3 ms·

> Seems like a solution looking for a problem. We don't need food delivery robots, people are happy to do the same thing (just look at Uber eats, DoorDash, post

by foofie 3y ago

> Seems like a solution looking for a problem. We don't need food delivery robots, people are happy to do the same thing (just look at Uber eats, DoorDash, postmates, etc). Once I ordered from one of those companies on a brutally rainy day, and the rider who delivered my order was a mother taking her infant daughter along with her. Before she arrived I was kind of frustrated as the order was taking twice as long as expected to be delivered, but once both of them showed up at my front door all soaking wet with the mother apologizing, it broke my heart. I'm not so sure people are happy to deliver stuff to others. They work jobs because they really need the pay. You might argue delivery companies didn't created poverty, but they aren't exactly paying a living wage either. Robots makes food delivery less exploitative.

jprete 3y ago
The main critique I have of your post is that it's very possible that the woman doesn't have other options. In the absence of UBI and other socialist utopias, she and her daughter will probably fall marginally further down the economic ladder.
- foofie 3y ago
  > The main critique I have of your post is that it's very possible that the woman doesn't have other options. I'm not comfortable with this line of argument. It makes it sound like these delivery companies are generous charities that act on the riders' best interests. Instead, they are just exploiting the most vulnerable not only on their extremely low pay and lack of welfare and benefits but also by treating them as disposable servants. It sounds a bit like something rich people say during a banquet about servants taking home their scraps. That doesn't sit right by me. At least delivery robots are a realization of how these types look at people.
tennisflyi 3y ago
Yes. Seems like they've never interacted with the "servant" class and love to only mingle with those in the company cafeteria.

by foofie 3y ago

jprete 3y ago

The main critique I have of your post is that it's very possible that the woman doesn't have other options. In the absence of UBI and other socialist utopias, she and her daughter will probably fall marginally further down the economic ladder.

foofie 3y ago
> The main critique I have of your post is that it's very possible that the woman doesn't have other options. I'm not comfortable with this line of argument. It makes it sound like these delivery companies are generous charities that act on the riders' best interests. Instead, they are just exploiting the most vulnerable not only on their extremely low pay and lack of welfare and benefits but also by treating them as disposable servants. It sounds a bit like something rich people say during a banquet about servants taking home their scraps. That doesn't sit right by me. At least delivery robots are a realization of how these types look at people.

tennisflyi 3y ago

Yes. Seems like they've never interacted with the "servant" class and love to only mingle with those in the company cafeteria.