People don't like seeing robot dog getting kicked

[Liberal_in_LA]

Today, Boston Dynamics released a fascinating video of the company’s newest creation — an agile, headless robot dog named Spot that can climb stairs and jog alongside his master.

And then they go and spoil the video by having two workers kick Spot to show he can’t be knocked over. (The violence starts about the 22-second mark in the video above.)

One worker seems to take particular glee in booting Spot really hard in his torso. Yet little Spot shuffles his feet and manages to stay on all fours. Go Spot, go.

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The reaction on Reddit was instant, calling out Boston Dynamics for being “rude.”

“It doesn’t have a face, it’s not fuzzy, and it doesn’t look like any animal in particular, but man, do I feel bad for it,” one poster said.

“Watching this poor thing get kicked hurts my heart a little bit,” wrote another.

[CurtEastPoint]

1. When I first saw it, I thought the same thing. Poor thing...

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. i didn't like it either

[valerief]

3. Wow, way cool machines! Their designers must be very proud.

As for the moronic reactions, are those people five years old and unable to distinguish canines from canisters?

[eShirl]

4. Humans are funny

[Avalux]

5. Strap a laser gun to it's back and then see if people react the same way.

They'd wish it could be toppled if turned into a weapon. And it will be.

It's a machine, not a dog.