Automation and automatons

John Ward articulates the absurdities in 'modern life' and a few irritations.

My pet peeves in this artificial world we call everyday life are:

1) the automation of everything.

Call centres and corporate telephone menus are the obvious ones, where "customer service" often hides behind a premium number, and is provided by oiks who read from a script then try to sell you more of their crap at the end of your 'phone ordeal.

This automation extends throughout the procedures of corporations, so hog-tying the hands of its staff that they're forced to make ludicrous decisions so as not to break with procedure. Corporates have managed to squeeze initiative out of their workplaces, even at the very top, where execs either tear their hair out or just stop caring.

That's one of the reasons we have a nation of amoral imbeciles; they don't have to think for themselves or consider the rights and wrongs of anything. All they have to do is obey and produce the sausage in the way that procedure dictates, like good little automatons.

2) the planned obsolescence of just about everything.

No wonder our landfills are full. We buy too much crap because that suits the corporations just fine. Government stays large because of corporations.

The automation dehumanises our experiences and almost guarantees that in every transaction, there will be a cock-up - something that must be corrected by wasting more time and energy.  The planned obsolescence just rips us off.

So at this very festive time of year, I propose starving the beast.

• Close accounts in global banks (e.g., Lloyds, RBS) - instead use local Mutual.
• Boycott the supermarkets (e.g., Tesco, Lidl) - instead use Mom & Pop stores. They can do with the business, because the government is killing them.
• Pay down debt (e.g., credit card, mortgage) -  ASAP and never take on more.
• Reduce consumption and buy only goods that last, preferably from neighbours, car boot sales or other non-establishment outlets.
• Barter.
• Pay cash wherever possible - foil their tracking systems which enable them to target taxation finely at the middle classes, based on data mining info fed to them by the banks.
• Grow your own food. Who needs the toxins in the nutrient-deficient junk that the supermarkets sell, anyway! Else, buy from a local farm and pay cash. I bet the farmer could use the money.
• Walk or cycle more often. Don't use public transport or your car, where possible.
• Buy gold and be sure to take immediate physical delivery of it.

Kill the bastard, psycopathic corporations off.

And have a very merry Christmas!


Related: 

• GOLD: Why the old purchasing system is breaking down - The Slog