This Jurassic Park actor weighs in on the great checkout debate—And we’ve ALL been there.
- Replies 4
In an age where technology is rapidly transforming our daily routines, it's not uncommon to find ourselves caught in the crossfire of progress and nostalgia.
One such battleground is the humble grocery store, where the rise of self-checkout machines has sparked a debate that resonates with young and old alike.
Enter stage left: Sam Neill, the beloved Jurassic Park star, who at 77, has unleashed a fiery tirade that's struck a chord with many.
Sam Neill, a familiar face from the silver screen, recently took to social media to vent his frustration over a trend that's becoming all too familiar in supermarkets worldwide.
With the passion of an impassioned orator, Neill decried the increasing prevalence of self-checkout systems, lamenting the loss of human interaction and job opportunities that come with it.
“Call me old fashioned,” he implored, hand to ear in a self-recorded video that has since captured the hearts and minds of his followers. “But I refuse to check out my own groceries at a supermarket.”
He argues that this system of self-checkout leads to less jobs for people in the same stores. He added, “I want a human being to assist me. I don't think that's too much to ask.”
The Human Touch in a Digital World
Actor and filmmaker Neill, who recently shared that he’s now in remission following a two-year battle with stage-three blood cancer, voiced his concerns about automation and the growing use of robots replacing human jobs.
“And every time I check out something for myself — you got to think like this — I'm doing someone out of a job,” he remarked.
He continued, “And if robots and self-serving is going to do all the work everywhere, who's going to be buying the groceries at the checkout? It's an old-fashioned question, but it's a legitimate one, I think.”
Neill ended the video with a playful smile and whispered once more, “Old fashioned.”
He echoed the sentiment in the caption, writing: “CALL ME OLD FASHIONED!”
His post quickly gained traction, earning over 21,000 likes and sparking a wave of responses from fans.
Many of his 747,000 followers chimed in with their agreement, saying they “totally agree” and “feel the same” about the shift in grocery shopping experiences across the world.
Some fans noted they missed the “human interaction” of engaging with clerks instead of using robotic or automated systems at checkout counters.
One fan commented, “How lovely it is to have someone say hello, thanks and have a nice day when one is at the store.”
Another person added, “Agree 100% and would like to add we need more human interactions to regain some of the empathy, kindness, compassion and politeness that seem to be evaporating the last few years.”
One follower, echoing Neill’s sentiments on self-checkout systems, expanded the conversation to other forms of tech fatigue: “You go, Sam!! It's like how I still prefer physical menus than the QR code bulls***.”
Others had a different perspective from Neill and shared that they prefer self-checkout for its speed and convenience—especially when handling large purchases or when they're only picking up a few items.
"I hate waiting in line with people who have full baskets while I have a couple of items, so I appreciate it then!" one user commented.
They added that as long as self-checkout "is limited to a few items, it's ok by me."
Source: @samneilltheprop / Instagram.
Another person pointed out, "You know, I just thought, there is always a human working at the self-checkout in the stores here so it's about the same as having a person at an express lane."
Read next: Shoppers outraged: ALDI's latest policy has self-checkouts collecting dust—find out why it's causing such a stir
Do you prefer self-checkout for its speed and convenience, or do you miss the warmth of human interaction? How do you balance the benefits of technology with the desire for personal touch? Join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments below!
One such battleground is the humble grocery store, where the rise of self-checkout machines has sparked a debate that resonates with young and old alike.
Enter stage left: Sam Neill, the beloved Jurassic Park star, who at 77, has unleashed a fiery tirade that's struck a chord with many.
Sam Neill, a familiar face from the silver screen, recently took to social media to vent his frustration over a trend that's becoming all too familiar in supermarkets worldwide.
With the passion of an impassioned orator, Neill decried the increasing prevalence of self-checkout systems, lamenting the loss of human interaction and job opportunities that come with it.
“Call me old fashioned,” he implored, hand to ear in a self-recorded video that has since captured the hearts and minds of his followers. “But I refuse to check out my own groceries at a supermarket.”
He argues that this system of self-checkout leads to less jobs for people in the same stores. He added, “I want a human being to assist me. I don't think that's too much to ask.”
Jurassic Park actor Sam Neill shared a video where he expressed his disdain for self-checkout at grocery stores, advocating for human cashiers. Image source: @samneilltheprop / Instagram.
The Human Touch in a Digital World
Actor and filmmaker Neill, who recently shared that he’s now in remission following a two-year battle with stage-three blood cancer, voiced his concerns about automation and the growing use of robots replacing human jobs.
“And every time I check out something for myself — you got to think like this — I'm doing someone out of a job,” he remarked.
He continued, “And if robots and self-serving is going to do all the work everywhere, who's going to be buying the groceries at the checkout? It's an old-fashioned question, but it's a legitimate one, I think.”
Neill ended the video with a playful smile and whispered once more, “Old fashioned.”
He echoed the sentiment in the caption, writing: “CALL ME OLD FASHIONED!”
His post quickly gained traction, earning over 21,000 likes and sparking a wave of responses from fans.
Many of his 747,000 followers chimed in with their agreement, saying they “totally agree” and “feel the same” about the shift in grocery shopping experiences across the world.
Some fans noted they missed the “human interaction” of engaging with clerks instead of using robotic or automated systems at checkout counters.
The video garnered over 21,000 likes and sparked discussion among his followers on social media, with many agreeing with his “old-fashioned” stance. Image source: @samneilltheprop / Instagram.
One fan commented, “How lovely it is to have someone say hello, thanks and have a nice day when one is at the store.”
Another person added, “Agree 100% and would like to add we need more human interactions to regain some of the empathy, kindness, compassion and politeness that seem to be evaporating the last few years.”
One follower, echoing Neill’s sentiments on self-checkout systems, expanded the conversation to other forms of tech fatigue: “You go, Sam!! It's like how I still prefer physical menus than the QR code bulls***.”
Others had a different perspective from Neill and shared that they prefer self-checkout for its speed and convenience—especially when handling large purchases or when they're only picking up a few items.
"I hate waiting in line with people who have full baskets while I have a couple of items, so I appreciate it then!" one user commented.
They added that as long as self-checkout "is limited to a few items, it's ok by me."
Source: @samneilltheprop / Instagram.
Another person pointed out, "You know, I just thought, there is always a human working at the self-checkout in the stores here so it's about the same as having a person at an express lane."
Read next: Shoppers outraged: ALDI's latest policy has self-checkouts collecting dust—find out why it's causing such a stir
Do you prefer self-checkout for its speed and convenience, or do you miss the warmth of human interaction? How do you balance the benefits of technology with the desire for personal touch? Join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments below!
Last edited:
