We can’t feasibly stop automation, nor should we. We SHOULD be taking the profits back from billionaires that they’ve stolen since time immemorial. Automation means less work overall. But we need to ensure the workers actually benefit from that.
You can bet a lot of people who hate self-checkouts only hate it because they can’t yell at and order the employee around to do their bidding.
I hate using them most of the time because it’s a bullshit hassle for me to unload and scan and bag all of my groceries, when there used to be an employee to do that for me. I don’t work for the fucking store, their employees do, so they should do that work and get paid for it. The stores where I shop have gradually scaled back real cashiers for machines to the point that it’s more inconvenient for all.
The only time I like using the self checkout is when I’m buying rubbers and sex lube. The cashiers always laugh or make a face when I put the Magnum condoms on the belt.
