Flip this idea and make it a man! An anthropomorphic vibrator who can have endless sex AND perform household chores? I'd buy that! I have yet to find a man who does either of these very well. As a woman, I'd see such a "man" as a useful tool (no pun intended). I'd probably deny having sex with him too, though...Somehow the idea of a robot man is much more appealing to me than a robot woman.

women don't even want the men but they still get annoyed by men using the toys, what is up with that. It's difficult to avoid the conclusion that, like the opposition to prostitution and porn, many women are annoyed at ANYTHING that they fear threatens to reduce the value of their monopoly in any way (in reality their fears are groundless, or course).

from the way in which so many women train their men?

most women treat their men like people--you're among the exceptions, Brightstar.

(By the way, most men also treat their women like people, in my humble experience...)

Not a monopoly, it seems to me it's a question of self-validation. Most women, like most men, want some man to like them (yes, sexually)--the man of their dreams, a 'good' one, etc. (the criteria of course vary individually). The fear is that, if men only want sex (which bad propaganda says they do, sufficiently often to convince even some women, for instance likelife), then once robots give them sex that satisfies their (low, the bad propaganda says) standards, they will no longer want women. And that would include the 'good' men who women would like to have.

In fact, dick, if you think about it, women are apparently pretty much afraid of the same that you are afraid of -- that nobody of the opposite sex will want them (because there's a better choice). So I guess both are afraid because of the worse parts of human nature--selfishness, self-satisfaction... So when I see Ms Harding's fear that someday men will want just machines, and yours, dick, that someday women will want just machines, I end up thinking we aren't that different after all.

I'll suggest that people--men and women--are more complicated than that. Until robots start developing real personalities, I think we're safe. After they do, however...

As someone who has spent more than her fair share of years working meaningless drudge jobs with little pay and less appreciation, I say give 'em to the robot. And as for scrubbing toilets, when he comes out with the male version -- hmmm, a well-muscled 20-something-looking babe -- I'll be the first in line with my Visa card.

Unfortunately, when companies can get robots - who won't need pay or benefits - to do mundane or boring tasks - offshoring jobs will seem like a picnic. Putting aside all the bullshit - what the robot is wearing or whether it has a sensitive pussy - this is pretty scary. My job has already become so automated, that my skill set is really no longer needed - and this has all happened in the last ten years - and all on consumer grade Dell PCs with consumer software installed. The bosses are salivating for real robots - not the human kind - who will never be late for work - never call in sick and never complain about long hours - or no lunch or breaks. There is a scary day coming - and you guys are arguing about plastic tits...

1) If I had a dime for every geek I know who cannot get laid to save his life because he's not the romantic ideal--and mind you, these are sweet, sensitive, well-employed guys--I'd be so rich I wouldn't need a husband (I could hire one). So these guys want something more than a plastic sleeve because they want to pretend they have an actual relationship. Creepy? Only if there were actual women who would give them the time of day! They're not CHOOSING a simulacrum, they're choosing what they can get, which is a better sort of "let's pretend." What's creepy is that women won't give these nice guys the time of day because they are not physically attractive. Now that's not only creepy, it's self-defeating.

2) I wouldn't mind a maid I could speak to instead of a large hockey puck with a digital interface. If she nods and smiles, all the better. I find the Roomba to be intensely creepy. Not to mention that it won't work on my rough floors covered with detritus of 3 kids. Cleans toilets? Yippee!!

3) A receptionist that you expect people to interact with HAS to look and act human. It cannot look like a robot. How many people won't talk to automated phone systems at all (many)? How many people hate them (everyone)? People won't interact with a robot-looking robot. They want PEOPLE. What's more, they may be abusive. Heck, I'm a reasonable, nice person and the annoying quirks of automated phone systems sometimes push MY buttons until I'm screaming into the freaking phone "I need a human being!!!"

4) I want a man-bot who will take out the garbage when asked and do small household jobs when asked instead of treating my every need as the least important possible thing in his life. He'd be a better husband and he wouldnt't deploy for six months at a time every time the Navy says "jump." I don't care if it fucks... but during those long deployments, it might be a useful skill. It would free my husband to do is he likes instead of constantly avoiding the Honey-do (and pissing me off) and he could concentrate on having an actual relationship instead of dealing with the fallout of undone chores.

And just think, Brightstar could have a life companion and stop his incessant dumping on real women!

Okay, but can she cook? Change a flat tire on a pickup truck? Chop firewood? Fetch a bucket of well water? I suspect not. Those damn bored out of their mind Canadians need to cure cancer first, then we can all run out and rent a robot prostitute. I hope she can smile and wink. Just think, this could be the start of a new line of kinky adventures for those visiting the Bunny Ranch. Happy Festivus to all!