Rage Against the Machines
AI and Automation Creep vs Real People
One of my favorite things about living in Mexico is the opportunity to actually talk to people — real people, face to face — whenever I want.
If I want to give myself a quick “baño de gente” (you’re right — that says “people bath,” and it’s a real phrase!), all I need do is step outside my door. I don’t even have to buy anything! I can go to a park, I can stand out on the street. My neighbors might be doing things outside their doors. There are people around, and they are accustomed to exchanging low-stakes, friendly pleasantries.
It really is the little things.
There’s a part in the book 100 Years of Solitude where everyone stops sleeping and gradually loses their memories. During this time, someone starts telling the same joke over and over: “Do you want hear the story about the capon?” “Yes.” “I didn’t ask you to say yes, I asked if you wanted to hear the story about the capon.” “Okay, no.” “I didn’t ask you to say no, I asked if you wanted to hear the story about the capon. Do you want to hear the story about the capon?” “Yes.” “I didn’t ask…”
This goes on for about a page, and it’s basically exactly what trying to get through to talk to an actual person is like when you try need customer service these days. If you want to talk to an actual person at PayPal, or at Amazon, or at Facebook, or at Substack and Stripe even, you’re out of luck.