# The New Movement to Ban Sex Robots. Wait. Sexbots are a thing now? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 16, 2015, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511 "2015-09-16T21:42:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511/41 "2015-09-18T03:44:11Z")
The OP article mentions a male doll by the name of Rocky and RealDoll has their own version as well. There’s no sales numbers to know how many have been purchased or the gender of the buyers. We all seem to be in general agreement that people buying realistic sex dolls at the very least are socially challenged but whatever, let them get their jollies where they can. What about the ones that want Lolita or something modeled younger? Not technically illegal because no actual children are involved. There is also the argument that by allowing them a doll to alleviate their desires can help keep real children safe. And the counter-argument that it would increase the likelihood that they would prey on a real child when the doll no longer satisfies. Or how about the bestiality group? Men and women with labrador or stallion fetishes? ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511/42 "2015-09-18T04:12:36Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Or how about the bestiality group? Men and women with labrador or stallion fetishes? That’s why we have taxidermists. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511/43 "2015-09-18T04:38:41Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Wait. You aren’t . . . with the Roomba. . . no, never mind. Keep the filter clean. Ta for that. Mental image of naked Aceplace chasing the roomba around the room on his knees with chinos round ankles:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511/44 "2015-09-18T04:52:09Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Robots will soon serve as companions and friends to many lonely people. That may create a social dependence that could be a problem if they don’t seek out human companionship. We could see a entire generation of socially repressed people. Basically the internet times a thousand. People might go months without interacting with a real person. That’s what internet message boards are for. ---
**Author:** ![Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ac8455/32.png) [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Your_Great_Darsh_Face)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511/45 "2015-09-18T07:23:58Z")
> [@BlackKnight](#): > > If things were reversed, we’d hear about how women’s use of sex-dolls indicated that they _cared_ about the whole person, not just their disembodied genitals, whereas men’s creepy fleshlights (or whatever) indicated that they had completely divorced their sexuality from humanity - pure objectification! And you just ninja’d me, very nearly line by line, letter by letter. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511/46 "2015-09-18T07:29:08Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Shouldn’t that be un_cunny_ valley? Uncanny vulva. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511/47 "2015-09-18T09:19:15Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Disagree with the premise that humanoid-shaped sex toys implies looking at the real human as a toy, but that’s something that can be a difference of opinion. Still, not grounds for preventing their existence in the market. And besides it’s not as if male sexbots would not be be, er, coming right behind. You might be right, I certainly don’t have any data on this and I only skimmed the paper. But which gender the sexbots mimic or are used by is really immaterial. People of all types are capable of dehumanizing large groups of people, especially those who provide sex. I think realistic ones could be very dangerous, but I can’t quite verbalize why - too early, and too little coffee. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511/48 "2015-09-18T10:32:55Z")
If the toaster glitches out it just burns your toast. If a sex bost glitches out, ow, ow, ow! ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511/49 "2015-09-18T11:16:21Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Japan seems the most fascinated with Robotics. robotoshop dot com sells the most current ones. That URL doesn’t go where you think it goes. ---
**Author:** ![Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ac8455/32.png) [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Your_Great_Darsh_Face)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511/50 "2015-09-18T11:22:29Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > If the toaster glitches out it just burns your toast. > > If a sex bost glitches out, ow, ow, ow! You should get a sex bot that doesn’t have a heating element designed to get red hot then. That said, if this needs explaining, go get one that _does_ at once while there’s still time to save the gene pool. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Angry\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@The\_Angry\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Angry_Badger)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511/51 "2015-09-18T12:01:33Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Anybody remember the ‘dummy’ used for CPR training? > > IIRC, it was patterned after an actual woman/girl - complete with boobs. > > Were there any remarks about ‘untoward’ ‘liberties’ being taken with ‘her’? > > This is the earliest I remember of a life-like approximation of a human(outside the ‘animatronic’ characters). Ah yes, Resusci Anne. I think the idea is to make her as realistic as possible, but certainly without being sexual in any way - no nipples, for a start (yes, I checked!😉 ). One trainer I had said she was female so that people could get over the idea of having to get right between boobies when doing CPR - I don’t know if that’s true or not, but it does make some kind of sense. Fun Fact: Anne is modelled on the corpse of an [unknown teenaged girl that was fished out of the Seine in Paris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27Inconnue_de_la_Seine) in the 1880s. Sexy, huh? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511/52 "2015-09-18T12:36:05Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > That URL doesn’t go where you think it goes. I had a typo. an extra O. robotshop dot com is one of the biggest internet retailers. They have just about any robotics or UAV gear a hobbyist could want. I bought a couple robot kits as Christmas presents last year. the one thing they don’t sell is anything for sex bots. I guess to keep the site family friendly. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511/53 "2015-09-18T13:13:12Z")
When sexbots are fully mobile, will it be illegal for them to solicit? Can a robot be charged with being a “common nightwalker”? ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511/54 "2015-09-18T13:27:41Z")
> [@j666](#): > > You might be right, I certainly don’t have any data on this and I only skimmed the paper. But which gender the sexbots mimic or are used by is really immaterial. People of all types are capable of dehumanizing large groups of people, especially those who provide sex. > > I think realistic ones could be very dangerous, but I can’t quite verbalize why - too early, and too little coffee. How about - a sexbot will only become a true object of lust for more than a tiny number of fetishists when it is realistic enough, in look and also in acts, to successfully imitate a human and so avoid the instictive “uncanny valley” revulsion towards the almost-human. However, part of being able to pass for human is to pass the Turing test - meaning such a bot would be able to learn and adapt. Therefore, a sexbot truly capable of successfully imitating a human would also, presumably, be capable of resenting being a sexbot … ! ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511/55 "2015-09-18T14:08:53Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > How about - a sexbot will only become a true object of lust for more than a tiny number of fetishists when it is realistic enough, in look and also in acts, to successfully imitate a human and so avoid the instictive “uncanny valley” revulsion towards the almost-human. > > However, part of being able to pass for human is to pass the Turing test - meaning such a bot would be able to learn and adapt. > > Therefore, a sexbot truly capable of successfully imitating a human would also, presumably, be capable of resenting being a sexbot … ! Well yes, if the AI gets to the point of emergent consciousness, wouldn’t “it” become “s/he” and gain autonomous agency? Before that point, you are right, it will be just a very very fancy sexdoll, for a small core of fetishists who actually dig “I-am-programmed-to-obey-my-huge-penised-master” type reactions. The usual “slave/master” fetishists IRL get off on that the “slave” is \*consciously accepting \*his/her role. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511/56 "2015-09-18T17:05:07Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > 3.) If you’re constructing your Ideal Sexbot Woman, you can make certain that you can find the clitoris. You can make it light up. Or you can make it as large as you need. Or you could put it on the tip of her nose, for that matter. No, no. Nine inches down her throat. Didn’t you ever see that 1970s documentary? John D. MacDonald makes passing reference to Japanese inflatables with voiceboxes and vibrators ca 1972, popular with sailors, and the mildly unPC/racist comment “Ah… crever people.” He’d be so thrilled with RealDolls and their descendants. In the novel _2001_, Clarke mentions mechanical sex-relief devices in the infirmary, assuming such relief would be needed by long-term astronauts, but that the crew rarely used them. I have heard that the devices appear - completely unremarked - in the film but I’ve never been able to spot anything that might represent this in-joke. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511/57 "2015-09-18T17:28:44Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > When sexbots are fully mobile, will it be illegal for them to solicit? Can a robot be charged with being a “common nightwalker”? Not for a while; they’d be rather uncommon nightwalkers at the beginning. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511/58 "2015-09-18T18:12:43Z")
I say this with absolutely no exaggeration in tone or hyperbole: :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad: DON’T ANYONE BETTER TRY TO BAN MY FUCKING SEXBOTS OR ELSE!!! :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad: ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511/59 "2015-09-18T18:22:48Z")
Yeah really, come on we did not get our jetpacks, our flying cars, our orbital Hiltons or our PanAm flights to the Moon. Not even our death rays (at least not in a convenient CCW format). Leave us something to hope for! ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511/60 "2015-09-18T19:09:26Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > I’m not seeing that there will be any impact. There is currently a problem with male sexbots where the batteries only last three minutes and no one has been able to determine why. Because by then, [business hours are _over_, baby!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpIRBdUYBE0) Not to mention, the bot is so intense that two minutes should be enough to satisfy _any_ woman. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-movement-to-ban-sex-robots-wait-sexbots-are-a-thing-now/731511.md?page=4)