"Robots are stealing jobs." What do you think?
By Awinds
@Awinds (2468)
United States
August 16, 2011 12:50am CST
Ever since the recession, one issue that has come up again and again is the issue of robots taking jobs (www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/07/17/the-threat-of-automation-robots-threaten-american-jobs.html). Technology has allowed jobs such as manufacturer, cashier, bank teller, lawyer, mail deliverer, minor hospital positions and other positions to become vulnerable to becoming obsolete.
In the past this wasn't a problem because other industries, new or revived, absorbed the unemployed. But these days technology is so advanced in all fields there may not be any place for the fired workers to go. Some people at this time say that if low wage earners can't adapt, then to bad. Others say we should outlaw robots now to protect the workers. In the distant and yet not so distant future, many worry about the end of work.
For those of you have seen my previous discussions, you will know I am not a technophile. Personally I don't want to see the human work force sacrificed for machines. Even if these developments brought more free time, free time is no good when one is poor, unemployed and starving. As for being serviced by robot workers, I don't want to be tended by a robot when I am sick in the hospital. I find that notion creepy and degrading. I hate to say it, but I have thought this many times: I wish I had been born before this era of complexity and progress.
What do you think? Are robots a threat to human workers or not? Is it right for robots to take jobs on an ever massive scale or is that just progress? Would you rather have a job or more free time without the security of a job?
2 people like this
15 responses
@Jackaway (1)
• Czech Republic
16 Aug 11
This reminds me of the film called "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" - a man was working in a toothbrushes/pastes factory and he got fired because of modernisation (putting robots everywhere) but after a while, the factory needed people to take care of those machines and the man got job again.
The point is that robots can't work on their own. That means that people WILL lose their original job but they will be able to get another one in the same place ;) (they will just have to get requalification)
But there are definitely several jobs that should be done only by people.
1 person likes this
@Awinds (2468)
• United States
16 Aug 11
That sounds quite realistic to me. :) Before the industrial revolution, people were farmers, then they were works in factors and then finally today many work in the service industry. It does seem that something else always comes up to take on the fired workers. :)
@Dominique25 (9464)
• United States
16 Aug 11
I agree with you that robots are taking more jobs and that it can be considered a lost for us. There are many things that robots can do. Robots can get some things done quicker, and to have robots may be cheaper than employing people. Thankfully there are some jobs that humans need to do and this would be a field that people can feel safe in. I would rather have a job. I enjoy working and I wouldn't want my security threatened by robots. I'm sure most people would desire job security as well.
@celticeagle (158606)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Aug 11
I think that robots have been around for many years in one way or another. There are always going to be competition there. Our country needs to find more jobs for the unemployed. I think one of our members here had a great idea. Using the corps and such to hire people to do unskilled work.
@celticeagle (158606)
• Boise, Idaho
17 Aug 11
I think so. Not my idea. ANother member on here had it first.
@Lore2009 (7378)
• United States
20 Aug 11
I think the 'robots' are robbing our relationships. Nobody knows each other anymore. I heard back in the days people used to shop from farmers who knew their stuff and made relations with others. That made everyone appreciate the produce or whatever they are selling and buying because we can SEE how and who's doing it. And I think people are most happy when they're busy.. so people will keep finding things that will make them busy until one day we'll have robots just living for us. Eeek, scary thought or maybe I'm a robot already!?
@dollar3235 (2062)
• India
16 Aug 11
Hi Awinds,
Yes, it's not the easiest time to live for a human being. There are so many things that I want to write on this topic but rather than typing something, I would ask you, do you remember the story of the movie "IRobot"?
If you have not watched the movie, watch it. You will see our future.
http://300mbmovies.blog.com/2009/10/23/i-robot-2004-mediafire-300-500-mb/
@Awinds (2468)
• United States
16 Aug 11
I am all to familiar with that movie. What gets me is how we are doing it to ourselves. The majority is so willing to embrace it because it's "the wave of the future!" We build these inventions because we can. We don't think about the impact. Also I think we are far to passive in our approach to technology - especially robots. I just don't why we should lay down and take it with the excuse that is "inevitable."
1 person likes this
@dollar3235 (2062)
• India
16 Aug 11
It's sad for our generation but may be in future (after 50 years from now), it will be very good. This is how aliens designed us and now we worship them (I know, it may sound annoying but it's true).
If our human race survives another 200 years, this earth will become heaven and every single human being will live like gods. You may find it imagination but I would request you to watch these videos, I am sure you will be happy after watching these videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5UcJt6RoIs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m22wDMZzcuc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Llt4GhGnRk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to9Ht2NRQ3o
Enjoy !!! 
@Awinds (2468)
• United States
16 Aug 11
@dollar3235 - That sound interesting. I'll watch as soon as I get the time. :)
@stine1_reloaded. Well I don't desire to be born that far back. I don't want to get up at at 4am just to make dinner. Nor do I want to worry half of my kids dying from smallpox. However I do think technology is a doubled edged sword. It is extremely helpful, but has another side to it.
I suppose this sounds weird coming from an internet addict...
@Rick1950 (1575)
• Lima, Peru
18 Aug 11
In fact robots are replacing workers in the factories. Robots and modern machines make tasks almost perfect. It seems that won't stop. I was aware about this trend many years ago. It's good to use robots because they can work very well. I think robots schould be used when there is not enough people to do the work. But when there is unemployment, they should be less used, so that people can have a job.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
16 Aug 11
There are some places where it is all right to have robots such as extremely dangerous work or in the banks with arms, but there are places where one needs a human touch. For instance, if finding how a cure works, I certainly do not want it done on a computer. And then suddenly they give me the medicine and my arm turns green and falls off. (being fastidious)
Now if they gave it to an animal and later to a human volunteer and he finds that the skin starts to remove in that teeny spot where they gave it, then they know that it would not work on humans.
I also find the idea of robot workers in hospitals not a good idea. They cannot think and only give assumed answers. Why I get upset when I want to talk to a business and get the press one or two, etc. and after that I cannot get a real answer because the machine does not speak or think human.
@SpikeTheLobster (6403)
•
16 Aug 11
Ah, modern Luddism. Break the looms! Break the threshers! This technology is stealing our jobs!
That was two centuries ago and people are STILL worried about machines taking jobs? Please. Mankind just invents new ones to take the place of the old. And if we don't like it, it's just too bad: since we're so obsessed with technology, it's a choice we've already made. We just have to live with the consequences.
The US is the last place I'd expect anybody to actually care: the country's been moving closer and closer to pure capitalism for decades. This would imply socialist thinking, which the majority of the country hates.
@SpikeTheLobster (6403)
•
16 Aug 11
Nahh, it's a common response when automation takes over. I'm waiting for robot politicians. That'll be fun.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
16 Aug 11
I don't know but I don't think this scenario will happen soon or happen either way. I think they are jobs are really built for humans and where the human interaction is part of the process. I don't robots will 'take over' the industries but simply their sophistication will enable to have more tasks for them to do.
I think with growing technology there are still the fall-outs. Even robots aren't perfect; it might takes decades to have a fully adaptable and closest resembling robot to replace a human worker. Besides, humans are build to adapt, not robots. Unless it's programmed, it cannot do anything by itself and with our limiting resources will perhaps result in a robot's battery pack not lasting for a working day.
Speaking of adaptation, we human know how to use our ingenuity - something that has yet to turned into a program for robots. We use this to survive, even in modern times. I understand why some people are threatened but it is still in its infancy. A better problem to ponder is how to generate income by available means and how to maximize the population, its workforce and talent.
@hanjianbo615 (149)
• China
16 Aug 11
no matter how smart the robot is a thing we couldn't forget the robot is made by human which can think with minds whereas the robot is operated by program. so we have no need to worry that robots are stealing jobs i think.
@pepperpopper (376)
• Philippines
16 Aug 11
I don't think we should be threatened with robots.first of all, the population continue to increase. The government will find ways to look for a job for these human, otherwise, they will not be voted. :) Secondly, robots are expensive and they do not really have the ability to think using their own mind. Like urgent respond to someone who's dying in the hospital. They don't have feelings. They might just stare to a patient who's 50-50 because the program installed to them is just limited. Third, what if these robots did not function normally. They will need a technician to fix them and it's more expensive right?. In short, these robots which we've seen in the matrix and other sci-fi movies are too far from the reality so don't worry. heheh But I think rising of more high-tech and gigantic machine is more realistic and possible rather than robot.
@ThrillerAssassin (295)
• Philippines
16 Aug 11
I think having robots is okay as long as they don't get more responsibilities. What I mean is that they can replace humans for some simple tasks but I don't want to totally replace the human work force. I think we are still far to that possible robot era. Still, I hope that human realize early the possible effects of robot in our society.
@Triple0 (1904)
• Australia
16 Aug 11
Yes! That's right. When I go out to do some grocery shopping. All the cash registers have been replaced with automatic scanners which you scan the items yourself and pay for. Because of these machines, several people have been knocked out of their jobs. Personally, I don't like the machines, they pose too much hassle. I rather have an actual person scan my items. Though, on the bright side, new technology can open new industries and jobs. So there's a good and a bad side.
@SMRKKNAGAR (61)
•
17 Aug 11
When machines were invented in the past and large scale industries came into being no body worried that those will replace human being.
Now robots are invented. So what? Let the robot do its work. Nothing will happen. Human beings are created by God and the Robots are created by human being. Which will be superior human beings or the robot? Definitely human beings. so don't worry.
@Robben2009 (146)
• China
16 Aug 11
I'm not sure robots will pose a threat to human workers, it depends on the progress of the techniques. It is true that some dangerous areas do need robots to work. Maybe it can replace the workers in the future.
