June 17, 2009
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Waitress Robot Backwards Progress
Japan strikes again, bringing us one step closer to living The Jetsons lifestyle on a daily basis. This time, they have invented a robotic table, the idea being that you can use a remote control to deliver food and drink via the robot.
I think this is a bad, backwards idea.
People choose one bar over another because of the wait staff. This robot is not sexy. You can’t flirt with a robot. A robot won’t give you free drinks (unless, of course, you figure out some way to hack it on the fly, but then why are you in the bar in the first place? You’re too nerdy to be here.) You can’t seduce the bot into bed and you can’t play grab ass with it.
I took a quick survey of my co-workers. They seem to think that robots like this would be more cost efficient in the long run. I don’t see how that would be the case. When the robot breaks down, you have to pay a technician big bucks to fix it or pay full price to replace it. True, you don’t have to tip a robot, but that means that the bar can raise their prices on the drinks to compensate. Robots may be more reliable than some stupid girl who’s trying to get laid or score some smack, but robots can’t adapt to situations such as blocked paths, specialty orders not already pre-programmed, etc. Robots are impersonal.
While this may be a milestone in robotics and breakthrough in making something automated being able to balance its weight not unlike a human being, at the end of the day, once the novelty wears off, I think that most bar hoppers will want flesh and blood that they can interact and be fresh with and wish for the bot only when the waitress is ugly.
Comments (17)
I thought you were going to say the waitress you were flirting with turned out to be a robot. Now I’m kinda bummed.
@heidenkind – Please kill me if I ever flirt with a robot thinking it’s a real girl. On the other hand, if so-called “Rosies” start appearing and give blow jobs and sex, I may have to recant this statement.
What if you flirt with a waiter and he turns out to be a robot? Should I kill you then?
@heidenkind – I don’t flirt with waiters.
What if these robots are built to look a-sexual like manga characters and you hit on one accidentally?
@heidenkind – Would you be less annoying if you suddenly got laid?
Probably not, because then I would feel the need to mention that bars and restaurants are not your personal brothel, and I find your objectification of women disturbing.
What do Grover and Elmo have to do with this discussion??
@heidenkind –
Probably not, because then I would feel the need to mention that bars and restaurants are not your personal brothel, and I find your objectification of women disturbing.
I’m not objectifying women. I’m simply reporting the facts. Sounds to me like you do the same thing as you just admitted that if you were to get laid, you’re opinion would change. Let me ask you: why do you think people go to bars?
What do Grover and Elmo have to do with this discussion??
The caption there reads, “That’s great! Want a cookie?”
Yes, I would like a cookie. Thank you.
I said my opinion probably wouldn’t change. I know people go to bars to hook up, but the wait staff is there to work, not to be your on-demand pleasure bots.
@heidenkind – That’s odd. I thought the wait staff was there to prise my money from me.
Um, yeah… and what would become of the likes of Hooters? I already can’t stand a server with an attitude – how am I going to cope with a cold, impersonal robot?! I don’t like this idea. I like people, not machines. Calling companies and getting a computer instead of a live person is bad enough.
@DirtyAndShaken – I agree with you 100%. You should see ehowton make an ass out of himself on the Live Journal crosspost.
I contest that you can indeed flirt with a robot. Circuits are sexy.
But I agree, this would decrease the chances that I would go to a restaurant. I like interacting with waiters/waitresses. It’s part of the experience.
@AibellFaeire – Indeed.
Robots ruin bars, because you are either there to socialize or sulk. Could you imagine bouncing your problems off a machine while taking a swig of liquor? What’s the use in that?
– Soledad
@treelights – For real.
And thanks for that wording man. I just finshsed The Wrestler for the first time and I’m kinda bummed. Maybe I should go have a drink.
@ProfessorTom - Well if you get too drunk (which I hope you don’t), the human bartender will be wise enough to swipe your keys and call you a cab. A robot will only do that if you pass out and fall off your stool. A bartender learns from years of experience whether or not you’re handling your liquor well.
– Soledad