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femmestem t1_iqrtp14 wrote

Reply to comment by kllinzy in Development of social robots can take cues from dog-human bonds by WallStreetDoesntBet

Use case 1: Trauma cycles. Some older people don't have family in their lives because of their own self-destructive behaviors. I don't think the family owes them anything. However, they still have social needs.

Use case 2: Care giving requires sacrifice. My dad loved and cared for my grandmother as much as he could when her health declined, including legal and financial affairs, when he also had his own wife and kids and full time job. It was a demanding and exhausting situation for him. He loved his mom but still needed a break.

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kllinzy t1_iqtvbno wrote

I can totally see why people who would be replaced by the robot would want it, I just can't imagine the person interacting with the robot, wanting it. Maybe if they couldn't tell the difference, but that just seems cruel.

I totally agree, it's difficult, and I'm of the opinion that the burden shouldn't fall solely on the family of the elderly person in question. Seems like it should be more of a social obligation. I just don't see how tech can solve this problem, at least not ethically. And your dad sounds like a good dude.

Social interaction with an object isn't social interaction, imo, so this is a hard sell.

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