Comments | latestarter: The impersonalisation of society

latestarter

The impersonalisation of society

Aug 10, 2009 22:09

First it was my local Co-op convenience store; then Boots the Chemist; then Morrisons; and now B & Q ( Read more... )

Comments 6

bearzendurham August 10 2009, 22:36:16 UTC

Have you ever read the Foundation or I, Robot Series by Asimov, specifically his 1957 novel, The Naked Sun? Here's a link in wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Naked_Sun

It's a fascinating sci-fi novel based upon the premise of a planet settled by human descendants that despise any other human contact. Each person lives completely alone and surround him- or herself with robots who provide all of their needs. There are seeds of these desires in what you've experienced today . . . very thought provoking, and a good, entertaining read.

latestarter August 11 2009, 11:30:23 UTC

I haven't read Azimov, though the synopsis sounds intriguing.

A strand of that was explored in the sitcom Red Dwarf, where a single human is on a spaceship with only an android, computer, and cat/human for company - though these companions were really too human for the potential coldness of the situation to permeate.

bearzendurham August 11 2009, 22:53:27 UTC

I tried watching some of Red Dwarf, but could not get into the series for some reason. Perhaps I should give it another try.

latestarter August 12 2009, 22:55:28 UTC

I just dipped into it and was never an ardent fan, but it had its funny moments.

Yet from this side of the Atlantic poodler August 13 2009, 04:39:15 UTC

I'm very, very, happy to use the automatic cashier rather than wait in a long, long, long, line behind a cart full of a month's worth of groceries. Granted, I've had some nice (albeit brief) conversations with some wonderful cashiers. But THEY are the miniscule minority here in New York. The norm here is that most cashiers are just bodies filling a role, generally people who are too peeved that they aren't home watching American Idol or put out that they have to ring up a customer rather than finish their cell phone conversation with their BFF.

LOL!

latestarter August 14 2009, 07:47:21 UTC

Agreed, it is better than a long queue, but then I've been stuck waiting for the automatic cashiers when a bevvy of OAPs were struggling to understand their automatic mysteries and inhuman failings.

P.S. Thanks greatly for the CDs recently received. I'm looking forward to listening.