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Dr. Levy, who
apparently is well respected and not a quack, thinks that the Japanese
will or I should say, are, at this time the leaders in the sex robot
industry. Dr. Levy states that Japanese companies are already working
to produce prototypes for remote Japanese fishing villages.
How nice.
Dr. Levy goes on to explain in his book that eventually anyone (male
or female) will be able to purchase a robot with natural feeling
skin which can simulate emotions and affections to the point as
to where ‘they are absolutely convincing.’ He states that these
machines will be a boom for lonely, physically unattractive humans
or people living in remote or isolated areas of the world for long
periods of time. Dr. Levy sees nothing wrong with this concept and
compares it to a computer playing a game of chess against a human.
In his words, if you can’t make any distinction between a robot
and a human, then what difference does it make?
Of course, Dr. Levy does point out that there are a number of philosophical
and ethical questions which might come into play. These include
such things as if a robot hits your neighbor in the mouth, are you
responsible? If your sex robot gets involved with your room mate
(human) can you just throw the robot out with the trash? Could you
marry a robot and if you did who gets your estate when you die?
Dr. Levy states that sex robots would eventually put the prostitution
industry out of business which leads me to ask a question… “If someone
paid to have sex with a robot, would that be a crime?” Dr. Levy
ends up his interview by saying that he and his wife would be willing
to try robotic sex even though they are happily married.
“Just as a matter of genuine scientific curiosity” he added.
Certainly just like all us who once just read the articles in Playboy
and never looked at the pictures.
I’m sorry folks; I have to tell you that I find an article such
as this to be extremely depressing if it turned out to be true.
I see more and more remoteness in our society than I see togetherness.
Look at the popularity of such social contact webs sites such as
MySpace and Facebook and their millions upon millions of so-called
friends. Who are these people trying to be friends with? Why not
just go next door and get to meet the neighbor? I asked some kids
why they prefer to ‘text’ messages rather than calling someone on
the phone. They explained that it allowed them to make a statement
without having to actually talk to another live person. How sad.
Computers are
wonderful tools, most of us use them everyday, but in my mind they
should not be a substitute for real life human beings and real life
relationships. When I drive through my neighborhood I am saddened
by the lack of kids playing in the yards or on the streets. When
I was a kid we never stayed indoors unless it was pouring down rain
and sometimes not even then. Yes, I’ve ridden a bicycle in a rainstorm
and actually lived to tell about it. Now we are raising hot house
kids who are better friends with a television, computer, I-pod,
video game or something other than the kid next door.
How sad for us as humans. Part of the adventure of growing up is
the never ending change that we get to witness as we evolve through
the various stages of our lives. We get to laugh and cry, sometimes
in the same moment. Do you think a robot can ever be programmed
to do such as this?
Life is not predicable and thank God for that. Who would want to
live in a world where everything was programmed in advance and all
emotions and responses were automated?
Not me. I like change, I like real people who can yell, laugh, argue,
cry, smile and yes love me or dislike me for whatever reason. I
want to interact with real people, not automated robots.
So, don’t come to my house and expect to ever see any of these things
where I live. I’m not a good marketing prospect for anything like
this.
On the other hand, could you vote for a robot or have one run for
President?
Maybe they are with us already and we just don’t know it.
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