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Country's first 'robot sex brothel' set to open in Texas prompts backlash: report
The first so-called 'robot sex brothel' in the U.S. slated to open in the Houston area this month has prompted a massive backlash from residents and activists who say it will ruin the neighborhood. The company opened its first location last year near Toronto, where $60 buys a half-hour alone with a robot sex doll, according to the Washington Examiner. The dolls start at $2,500 to buy.
Update: Houston officials halt plans to open first US 'robot brothel'
Houston city officials have ordered at least a temporary halt to a Canadian company's plan to open a so-called "robot brothel" in the city. The Houston Chronicle reported that building inspectors ordered the halt after determining that the company, Kinky S Dolls, lacked the permits required for demolition and construction at a former 2,500 sq ft hair salon in the Galleria area of the city.
takyon: Change.org petition aiming to "Keep Robot Brothels Out of Houston".
Also at ABC7.
See also: 'Robot sex brothel' slated to open is not wanted, Houston's mayor says
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Monday October 01 2018, @09:30PM (6 children)
I had a look at that Change.org petition, and you seem to be right.
The little ticker showing the names of signees rolled about 30 names while I watched, and only one name looked to be a man, which seems odd to me.
They have decided sex robots are a bad thing, and are basing that opinion on what looks like one researcher's work. I am not convinced by the assertions they make, but would like to see more evidence.
Well, no. Actually I don't want to see more evidence, because sex is such a basic human motivator that there is no way any research (either for or against) will be anything more than awful people on both sides of the debate shouting across each other.
I suspect the best solution is for people who want a sex robot to get one and shut up about it.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by takyon on Monday October 01 2018, @10:06PM (5 children)
The only researcher they cite, Kathleen Richardson, is a co-founder of the Campaign Against Sex Robots.
Maybe there are legit hygiene reasons to skip going to a "robot brothel". But if you treat it as a "sexbot showroom", you are left with very weak arguments from a motivated crowd.
Sex bots encourage sex trafficking and violence against women? "Child sex bots" will cause people to rape kids? Yeah, right. And if they publish some "peer reviewed" research showing harm, I still wouldn't care, because robots don't have rights. Restricting what someone can build or use because it might encourage bad behavior towards an unrelated party is a non-starter.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 02 2018, @01:08AM (4 children)
The reason feminists are so up in arms is that sexbots break the status quo and reduce the number of rubes out there who will get caught up in the scam of getting a few months of sexual joy, followed by a decade of being taken advantage of, and who then have half their working life stolen in the courtroom when she decides to cash in.
All that crap about sex-trafficking is just marketing to cover up the real agenda: prostitution by marriage law.
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Tuesday October 02 2018, @01:46AM (2 children)
Don't worry, sweetie, you're never gonna get married...
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 02 2018, @03:00AM (1 child)
AC above. I speak from experience. I get that some people win the relationship lottery, but for all of those there are others who ostensibly made a good choice at the outset only to find that spouse simply quits contributing despite a high level of qualifications, and then spends years whining and complaining relentlessly about things while you go out and bust your ass to make up the difference. If that freeloader happens to be a woman, you're fucked.
Don't get married to anyone unless you have 5+ years of proof that the person is going to be an even partner and bail the second you even guess that person has jumped on the "I'm married so I can sit around and watch youtube all day and bitch about how you don't buy me enough crap" train.
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Tuesday October 02 2018, @05:47PM
Okay, fair enough, but you don't get to generalize half the human race from your own experience. I'm actually with you on this; my first really serious partner, whom I very nearly married, went absolutely rat-boinking nuts about 4 years into the relationship. Being a woman AND dating them lets you see some really awful sides of us. And you're definitely right about not rushing into marriage!
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 3, Insightful) by realDonaldTrump on Tuesday October 02 2018, @03:47AM
Well, you know, the bottom line is: marry a rich guy and have a big check written.
My family is generally happily married, so I'm not one that loves the concept of divorce. In fact, just the opposite. I hate the concept of divorce. I hate everything it represents.
There's nothing really nice about it. But in our world, with the long courts and with the vicious lawyers, and with all of the problems, if you have money or if you think you're going to have money, you have to have a prenuptial agreement. Today you have to have a pre-nup. It’s a hard, painful, ugly tool. But there comes a time when you have to say, "darling, I think you’re MAGNIFICENT, we're gonna live our lives together forever, and I care for you deeply, and by the way, sign this sucker or we're not getting married, right? If things don’t work out, this is what you’re going to get." I'm a big pre-nup believer. Even though they're nasty, terrible documents. I mean, I'm a big believer in that stuff. You pay a little up front for the lawyer. And the accountant. But you save TREMENDOUSLY on the back end.