When self checkouts came around, I was a big fan. I hugely preferred it because I’m pretty socially awkward. I used it pretty much exclusively for a decade or so.
But this past year, something flipped in my brain. The rise of AI taking over everything, economy in shambles, general shit state of the world, I don’t know… But now I go out of my way to avoid self check outs. I will stand in line waiting for a cashier even if there’s self checkout wide open. I want that cashier to have a job. I want them to be able to afford their groceries.
As far as grocery stores go, I’m pretty fortunate. I live in an area (St. Louis) where we’ve got good unions for the grocery stores. Schnucks and Dierbergs are the dominant grocery stores here - both local and great union representation.
My grandmother died 25 years ago, and I remember being with her at a store with self-checkouts (they had them now and then back then, the tech wasn’t so different), and she kept refusing, and stayed in line for the live cashier.
Finally, after about the third request from the bubbly, smiley young woman, my grandma snapped, “I want a human to check me out! I’m trying to save your JOB, young lady!”
When self checkouts came around, I was a big fan. I hugely preferred it because I’m pretty socially awkward. I used it pretty much exclusively for a decade or so.
But this past year, something flipped in my brain. The rise of AI taking over everything, economy in shambles, general shit state of the world, I don’t know… But now I go out of my way to avoid self check outs. I will stand in line waiting for a cashier even if there’s self checkout wide open. I want that cashier to have a job. I want them to be able to afford their groceries.
As far as grocery stores go, I’m pretty fortunate. I live in an area (St. Louis) where we’ve got good unions for the grocery stores. Schnucks and Dierbergs are the dominant grocery stores here - both local and great union representation.
My grandmother died 25 years ago, and I remember being with her at a store with self-checkouts (they had them now and then back then, the tech wasn’t so different), and she kept refusing, and stayed in line for the live cashier.
Finally, after about the third request from the bubbly, smiley young woman, my grandma snapped, “I want a human to check me out! I’m trying to save your JOB, young lady!”
And the girl stopped smiling and left her alone.