I suppose this is supposed to be a good thing...

I went to Subway today for the first time in
a very long time.

I don't know if all Subways are doing what
this one is, but I don't find it appealing
in any shape, way, or form.

I can venture a guess as to why some may
say what they're doing is a good thing, but
there is not one reason that I can think of
out of those possibilities that out weighs
(in my mind) what they are in some ways a
substitution for.

What is this "thing?"

It is a touch screen machine that takes
your order. You tell the machine what you
want, and then you go pay someone at the
register for your order.

I won't be surprised if one day we walk
into a place and never have to interact
with another human being to do what we
need to do.

That will be a very sad day.

Some might say it is good in the guise
of efficiency, or in some way more
accurate (more like if there is a problem,
the person doing the transaction is to
blame, as they're the only one around).

For a long time now phone systems have
become like that. It is difficult to
get a human being to transact with.

I am under the impression that people may
have liked it at first, but I don't know
too many at the moment who do.

Like many things, our appreciation is
greater when the thing appreciated is lost.
I would rather not appreciate the value of
human interaction only after is has gone
the way of the dinosaur.

Yes. That may be a bit dramatic, but
sometimes the reality might be a lot closer
to the drama than we realize. Whether we
want to admit it, or not, our ability to
relate and interact in person is slipping.

Is it something we can afford to lose?