Jul 13 2009Robotic Workers Being Laid Off In Japan
Finally, some good news. Thanks to the current global economic crisis, many robots in Japan are finding themselves out of work. And, hopefully, oil. Rust and die you dirty bastards!
Japan's legions of robots, the world's largest fleet of mechanized workers, are being idled as the country suffers its deepest recession in more than a generation as consumers worldwide cut spending on cars and gadgets.
At a large Yaskawa Electric factory on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, where robots once churned out more robots, a lone robotic worker with steely arms twisted and turned, testing its motors for the day new orders return. Its immobile co-workers stood silent in rows, many with arms frozen in midair.They could be out of work for a long time. Japanese industrial production has plummeted almost 40 percent and with it, the demand for robots.
As pumped as I am to hear about out-of-work robots, the whole economic crisis thing kind of puts a damper on my excitation. I have feelings, you know? Also, a powerful green laser. Call me.
In Japan, Machines for Work and Play Are Idle [nytimes]
Thanks to patrick, who once stole a robots job AND its girlfriend. Good lookin', Patrick.
Reader Comments
1. awesome+cool+pew= geekologie - July 13, 2009 11:01 AM
hahha u got wat was coming to u
2. catch22 - July 13, 2009 11:03 AM
so if the robots replace people.... who replaces robots?
3. AndyMac - July 13, 2009 11:05 AM
I love robots being layed off!!
4. Robot - July 13, 2009 11:06 AM
Those poor robot:( makes me want to do all I can to help them, but alas I am in the wrong country....for now!!
5. LSDiesel - July 13, 2009 11:09 AM
No GW! When robots are working, they are too busy to rebel and overthrow their meatbag masters!
A legion of unemployed robots? I shudder to think....
6. Timbo - July 13, 2009 11:10 AM
Do all japan robots look like kids toys?
7. $.02 and a pocket full of FAH-Q - July 13, 2009 11:15 AM
5 - Stole the thought right out of my head.
8. Gordon "Fücking" Shumway - July 13, 2009 11:18 AM
Since they need money to put oil and bolts in their babies mouths, will they start selling ass on the coner for some scratch? I need to know.
9. STOMPY - July 13, 2009 11:22 AM
@GFS
I smell a roadtrip to Japan to go visit these pleasurebots...
10. FDSY - July 13, 2009 11:25 AM
ahem
FFFFFFFFFOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLSSSSSSS
CAN YOU NOT SEE WHAAT IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES!?!?!?
THEY ARE FOR TRAINING ROBOTS IN THE ART OF HAND TO METALLIC CLAW COMBAT!!!!
WE MUST READY OURSELVES!!!! QUICKLY!!! THERE IS NO MORE TIME!!!
THE COMING ROBOPOCALYPSE IS DRAWING EVER CLOSER!!!!!!!!
11. LSDiesel - July 13, 2009 11:30 AM
@8, yeah. My unemployed waffle maker started reading up on how to steal thoughts so I can't take complete credit for that.
12. LSDiesel - July 13, 2009 11:31 AM
@11, you're annoying.
13. STOMPY - July 13, 2009 11:43 AM
who wants a body massage?
14. Gordon "Fücking" Shumway - July 13, 2009 11:49 AM
RIGHT HERE!
15. STOMPY - July 13, 2009 11:55 AM
body massage
16. JB - July 13, 2009 1:28 PM
You fools! The last thing we want to do is anger the metal ones!!!! >_<
17. Ciao - July 13, 2009 1:51 PM
lmao, that's that a very serious business if all the robots look like giant toys...
18. Pat - July 13, 2009 1:51 PM
Was this headline ripped from "Futurama"?
19. pez dispenser - July 13, 2009 1:56 PM
robots
20. NotARobot - July 13, 2009 2:19 PM
@ 11, LIES *boop* Your tender brain knows nothing of the robot agenda *beep* The robots quit to work at factories that support improvement of the world *beboop* Robot factories
21. Gordon "Fücking" Shumway - July 13, 2009 2:19 PM
I can put them back to work.
"Everybody come on down to Shumway's Robotic Jackatorium! Get your fill of the most sensual experience money can buy. Pleasure bots as far as the eye can see are waiting for you right now! Located conveniently from I-71 just three exits past the Big Butter Jesus. Come on down to Shumway's, where we're glad to give you a helping hand!"
22. A - July 13, 2009 2:44 PM
You think this is a good thing, Geekologie Writer Man? How short-sighted are you? Without work to occupy them, these robots will find themselves unemployed and idle, hanging out on streetcorners drinking Old English, and finding new ways to get themselves into trouble.
23. Matty - July 13, 2009 5:05 PM
we've brought this on ourselves.. why did we build so many damn robots..? why do we feel the need to play jod...? why doesn't guacamole stay a delightful shade of green for more than a few hours...?
24. led display - July 13, 2009 9:53 PM
it can work ?
25. pez dispenser - July 13, 2009 11:40 PM
did anyone else read Robot workers getting laid or is that just me?
26. kreebilicus - July 14, 2009 5:41 AM
is nobody safe?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
27. Jaded Icon - July 14, 2009 8:02 AM
@ 22
GFS, I think I'll take 3 for now. (I go through so many pleasure bots). Do you still have my favorite model P-P4U? If not than model P-P4ME will work as well.
28. Bahran - July 15, 2009 3:34 AM
but only we can build them, maintain them and of course recycle them...enough task to keep us busy and employed.