I went into Lloyds Bank yesterday for two things. First to put some cash into the account (yeh I know, cash what's that these days!). Woman behind the counter does it grudgingly, tells me to use the machine next time. I then ask if I can open an account for my son. She tells me to do it online. Wouldn't even entertain the idea in branch. I looked at her and was close to saying "aren't you like a turkey voting for christmas with this bollox? You'll be gone soon enough and so will this branch" I appreciate change is necessary and the two examples I've given can be replaced by machine, but there's something to be said for social interaction as a society, for our community, for our growth, for our mental health, for our ability to communicate. What price on that? Then there's the issue of what happens when automation fails or when individual circumstances don't fit into a neat linear format which algorithms are able to factor in. Overall there are lots of positives with automation but I think it takes something away from us as a society. Anyway I told my boy there's no fcking way I'm ordering my meals on wheels online 20 yrs from now, so he'll have to bring it round.
This is true. But there are still high streets and there are still book shops. Things have changed and people have adapted. I'd think a large group of people will regularly want to still go to actual shops and buy things themselves, just like now.
Hmmm not sure,most of the big supermarkets do home delivery and you see plenty of people filling up their orders BY HAND,so it's not complete automation and anyway Thatcher ****ed up the unions for retail workers when the Sunday hours etc was scrapped.
and this is the same logic I apply to the RMT Union. Automation is going to take over whether they like it or not, and companies will continue to bleed businesses of every little bit of profit possible, much the same as Treble's example above with the banks, because no one really cares.
Same was said about automated check out in supermarkets, in fact it was laughed at, yet it increased in usage across the country over the following years and decadees.
True,I bought the wife a Kindle she used it for about a month and went back to buying books,people like to hold things,I feel the same with CDS and vinyl and Playstation games.
True but not everyone uses them,I only use them when I have a few things,checkout for a big shop though I think that's the idea
Good example mate, I was faced with a similar scenario when this first started happening over 20 years ago, so the bank I was with I took all my funds out and moved them to other banks. However, my own independent union action failed, because every other fooker was prepared to adapt to the banks requirements. Which again is another profit making objecttive as if they don't already make enough profit.
They purposely reduced cashier checkouts, so it forced you on to the automated ones slowly but surely.
I like the automation and online options and rarely go to a shop. My general reason is that people are annoying and rude. If people did their job in a pleasant and friendly way we'd all enjoy going to the shops.
May be slightly off topic, but human interaction is slowly but surely going, especially amongst younger people. Probably something to do with social media etc. People just don’t seem to want to talk face to face anymore. I know people who would rather wait in a queue for self-service, rather than have to talk to a cashier. About a year ago, I got offered an apprentice plumber from hull college. Got all his contact details. Tried ringing him.I’d been told he was really keen to start workin and all that bollocks. No answer. Within 30 seconds I received a text from him saying: ‘Hi this is Ben. Not sure if college told you, but my communication preference is text or email. I look forward to hearing from you.’ You can imagine how I replied .
