When will American men embrace robotic sex companions?

[S_Parc]

Such robots could not possibly cost less than a car, and that kind of many would finance some amazing adventures to Brazil, Philippines or Thailand.

Yep, I've been to 2 out of 3 of those countries but realize this, outside of this forum, many will not leave this country except for a brief trip to Canada or perhaps the Bahamas for a winter break.

My impression, judging by most persons I know, is that they believe that women abroad have STDs whereas a 'nice' girl from { Boston, Philly, Chicago } won't . And at the same time, they'll kidnap American tourists, holding 'em for ransom , thus at most only a small percentage will travel abroad to meet women.

I believe the costs of the 'bots are highly dependent upon the cost of computing power. I think that's a critical difference from a car since for the most part, the car is a composite of an internal combustion engine, transmission, and framework and that really hasn't changed for the past 50 years. I suspect that the first home model will be ~$100K and then, a steady drop off from there until the Moore's Law/Accelerating returns creates a type of range, $40K to $80K, and so that for $500/month, the average guy can have a 'bot & he won't have to spend any of his discretionary income on vacations or dating. Or if payments are tight, he can use that additional time for a 2nd job.

[Grunt]

As a single concept, robot companions are a hideous social engineering wedge that could possibly separate men and women permanently.

That said, the concept of a robot companion is a vastly superior alternative to the typical American feminist. Not to mention cheaper at almost any price than a relationship marriage and divorce from a feminist.

Were I not already married, I would give serious consideration to a high quality robot companion. A near perfect relationship with a "woman" that never ages, will never steal your car or sleep with your friends or get fat and nag you.

In the end, I think the lesson we can all walk away from this with is, ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN A FEMINIST! Even a bag of bolts.

[S_Parc]

As a single concept, robot companions are a hideous social engineering wedge that could possibly separate men and women permanently.

It's hideous but the wedge will be two pronged ... many elderly Japanese are already clamoring for medical assistant droids, in place of increasing work visas for nursing assistants. And then, we've got the whole realdoll.com phenomena which already has a subculture, stateside. And that only started 10 years ago with realistic dolls.

In some ways, it's practically a non-engineered future dystopia in the works, through pent up pre-existing market forces. And I find that to be the scariest part, since I don't believe that there's a mastermind Dr Evil controller behind this. I think this future is inevitable.

That said, the concept of a robot companion is a vastly superior alternative to the typical American feminist. Not to mention cheaper at almost any price than a relationship marriage and divorce from a feminist.

Well for the near term, many men will believe that relationships are still feasible. Recently, however, divorces for the 50+ crowd have spiked up. I'm not sure if that's a type of canary in the coal mine but once the average person (meaning those who don't frequent this forum) stops believing in marriage as a viable future condition, then it's curtain call. That's when the next Steve Jobs/Bill Gates of the 2020s will have slogans like, 'A Robot For Every Household' & you'll have them at your Best Buys. I think this current decade, the 2010s, is the calm before the storm. And this is one development which will change the world forever.

[momopi]

Such robots could not possibly cost less than a car, and that kind of many would finance some amazing adventures to Brazil, Philippines or Thailand.

Robots will probably start as "home assistants' and "nurse assistants" in Japan. There simply isn't enough nurses in Japan to care for the elderly in the future (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roujin_Z). The current generation of elderly in Japan dislike the idea of being cared for by robots, but the future generation may have fewer choices (based on their financial capability). Robots do not necessarily mean humanoids, for elderly care it can be a robotic bed that transforms into a wheelchair with toilet facilities built-in.

If you think about it, devices like the vibrator are sexual robotic tools that are already in wide use.

[S_Parc]

There simply isn't enough nurses in Japan to care for the elderly in the future (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roujin_Z). The current generation of elderly in Japan dislike the idea of being cared for by robots, but the future generation may have fewer choices (based on their financial capability). Robots do not necessarily mean humanoids, for elderly care it can be a robotic bed that transforms into a wheelchair with toilet facilities built-in.

From what I'd gathered, the elderly in Japan seem to be warming up to 'bots rather well. They're more xenophobic, in terms of letting in more Indonesian or Filipino guest workers, than in trusting a machine.

If you think about it, devices like the vibrator are sexual robotic tools that are already in wide use.

Yep and for the most part, the strap-on has revolutionized lesbianism. Now, Melissa Etheridge can finally penetrate a woman

[ErikHeaven]

Its the future and quite unavoidable!

[S_Parc]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 085549.htm

Looks like I'd posted too soon, Bill Gates has already said it above:

... Bill Gates believe that there will be a robot in every home by 2025, and they compare the current state of play to the early days of the personal computer in the 1970s. ...

[Jackal]

The more disturbing possibility is that many men will turn themselves into "fembots," meaning that there will be an increasing amount of transvestites and transsexuals.

I remember once reading an article about some Asian country whose economy was doing very badly where the young men were encouraged to get sex change operations, so that they could work as female prostitutes and earn money. The "Robs" will become "Robertas"...

I think feminists would really dislike the idea of a robotic female.

Perhaps they will make the robots look like young Hillary Clintons...

[S_Parc]

The more disturbing possibility is that many men will turn themselves into "fembots," meaning that there will be an increasing amount of transvestites and transsexuals.

I remember once reading an article about some Asian country whose economy was doing very badly where the young men were encouraged to get sex change operations, so that they could work as female prostitutes and earn money. The "Robs" will become "Robertas"...

Are these fellows Kathoeys in Thailand?

I think feminists would really dislike the idea of a robotic female.

Perhaps they will make the robots look like young Hillary Clintons...

I think we'll see all of the Unholy Trinity: Hillary Clinton, Ellen DeGeneres, & Melissa Etheridge having fembots in their condos, when they're not out trolling for hetero women

[DaRick]

Well, if it helps Anglo feminists to drop off the face of the planet, I can't reasonably be opposed...but it may also stop decent men from procreating. Do we want that?

I would also outlaw sperm banks and the like, since more single mothers are NOT a net gain for society, but I digress.

[S_Parc]

but it may also stop decent men from procreating. Do we want that?

Not sure if that's going to be a choice. Decent men, like the engineer in the Outer Limit's "Valerie" youtube episode, won't have nice physical therapists hitting on him.

I would also outlaw sperm banks and the like, since more single mothers are NOT a net gain for society, but I digress.

I think the problem is that both information tech and biotech, proceed hand-in-hand. In a few decades, lesbian couples will be able to have a child w/o any sexual fertilization. Unfortunately, that puts us at the footsteps of 'Brave New World' but I can't see it being stopped. And for this, some male blood donors' DNA may be harvested for *genetic variance*. The problem is that it'll be sneaked in, by people who go to donate blood, waving their rights to that blood sample later. And given desperate times, how many people won't give blood in return for cash? That could be a week's groceries.

[The_Adventurer]

There are still plenty of countries where people are having plenty of sex and making plenty of babies, so if the western world moves in this direction that's their problem. We can go somewhere else. I don't buy this idea that movements in America must happen everywhere else. Look at Cuba and Venezuela. They seem to have a done a very good job of fighting American ideals encroaching on their ways of life, even when the CIA tried to do so with guns and ousting their respective leaders.

You also don't see the muslim world caving in to all this western oppression. American men may very well get to the point of embracing robot companions. I think if someone could make one good enough, it would be popular now not later. I think technology is holding this back more than any needed changes in society. If someone could make EVE R1 or one of the other realistic, female robots, already existing today, do more than sit at a desk and talk, people would start buying.

[S_Parc]

There are still plenty of countries where people are having plenty of sex and making plenty of babies, so if the western world moves in this direction that's their problem. We can go somewhere else. I don't buy this idea that movements in America must happen everywhere else. Look at Cuba and Venezuela. They seem to have a done a very good job of fighting American ideals encroaching on their ways of life, even when the CIA tried to do so with guns and ousting their respective leaders.

Yes, this is my hope as well, however, here's the problem ... the next world economic power will be the Asia-Pacific rim, from Korea to India. These nations have been emulating USA-isms, while at the same time, supporting a wider manufacturing base unlike the US. From what I'd gathered, certain men in wealthier Asian countries (Korea, Japan, S'pore/Hong Kong) are starting to marry women from slighter poorer countries, like Thailand, Vietnam, & Philippines, because for the most part, a similar type of materialism, found in the US, is emerging there, so once again, there's a type of wage arbitrage in effect. Albeit, it's more gradual in Asia-Pacific.

American men may very well get to the point of embracing robot companions. I think if someone could make one good enough, it would be popular now not later. I think technology is holding this back more than any needed changes in society. If someone could make EVE R1 or one of the other realistic, female robots, already existing today, do more than sit at a desk and talk, people would start buying.

Think about this, the Watson computer just came out this year and that's a room full of IBM P7s. In ten years, that entire Machine learning algo' operation will be on a desktop. That box could very well be the AI engine for your home 'bot. The year 2010 was in effect, the Wright Bros flight. Well, how many persons back then would have imagined that an entire World War, within a couple of generations, could have been fought using dive bombers, fighter planes, & B-17 long distance bombers. And that's kinda the story, despite the 1st Terminator film being in the 80s, really the 1st real AI software/robotics applications are today. Before, it was just the academics between MIT, Carnegie-Mellon, & CalTech along with Sci-Fi fans.

[The_Adventurer]

From what I'd gathered, certain men in wealthier Asian countries (Korea, Japan, S'pore/Hong Kong) are starting to marry women from slighter poorer countries, like Thailand, Vietnam, & Philippines, because for the most part, a similar type of materialism, found in the US, is emerging there, so once again, there's a type of wage arbitrage in effect. Albeit, it's more gradual in Asia-Pacific.

I just haven't been seeing this since I've been out here. From what I see, it is thepoorer classes that are marrying girls from Vietnam, Philippines or Thailand. If a person has even a slight bit of wealth, anything from $2000 - $4000 per month, in US money, (more needed in Japan) they will have no trouble getting, not one, but many girls in their home country. And if they have more, they will be with high class girls from their home country. The really rich will be with models, singers and actresses. A poor farmer or worker, though, is another story.

In China and Korea, there is certainly no need for a man of means to go to 3rd world countries for a girl. In China it's just as cheap to get girls in some southern provinces like Fujian. Support her for around $700 per month and she is happy and will follow him. Korea still has poorer, 3rd and 4th tier cities. No language barrier and no cultural problems. I didn't spend enough time in Hong Kong, but I would find it hard to imagine they would go other countries when most of the south of China speaks the same language as they and many 3rd and 4th tier cities would be cheaper than Thailand or Philippines and you can get their by train in a few hours. Singapore I don't know at all.

[S_Parc]

I just haven't been seeing this since I've been out here. From what I see, it is thepoorer classes that are marrying girls from Vietnam, Philippines or Thailand. If a person has even a slight bit of wealth, anything from $2000 - $4000 per month, in US money, (more needed in Japan) they will have no trouble getting, not one, but many girls in their home country. And if they have more, they will be with high class girls from their home country. The really rich will be with models, singers and actresses. A poor farmer or worker, though, is another story.

I already know a few middle income guys in Singapore & Japan, who're married to Thai, Vietnamese, & Filipino women. And BTW, no one complains about these ladies.

And yes, the complaints against their local women have to do with materialism, etc. In fact, some of the haughtiest women I'd met in Asia were Singaporean Chinese. In particular, these women strictly date British/European/American ex-pats as a result. None of their local men want them, despite them being reasonably attractive. That's partly why I'm not completely convinced that there's this sort of *Yankee* shield, by virtue of continental displacement. Part of the American effect is worshiping the altar of money. And if a society get richer, & Singapore is one of the most successful new countries out there (independent as of 1965), then that greed goes along with it.

So while things appear to a ok today, I'm thinking in terms of long term trends and I think that the dynamics in east Asia will change by the time we're nearing our graves. But clearly, we'll see the decline (& cultural fall) of the USA well within our lifespans.