November 02 2010
Little Down on New Fangled Stuff
So today I went to vote and was sad to see my raggedy old vaguely pervy voting booths were finally gone forever. Ol’ Switch Lever was replaced by “privacy stands” and SAT style ovals. Choose your poison then feed the form into ‘the computer’ on the way out. I guess here in NYC we’re in that inbetween stage between full blast ATM machine style electric voting and the old school booths. Techlimbo of sorts.
But now it somehow seems less personal and less important. Sure, those old voting machines were looking all Welcome Back Kottered out or whatever– but I think they were alot more fun. Plus, I still trust them a little more than the electric machines– just because it seems like more of a friggin headache to fix an election with a paper trail.
Look how quiet this photo is. I like the loud lever noise. Seemed official and adult and powerful. Filling in circles feels like slightly childish or less serious or something. Or maybe it’s just giving me flashbacks of the SATs (first time around? 910 baby!)
Also on the way back home I stopped off at my local CVS and was bummed out because the cashier counter was gone. Totally replaced by self-cashier checkouts with the scan your own stuff and bag it yourself situation and swipe your card. First time I’ve seen something like this in this neck of the woods. I sort of appreciate the speed of it (and it is kind of fun to “play cashier” for a moment or two) but it still bummed me out– because all the ex-CVS cashiers seemed to be standing around supervising the customers doing their jobs.
It’s just not comfortable to watch someone stare at their job dissolving into technology. It’s one thing for technology to come in and wipe out a whole industry in a swoop– but the weird limbo of watching someone watch their job being done for them– sort of creeps me out. It makes the drug store experience seem robotic too. (imagine robot voice) ‘I will go to the CVS to acquire the products that make my self clean and my self smell good and keep my teeth in my dumb head.’ etc..
Somehow getting pissed off in a line because the cashier is popping gum and taking her sweet time is just part of an experience– and that experience will soon be dated. Along with the physical tactile experience of voting in a rickety old booth.
All for the best I’m sure… Just not sure if it’s for the better.
ok bye!
tOdd
PS. I usually shop at my local pharmacy and not CVS..
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Ummm… I guess I’m first bitches…
The ScanTorn voting is better feeling at least to the touchscreen voting. At least they could take the stack and run it back through for a recount.
I like self checkout, but I notice I’m too busy scanning and bagging and stuff to notice the prices and the running totaling going by. They could be ripping me off for all I know, and I don’t find out till later when I studie the reciept for like 5 minutes.
ok… so I had typos and brainos in the above… that’s what you get when you are first… 😀
I think you’re right on the money with someone having to watch someone else doing their job and knowing ‘in about a month I’m outta work!’ awful. And, I too miss the old pull the lever machines and the curtain. I can even remember playing around it when we were young and Mom was trying to vote 😉
THINK AGAIN PAULLOR BITCHESS THE REAL WEEZE IS ALWAYS FIRRRSSSTT AND NO TYPEOS HERE BITCHESSSS!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 😉
DIE WEEZE DIE
Haha! Weeze.
In response to your comment Todd:
Look how quiet this photo is. I like the loud lever noise. Seemed official and adult and powerful. Filling in circles feels like slightly childish or less serious or something. Or maybe it’s just giving me flashbacks of the SATs (first time around? 910 baby!)
***
As an non-American, I’ve never experience the lever vote system you guys have. I prefer a quiet atmosphere than noisy chaos (it allows me to think). Also how is scan-tron paper voting childish? Voting is our democratic duty. It may only seem childish because it’s educational setting (i.e. High School gym). Do you see kids vote? No. Sometimes, I think you need to grow up Todd. But then again, you wouldn’t be you.
We just recently had our municipal (local) election for our city Mayor, City Counselor, and School Board Trustee.
It would be interesting to see how things turn out after the polls close.
Take care.
Don’t forget to VOTE FOR GINGER! 🙂
Sexy Canadian. You are not sexy. For that reason I will not vote Ginger.
No worries CaptainBob. You are entitled to your opinion. Todd, I was only joking – just so you know. 🙂
When you read about the paperless voting and the non- cashiering cashiers, and link them in your mind to the whole Bar Code Reader of The Beast post from a week back, you have to wonder… we’re closer than we think.
… and the sad part is, some people will never even know it when it’s right in their faces. They’ll just continue to deny events and even make fun of the whole thing.
666 does not mean anything. It and the events that surround it was created by humanity.
If that was my polling place, I would have done a blindfolded, 360, between the legs to tomahawk jam from the free throw line vote.
Oh but wait, I can’t vote and I can’t dunk. Bummer.
do they vote in canada? i thought maybe you just took turns being president, because there are only like 30 people that live there. or maybe they just have a moose or a beaver be president.
I always wonder how replacing cashiers with automated cashiers will deter theft.
I am not a fan of the automated cashier any more than I am a fan of automated telephone operators for companies.
I have learned from this world that if I was ever to own a business, I would keep the restrooms free for anyone, and I would always use a live telephone operator, even if it is a totally boring job.
Sorry you did not enjoy your voting experience. You will probably not enjoy your voting outcome either.
Love, Z
Annnnnd winning with a split decision, it’s Rocky Balboa!!!
That means whatever you want it to.
I haven’t seen the self-check out in a drug store before, but we have had self-check out in our local grocery stores for several years. I don’t see a reason for a self-check out in a drugstore. How much do people really buy in there. Why can’t they wait in line?
I just took a dump SO big, I cracked 3 ribs!
Awwww! wtf, WTF?!
Tea Party IS Tea Bagged!!! ROFL!!!!
The new official name for anybody using the term “teabag” to describe anything other than Lipton’s or Gay Porn sexual practices is “Douche Bag”.
Got that? Douche Bag.
And MY ribs are still intact, thanks. Unlike the left’s self-respect or Obama’s chances of even being taken seriously for a second term.
WTF, what does it feel like to know everything about everything all the time? It must be so very burdensome.
Afro Autobot, you never said you were sexy. It’s only true if you post pics, you know.
It’s pretty cool, actually. It’s called having my head screwed on straight and staying off the crack pipe. I highly recommend it.
We used the “complete the arrow” technique in california. Plain ole pen. Still works.
Off topic, but if you fix your RSS feed, I can write an app for the iPhone or Android that points to it. No fixey, no workey.
Just sayin’ Yes, I used that ridiculously over-used expression. Just sayin’
and by “head screwed on straight” I mean dumb as a stump. When you are this stupid, it is really easy to pretend to have all the answers. I actually do have all the answers. They are all the wrong answers but I have them. Why you think I hang out and talk my crap on anonymous forums? Nobody in real life will take my calls, friend me on Facebook or answer my emails.
WTF is the perfect name for you, though. Sorry about the no friend thing, man. Maybe try decaf.
“Why you think I hang out and talk my crap on anonymous forums?”- Oh, the irony.
Not only do the critics criticize anonymously, they’re RESPONDING to said crap… while not even smart enough to think up a real fake name so they have to hide behind one.
I’ll let that sink in a minute while I laugh at you. Feel free to post any drivel that comes to mind.
I think I’ve got some “dried glue” on those “vaguely pervy” old style voting booths. Did you know that you could take a whiz in there after the curtain is drawn? Why do you think they changed them?
“Not only do the critics criticize anonymously, they’re RESPONDING to said crap… while not even smart enough to think up a real fake name so they have to hide behind one.
I’ll let that sink in a minute while I laugh at you. Feel free to post any drivel that comes to mind.”
Says the other anonymous moron. Moron.
Like I said… drivel.
Oooooohhhh…aren’t you just soooo superior?
Drivel.
Last word!
Dreidel!
how to use