Prostitution or Promiscuity?
Sexbots or Tinder (& akin)
We may be well into the era of online dating — which has eased for some the potential partner search — but another (dark?) side of human relations, prostitution, is still very present (in its many, more or less legalized ways).
In spite of all, several apps for the most (post)romantic tech-savvy are creating quite a fuss; to the extent that some people have felt the necessity of rethinking the concept of relationship, and dating. At the same time, some others are fighting to stop sex-oriented robots from being fully developed and spread, which arguably affects the sex-market more than dating websites.
I am aware that the two issues may not be fully intertwined, and the target of dating apps is probably not the same as the one for sex dolls. This article is open to controversy due to the sensitivity of the topic, while trying to give an overview of the two different but not so distant phenomena.
Talking of dating apps, once-lonely individuals are getting more and more diverse ways to find a date without being too exposed. On the other hand, an already active and confident counterpart is expanding their 'hookup potential.' I surely do not see anything wrong with both these positions, as long as there is a right amount of transparency in the respective intents. However, it is not unheard that some religious and conservative parties may not support such practices, especially the latter. Bigotry considerations left apart.
A considerable amount of articles have followed the heated Tweet-debate between Tinder and a Vanity Fair's journalist, and both stances have gathered a fair amount of supporters.
With the risk of stating the obvious, I'd argue that nearly every tool — or app in this case — can be used for countless purposes and the ultimate "right or wrong labels" are not easily attributable in the foreseeable future.
With regards to the sexbots, there are two main contrasting views: bots can be silent and efficient trainers with potential performance benefits once eventually dealing with the real human-with-human sexual intercourse, among other things. Conversely, some argue that having sex with dolls dehumanises the now only unilateral act or even frees pedophiles from potential guilt. This can originate serious ethical concerns, such as reinforcing the view of one participant in control and the other (the bot) as obedient and submissive, or even further exacerbating the already sparse and precarious human interactions of some individuals.
Whether one is in favor or against prostitution, can sexbots diffusion prevent or significantly decrease sex-slavery and similar outcomes? Are these bots going to create new forms of sexual addiction on top of threatening or damaging human interactions? The answer is that both situations may manifest but are unlikely to reach a vast scale. However, this shall not be an excuse to underestimate or overlook the two.
It is rather clear that sexbots do not equal prostitution as much as dating apps are not (the sole) promoter of promiscuity. Even more, only a limited fraction of the two audiences, sex bots users and dating apps ones, may intersect while looking for pleasure in its varied human and human-like forms. Therefore, the choice is not anymore between lustfulness and whoredom, prostitution or promiscuity, but between "let’s wait and see" and taking action now. An action which should be aimed at discovering whether the implementation and adoption of the aforementioned technologies is benefitting some already faltering aspects of our society or else, deteriorating them.
