Robots stealing our jobs!

[Datajack Franit]

No no no no, when robots will do the hard work there will be no more need for stupid people, meaning that we will be able to concentrate on developing our culture and arts, of course if the robots don't eat us before that

[Kuciwalker]

@ getting rid of the stupid people once we don't need them

[:) Smiley]

We should have some method of making stupid people not stupid anymore by then.

[Kuciwalker]

But then we won't be special anymore.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Exactly the same thing has been happening ever since people started making tools. Labor-saving devices have NEVER caused problems except in the very short run.

= one or two generations.

[Kuciwalker]

Would you rather people had not made those devices, Spiffor? No computers, etc.?

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
Would you rather people had not made those devices, Spiffor? No computers, etc.?

I would rather have an efficient economic system where the technological progresses (which objectively improve our living conditions) don't waste the lives of throngs of laborers for one or two generations.

Such a thing is possible, if the implementation of new technologies is done in a sensible fashion, rather than an exploitative one.

[Kuciwalker]

So basically you want to have the government review all scientific progress and not let anyone implement ANYTHING that saves labor (even simply making a company more efficient by reorganizing it so labor is used more efficiently) until you've been able to suitably retrain those who could lose their jobs?

If we did that, we'd still be using sailing ships and riding horses to get places.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
So basically you want to have the government review all scientific progress and not let anyone implement ANYTHING that saves labor (even simply making a company more efficient by reorganizing it so labor is used more efficiently) until you've been able to suitably retrain those who could lose their jobs?

Not exactly. I'm rather thinking about giving a free education to those people who'll lose their jobs, so that they can fit in the new paradigm, without seeing their whole lifestyle. Also, these shifts are rarely immediate, and some people must keep being employed in the "old way" - I want the law to force the companies to keep older labourers in these jos, as they're the ones with worst learning abilities.

[Kuciwalker]

So basically what I'm saying.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
So basically what I'm saying.

No.

It's not about barring the implementation of new technologies by private interests. It's about our society providing free lifelong learning, and forcing the private interests to fire the young labourers first, as they are much more likely to learn a new (and probably more interesting) job.

[Kuciwalker]

It's not about barring the implementation of new technologies by private interests.

I want the law to force the companies to keep older labourers in these jos, as they're the ones with worst learning abilities.

[Spiffor]

You misunderstood.

Technological transitions are not immediate. People with the "old" skills are still required for some time. I want these remaining "old" jobs being lawfully taken by older labourers, instead of younger ones.

And even if it means artifically keeping a few labourers, it doesn't mean infinite costs for the implementation of a technology. It merely raises the cost a little bit.

[Kuciwalker]

So basically you want to legislate age discrimination?

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
So basically you want to legislate age discrimination?

Duh.

It does exist already with pretty much everything related to studies. And for a reason: young people learn better than older ones.

If the labourers who are fired because of a techno-shift can get an education, you bet the young should be the first to benefit from it.