Robbing Delivery Robots Is Now a Thing

foobar@lemmy.villa-straylight.social to Technology@lemmy.world – 575 points –
Robbing Delivery Robots Is Now a Thing
autoweek.com
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I'm far from a Luddite and I think robots in general are cool. But I kind of don't have an issue with people fucking up autonomous roaming robots. I haven't rationalized that opinion just yet, I guess. Just feels right.

Philly did nothing wrong

I don't think waving away being a Luddite just by saying so makes it so.

I can't think of a single angle of principled moral theory that makes this okay. Vandalizing or stealing someone else's property they paid for. Hurting both the restaurant and the customer by depriving them of their food. Holding back progress on an invention that can reduce the need for humans to engage in a type of work that is hard, dangerous at times, and low paid.

From a purely rational on paper view, it doesn't look terribly different than saying vandalizing or stealing from delivery vehicles driven by people isn't wrong. What possible justification could there be for this view besides Ludditism fuck robots?

I don't think that robots should be allowed to take up space on our sidewalks. Sidewalks are meant for people to travel on and we shouldn't be inconvenienced by having to avoid some annoying-ass robots rolling down the middle of them all the time. They ought to be considered motor vehicles and banned from sidewalks. That being said, stealing people's deliveries is wrong and I don't think it's a good way to combat robots encroaching on our space.

Maybe just overturn them so it becomes unprofitable?

I was thinking you could pick them up and set them in nearby bushes or something so it's out of everyone's way. You aren't damaging it and it's impossible to argue that robots should have right-of-way. If you overturn them, the company might be able to bitch that you scratched the paint or something.

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groans

I don’t think waving away being a Luddite just by saying so makes it so.

Guess you know me better than I know myself.

From a purely rational on paper view, it doesn’t look terribly different than saying vandalizing or stealing from delivery vehicles driven by people isn’t wrong. What possible justification could there be for this view besides Ludditism fuck robots?

Imagine thinking humans are rational beings the debate ethics every time they have a feeling. Sometimes you just gotta fuck shit up.

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Under captialism we lament robots taking our jobs, where under a better system we would be rejoicing.

Do you mean the system where people would have the opportunity to cook better food for themselves instead of ordering fast food and paying exorbitant fees to have it delivered?

You okay with people fucking up vending machines and ATMs too? Why or why not?

Not OP, but I would like to state that I am ok with that. You pulled a human out of the loop, and that comes with risks. Business decision.

Wouldn't this justify vandalizing any type of machine whatsoever? Get in an elevator and nobody is looking? Stab the control panel so they have to get a human in the future making the elevator. See a car and no one is looking? Set it on fire so they have to use a human pulled rickshaw instead.

Ok, so if it's not a vending machine, but a cashier and cashier gets punched by a robber it's ok as well?

You're all making logical ethics arguments on a flippant emotional comment I made. You ever just have intrusive thoughts that make you just want to fuck some shit up? That's what these robots make me feel.

People take every comment way too seriously.

I agree with you. That Philly robot wasn't even a robot, it was a pile of garbage in a chair.

The rational could be that those robots are taking the job of a human being and deserve to be robbed...

Using cars to deliver food pays very little, is dangerous (old guy with shotgun shoots your brains if you go to the wrong house), and is extremely bad for the environment. Current delivery workers could switch to a safer job with better pay and not damage the environment as much. Or we can implement UBI. Just a thought.

Edit: I would also like to point out a robot’s electric bill for a trip is much cheaper when compared to a gas or even an electric car. Ideally, the savings would be passed along to the customer.

Well… an old man shooting your brains out for ringing the wrong doorbell is a complete different problem.

We can also make robots to do that more efficiently.

I hate this argument... Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a job that pays a livable wage?

People aren't dealing with the dangers of delivery because they are lazy or unmotivated, they are doing it because they need the work and it pays barely enough to meet their needs.

Yes, thats why we need some fucking change in the world. My argument is just saying delivery robots are not bad.

Where the hell did I say delivery workers were lazy?

That is LITERALLY the meaning of the “Luddite” position that has been disclaimed.

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