a qualification:
Hello:)
Local Post Offices closing- NHS Direct- soon Doctors will diagnose via the internet, probably.
Self Service Tills- busy sons and daughters.
The opportunity for real human contact is diminishing and that must have a psychological impact on 'intrinsically social' humans.
Isolation breeds warped perception and that can either manifest itself in self-harm cycles of behaviour, or outward aggression, even murderous intent.
Hello:)
One need not have an absolute of one thing, to the detriment of everything else.
Hello:)
But a supermarket is a multi-sensory experience.
Appetite triggers behind every garish advert.
It's psychological warfare of the delicious kind.
And if it messes with our collective mind, why can't the effects be salubrious, rather than fiscal?
If they build houses in order to win building contracts- to solidify wishy washy notions of social responsibility-
why not tackle issues within the community that they have planted themselves in?
I agree with your statement that they are confusing but in my mum's experience of using them, she said they go wrong so often that it's the easier way to get a conversation since she needs help so often
Should we also remove ATMs and go back to queuing in banks, during bank business hours, to make a cash withdrawl?