Self Service will cost lives
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Hello:)
That lonely man who has no natural proclivity to socialise, will have his last tenuous link with humanity cut by the emergence of the Self Service till.
For some, the lady at the checkout is the only human contact they have.
Their isolation compounded by technology's tendency to dump the human component for sake of automation.
Now, I love technology and in certain areas, a human should be removed for sake of efficiency.
But not in a supermarket, at the pay point.
A few kind words exchanged can sustain an isolated person for days.
But give them an option and they may take the lonely road and never exchange a pleasant word with anyone, ever.
That has to be a breeding ground for mental dis-ease.
That lonely man who has no natural proclivity to socialise, will have his last tenuous link with humanity cut by the emergence of the Self Service till.
For some, the lady at the checkout is the only human contact they have.
Their isolation compounded by technology's tendency to dump the human component for sake of automation.
Now, I love technology and in certain areas, a human should be removed for sake of efficiency.
But not in a supermarket, at the pay point.
A few kind words exchanged can sustain an isolated person for days.
But give them an option and they may take the lonely road and never exchange a pleasant word with anyone, ever.
That has to be a breeding ground for mental dis-ease.
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I love the self service tills for numerous reasons, not least the avoidance of human interaction when I'm buying wine, tissues and lube.
Last time I checked I don't remember being a lady or female for that matter.:p
You clearly don't shop in the supermarkets round my way. You get a grunt out of them if you're lucky...
Hello:)
We cannot understate the importance of human contact- however fleeting it may be.
It rights an addled mind- keeps the pernicious effects of prolonged lonliness at bay.
But now, I person can spend their entire life disconnected from everyone.
They can feed delusions which would be countered by the reality of contact.
Till girls have saved lives, repaired broken minds.
Hello:)
Well Sir, you Sir, are a life saver, Sir.
Or
I can go to a normal till and wait whilst someone I have never met has a conversation with a sales assistant I've never met about why they are buying extra food for cat I probably wouldn't like if I did meet it.
I know which social interaction I want thanks.
Best you get along there then - pretty sharpish.
Hello:)
Of course, it doesn't benefit the well balanced- those that have managed the accrue the accoutrements of success.
I'm an advocate for those other souls, that haunt the edges of society, how it pushes them further outward into the wilderness.
If society has failed them to the point that Asda is their last link to humanity the vodka is isle 15 and the aspirin isle 6.
So that's why I see people walking round with barcodes tattooed on the back of their neck.
I thought the laser scanner had zapped someone!
Do you have any real stats to back this up though OP? I'm not sure what makes you think that talking to a checkout person can really help someone lonely. Surely the bigger concern is the loss of jobs?
I think your noble concerns would be better focussed elsewhere.
The retail sector cares not a jot about mental disorder.
Until the machine says "Authorisation required", the light flashes red and someone comes over to check your basket and age