This morning while running errands—supermarket, gas station, post office, drive-thru—I realized something a bit unsettling: I don’t think I had a single positive human interaction the entire time. It’s something I never really appreciated until it started disappearing.
At one store, an employee was buried in their personal phone, completely ignoring everyone. At another, I stood in line with two registers open, waiting to be called, while the employees laughed it up in conversation like we weren’t even there. Eventually, a crowd gathered behind me before they finally noticed and called me over. After I paid for a drink, I had to stand and wait awkwardly for the employee to finish chatting with a friend before he could finish my transaction. I said thank you as I left—he didn’t hear me. He was too focused on his buddy.
Then there’s the flip side: fully automated checkouts with one overwhelmed attendant manning 8 or 10 registers, standing there like a zombie, no eye contact, no soul.
Automation has sucked so much life out of simple human interaction. People avoid real engagement now. Even young adults I work with tell me they don’t know how to approach someone they’re interested in because all they’ve ever known are dating apps—and those, more often than not, lead to nowhere or just cause frustration.
Maybe that’s why people love Disney parks so much. You hear stories and see all of these posts on social media about 'Disney Adults'. The fanatical adults that crave and can't get enough of Disney experiences whether it be on the cruise lines or theme parks. The service at Disney still feels human, warm, and intentional—something increasingly rare in daily life.
It’s gotten to the point where, when I do have a genuinely good customer service experience, I’m kind of shocked, but I appreciate it deeply. It’s one of the reasons I regularly frequent just a few places where I know I’ll be treated like a human being, not just another transaction.
Maybe we’re not just craving efficiency—we’re craving connection. And the places that still offer it? They matter more than ever.