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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2014/apr/07/robots-and-sex-creepy-or-cool
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Robots and sex: creepy or cool? | Robots and sex: creepy or cool? |
| (1 day later) | |
| Consenting | Consenting |
| adults’ private activities seem to get a lot of other people very cross. Almost | adults’ private activities seem to get a lot of other people very cross. Almost |
| nowhere is this more pronounced than activities involving sex: the position, | nowhere is this more pronounced than activities involving sex: the position, |
| placement and management of people’s genital activities seem to keep a lot of | placement and management of people’s genital activities seem to keep a lot of |
| other adults awake – but in an unhealthy, conservative way. | other adults awake – but in an unhealthy, conservative way. |
| Many | Many |
| people don’t like two men doing romantic things together; many dislike women | people don’t like two men doing romantic things together; many dislike women |
| doing things too; and even if it’s the “proper” combination of sexes, there are | doing things too; and even if it’s the “proper” combination of sexes, there are |
| rules about monogamy and marriage and money and so forth – that must not be | rules about monogamy and marriage and money and so forth – that must not be |
| violated, lest you incur the wrath of judgmental columnists and | violated, lest you incur the wrath of judgmental columnists and |
| incomprehensible comment sections (or, unfortunately, the law itself). | incomprehensible comment sections (or, unfortunately, the law itself). |
| Even | Even |
| otherwise progressive individuals are troubled by things such as non-monogamous | otherwise progressive individuals are troubled by things such as non-monogamous |
| relationships, child-free people (mostly child-free women, because | relationships, child-free people (mostly child-free women, because |
| wombs must always be filled with future babies, apparently), and men using sex toys. | wombs must always be filled with future babies, apparently), and men using sex toys. |
| So | So |
| when considering, for example, sex robots, we should expect hatred, antagonism, | when considering, for example, sex robots, we should expect hatred, antagonism, |
| and judgement. That attitude, in particular and in general toward adult | and judgement. That attitude, in particular and in general toward adult |
| consensual sex, should change. We can use sex robots as a good case-study to | consensual sex, should change. We can use sex robots as a good case-study to |
| demonstrate why. | demonstrate why. |
| Sex! | Sex! |
| Of! The Future…? | Of! The Future…? |
| Books | Books |
| have gone digital; music professionals view CDs as being as antediluvian as penny-farthings; entire careers exist purely online; relationships and friendships are formed and | have gone digital; music professionals view CDs as being as antediluvian as penny-farthings; entire careers exist purely online; relationships and friendships are formed and |
| matured and managed via social networks. We order groceries (online) because fridges tell us to. | matured and managed via social networks. We order groceries (online) because fridges tell us to. |
| Thus, | Thus, |
| there is no massive leap to make here: our sex lives and love lives, from finding new | there is no massive leap to make here: our sex lives and love lives, from finding new |
| partners to even the partners themselves, will get the gloss of modern | partners to even the partners themselves, will get the gloss of modern |
| and future technology. Indeed, researchers at Victoria | and future technology. Indeed, researchers at Victoria |
| University, | University, |
| for example, think that sex robots will, in many places, replace human sex | for example, think that sex robots will, in many places, replace human sex |
| workers by 2050. | workers by 2050. |
| Sex | Sex |
| aids and toys are in use by many people today. The ubiquity of dildos or | aids and toys are in use by many people today. The ubiquity of dildos or |
| vibrators in women’s personal possession has eroded much of its shock value. | vibrators in women’s personal possession has eroded much of its shock value. |
| Though | Though |
| there appears to be some stigma | there appears to be some stigma |
| still for men, apparently the most popular (or widely known?) toy for male | still for men, apparently the most popular (or widely known?) toy for male |
| users is the Fleshlight. This looks like an anaemic squid stuffed crudely into | users is the Fleshlight. This looks like an anaemic squid stuffed crudely into |
| a heavy-duty flashlight. Gizmodo’s Adam Frucci | a heavy-duty flashlight. Gizmodo’s Adam Frucci |
| felt “ashamed” for using it, but reviewed it nonetheless. There’s even an iPad cover that uses | felt “ashamed” for using it, but reviewed it nonetheless. There’s even an iPad cover that uses |
| a Fleshlight design and the screen of the iPad to display video of a sex performer | a Fleshlight design and the screen of the iPad to display video of a sex performer |
| to emulate sex for the user. | to emulate sex for the user. |
| Feeling | Feeling |
| ashamed, wanting to shame, to judge, admonish, laugh, are common enough | ashamed, wanting to shame, to judge, admonish, laugh, are common enough |
| responses toward those engaging in such activities. Nonetheless, these | responses toward those engaging in such activities. Nonetheless, these |
| activities seem tolerated. | activities seem tolerated. |
| If | If |
| many (not all) of | many (not all) of |
| us are tolerant of dildos and Fleshlights – even if, like me, you find such | us are tolerant of dildos and Fleshlights – even if, like me, you find such |
| items ill-inducing – is this not already a basis to accept sex robots? | items ill-inducing – is this not already a basis to accept sex robots? |
| Moral | Moral |
| difference | difference |
| Consider | Consider |
| the setup of that iPad Fleshlight design. There is a physical aspect that | the setup of that iPad Fleshlight design. There is a physical aspect that |
| allows people to engage directly with it, to mimic the sensation of another | allows people to engage directly with it, to mimic the sensation of another |
| person. And it allows for visual and auditory aids, which is essentially | person. And it allows for visual and auditory aids, which is essentially |
| pornography. This allows the user to emulate sexual interaction. | pornography. This allows the user to emulate sexual interaction. |
| First | First |
| we can say this is no different from any other kind of sexual emulation – the | we can say this is no different from any other kind of sexual emulation – the |
| only difference is that a tool is being used other than embarrassment. Second, | |
| consider the relation to something like “Roxxxy”. | consider the relation to something like “Roxxxy”. |
| In | In |
| January 2010, the world’s first sex robot was unveiled. As Discovery highlights: | January 2010, the world’s first sex robot was unveiled. As Discovery highlights: |
| “[Roxxxy] boasts artificial intelligence, speech recognition | “[Roxxxy] boasts artificial intelligence, speech recognition |
| technology and a bevy of recorded phrases, making it able to, on some levels, | technology and a bevy of recorded phrases, making it able to, on some levels, |
| converse with her mate. She also has a personality-changer, an Internet | converse with her mate. She also has a personality-changer, an Internet |
| connection to receive software and dialog updates.” | connection to receive software and dialog updates.” |
| So | So |
| it has physical aspects that can simulate sexual interaction; and auditory and | it has physical aspects that can simulate sexual interaction; and auditory and |
| visual stimuli. Thus, “Roxxxy” is no different to the iPad’s cover: most people | visual stimuli. Thus, “Roxxxy” is no different to the iPad’s cover: most people |
| wouldn’t want their parents to see that either. | wouldn’t want their parents to see that either. |
| The | The |
| point being, if we can accept and tolerate tools like those mentioned – whether | point being, if we can accept and tolerate tools like those mentioned – whether |
| dildos or an iSexWorker – there’s no reason we should be viewing items like | dildos or an iSexWorker – there’s no reason we should be viewing items like |
| Roxxxy as anything significantly different. | Roxxxy as anything significantly different. |
| Even | Even |
| if you’ll never use one, you should care | if you’ll never use one, you should care |
| What’s | What’s |
| interesting is that Roxxxy emerged from health concerns. Doug Hines, founder of | interesting is that Roxxxy emerged from health concerns. Doug Hines, founder of |
| the company that makes Roxxxy, told Discovery: | the company that makes Roxxxy, told Discovery: |
| “We | “We |
| came up with the concept of using a robot to help care for – not to replace a | came up with the concept of using a robot to help care for – not to replace a |
| nurse – but help people who need extra care at home: invalids, Alzheimer's | nurse – but help people who need extra care at home: invalids, Alzheimer's |
| patients, etc. It might not be cost-effective or practical to have a nurse | patients, etc. It might not be cost-effective or practical to have a nurse |
| full-time with the patient. But the robot would allow interaction with the | full-time with the patient. But the robot would allow interaction with the |
| patient as well as the technology to connect remotely and talk and care as | patient as well as the technology to connect remotely and talk and care as |
| needed.” | needed.” |
| Hines | Hines |
| saw the sex industry as another avenue, when health didn’t pan out: after all, | saw the sex industry as another avenue, when health didn’t pan out: after all, |
| they had the tech and innovation. | they had the tech and innovation. |
| Some, | Some, |
| however, might say that Hines’s design never left the health industry – since | however, might say that Hines’s design never left the health industry – since |
| healthy sexual | healthy sexual |
| gratification could be considered a health benefit, as it could, for | gratification could be considered a health benefit, as it could, for |
| example, aid various people with | example, aid various people with |
| physical and mental disabilities as its original design intended. | physical and mental disabilities as its original design intended. |
| That | That |
| the sex robot is providing relief with sexual gratification instead of (vanilla?) | the sex robot is providing relief with sexual gratification instead of (vanilla?) |
| nursing isn’t that significant a difference morally – that is, a person is | nursing isn’t that significant a difference morally – that is, a person is |
| still benefiting without any significant harms. | still benefiting without any significant harms. |
| The | The |
| benefits of sex robots are obvious: users would obtain sexual fulfilment with | benefits of sex robots are obvious: users would obtain sexual fulfilment with |
| something resembling the target of their desire (assuming you manage to find | something resembling the target of their desire (assuming you manage to find |
| such a model), without harm. No STDs; no confusion about consent (you don’t | such a model), without harm. No STDs; no confusion about consent (you don’t |
| obtain consent from your MP3 player when you put things inside it, so it's no | obtain consent from your MP3 player when you put things inside it, so it's no |
| different when you put things inside a Roxxxy device); in terms of sex work, for | different when you put things inside a Roxxxy device); in terms of sex work, for |
| example, there wouldn’t be a worry around sex trafficking or harm to the | example, there wouldn’t be a worry around sex trafficking or harm to the |
| workers. We'd be worried about glorified furniture, not people (though of | workers. We'd be worried about glorified furniture, not people (though of |
| course people still think of women and sex workers as such, anyway, and trafficking | course people still think of women and sex workers as such, anyway, and trafficking |
| is its own complicated discussion). | is its own complicated discussion). |
| Confusing the ethics | Confusing the ethics |
| We | We |
| come to confusing areas when we start thinking about sentience and the ability to feel and experience emotions. | come to confusing areas when we start thinking about sentience and the ability to feel and experience emotions. |
| The | The |
| robot’s form is what remains disconcerting, at least to me. Unlike a bloodless | robot’s form is what remains disconcerting, at least to me. Unlike a bloodless |
| small squid stuffed into a plastic holder, this sex object actually resembles a | small squid stuffed into a plastic holder, this sex object actually resembles a |
| whole human, along with that fake human having independent movement. Worse | whole human, along with that fake human having independent movement. Worse |
| still are ideas raised by popular | still are ideas raised by popular |
| science-fiction regarding sentience – but for now, such concerns for | science-fiction regarding sentience – but for now, such concerns for |
| artificial intelligence are far off (or perhaps impossible). | artificial intelligence are far off (or perhaps impossible). |
| The | The |
| idea that we can program something to “always consent” or “never refuse” is further | idea that we can program something to “always consent” or “never refuse” is further |
| discomforting to me. But we must wonder: how is it different to turning on an | discomforting to me. But we must wonder: how is it different to turning on an |
| iPad? How is it different to the letter I type appearing on screen as I push | iPad? How is it different to the letter I type appearing on screen as I push |
| these keys? Do we say the iPad or software is programmed to consent to my | these keys? Do we say the iPad or software is programmed to consent to my |
| button pushing, swiping, clicking? No: We just assume a causal connection of “push | button pushing, swiping, clicking? No: We just assume a causal connection of “push |
| button – get result”. | button – get result”. |
| That’s | That’s |
| the nature of tools. We don’t wonder about the hammer’s feelings being nailed, | the nature of tools. We don’t wonder about the hammer’s feelings being nailed, |
| so why should we worry about a robot’s? Just because the robot has a human form | so why should we worry about a robot’s? Just because the robot has a human form |
| doesn’t make it any less of a tool. It just has no property for feelings. | doesn’t make it any less of a tool. It just has no property for feelings. |
| Still caring | Still caring |
| No | No |
| one reading this ever has to use a sex robot. I plan on preparing for their | one reading this ever has to use a sex robot. I plan on preparing for their |
| inevitable taking over of our species, so I’m not going near one. But the | inevitable taking over of our species, so I’m not going near one. But the |
| overarching point isn’t future-focused at all: it’s about accepting other | overarching point isn’t future-focused at all: it’s about accepting other |
| people’s choices to do what they want with their bodies and obtain sexual | people’s choices to do what they want with their bodies and obtain sexual |
| satisfaction, without worry of stigma or shame. Using sex robots doesn’t harm | satisfaction, without worry of stigma or shame. Using sex robots doesn’t harm |
| anyone any more than using contemporary sex toys. | anyone any more than using contemporary sex toys. |
| Conveying | Conveying |
| shame is giving voice to your | shame is giving voice to your |
| discomfort, not highlighting what is actually wrong with any of these | discomfort, not highlighting what is actually wrong with any of these |
| non-harmful sexual activities. Indeed, if the activities are harmful, pointing that fact out is more important than mere | non-harmful sexual activities. Indeed, if the activities are harmful, pointing that fact out is more important than mere |
| mockery. We are all grown-ups and should be responding that way in our | mockery. We are all grown-ups and should be responding that way in our |
| reactions to non-harmful sex and sexually related activities. Until then, | reactions to non-harmful sex and sexually related activities. Until then, |
| perhaps I’ll consider supporting robots taking over our unnecessarily | perhaps I’ll consider supporting robots taking over our unnecessarily |
| conservative and judgmental species. | conservative and judgmental species. |
| @tauriqmoosa | @tauriqmoosa |