The Stand-off

 


Hero or zero? I'm on the fence with this one. 

They're so damn cute! And she scares me. If she stood in front of me, I'd pee my pants. It's no surprise this woman is a semi retired professor. In her spare time she likes to hunt down food delivery robots and have a stand-off. The poor things are paralyzed and I'm doing exactly what she said we would do- we are normalizing this little box of nuts, bolts and chips.

Chips!? Why yes, both kinds. The robots are mostly being used by young college students in her community, probably students she has taught. The issue for Marvin is she believes these little boxes are taking jobs away from humans. 

I gotta ask- Are they really? Has anyone actually looked into how many humans have suffered because a robot can now deliver your food- if you allow it to do so? When I order food, 99% of the delivery people are aging male hippies who smell like weed and dirty clothes. In the very few times a young person has delivered my pizza or chop suey, I get a morbid, muttering slug who gives the impression this job is beneath them. I'm all for hippies having jobs, but their kind are dying. Young folks don't want to serve you. Maybe you have a different experience, but I don't believe a food cart, one that is also very cute and doesn't frown or mumble is going to replace humans, because humans don't want the job. It's also dangerous work. These people are going to a stranger's house. A delivery man was killed here a few years back after he was set up. It's scary. 

Japan has used robots for a very long time and there happens to be an extreme human labor shortage. The unemployment rate is around 2%. Have you seen these people? They work sixty to eighty hours a week. The sleepwalk home. Even with automated desk clerks and tiny robot concierges, the people of Japan probably wish a robot would help them in their careers. 

If Professor Marvin wants to spend her free time blocking robots in alleys, whatevs. I just think it's a waste of time. I honestly don't see these portable carts replacing humans. Not in this country, even  though we are now the bluer, kinder nation. We ain't Canada.

Case in point 👇


In Canada and around the world, hitchBOT got hugs. In America it got mugged and decapitated.

Hey, look at that- Marvin lives in Philadelphia. hitchBOT was vandalized in Philadelphia... Maybe she's a serial robot killer. The new robots have come a long way since 2015. hitchBOT didn't have a chance. Do the adorable little metal boxes have one? I don't think old ladies across the country are going to be joining Marvin any time soon. It's nice to have a cause. I'm not so sure it's worth the effort. 

Comments

Anonymous said…
Well, that's pretty damn silly on all counts. Doesn't seem like an efficient way to deliver food. How does this machine handle curbs and work doors and elevators in apartment buildings? I would think old hippies have better mobility skills. The lady? She needs to find something better to do or her full retirement will be very weird.
November 8, 2026 at 7:56 AM
Maggie said…
I doubt they go into buildings, but if they can't get around old ladies, their usefulness is limited.
November 8, 2026 at 8:29 AM
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