A pair of former Googlers want to end the local bodega by replacing it with a box full of random shit and a corresponding app to access it… they’re calling their creation ‘Bodega.’

This offensively terrible idea seems like parody, but Bodega’s founders are oh so serious about their box of random shit.

Paul McDonald and cofounder Ashwath Rajan have come up with this Orwellian joke of an idea, described here by Fast Company,

“Bodega sets up five-foot-wide pantry boxes filled with non-perishable items you might pick up at a convenience store. An app will allow you to unlock the box and cameras powered with computer vision will register what you’ve picked up, automatically charging your credit card. The entire process happens without a person actually manning the ‘store.'”

That is a technologically advanced vending machine. That’s pretty much it. There is actually nothing at all interesting about this invention besides the appropriation of the bodega name and culture being specifically used in order to make local bodegas obsolete.

also think of all the bodega cats. bodega cat in my old hood had *2* stores. they want to put him out of not one but TWO jobs — Tracy Clayton (@brokeymcpoverty) September 13, 2017

McDonald and Rajan have even appropriated the bodega cat as the logo of Bodega. I’m currently slamming my head against my computer as I type this.

This may be one of the most tone deaf and useless ideas to come out of Silicon Valley, but it’s also actively malicious.

Dear Bodega Cats, Now's the time to start the revolution. — Morgan Jerkins (@MorganJerkins) September 13, 2017

Bodegas in New York City and Los Angeles are mostly run by immigrant families, this active appropriation of the Spanish word ‘Bodega,’ by these tech bros as they actively try to get rid of bodegas themselves is just the worst thing.

Weird that they're calling this heinous vending machine "Bodega" and not "Gentrification Box" https://t.co/xPCozclRRD — Tristan Cooper (@TristanACooper) September 13, 2017

When Fast Company asked McDonald about the blatant cultural insensitivity of his stupid invention he said some dumb shit about surveys blah blah,

“’I’m not particularly concerned about it… We did surveys in the Latin American community to understand if they felt the name was a misappropriation of that term or had negative connotations, and 97% said ‘no’. It’s a simple name and I think it works.'”

Nah, it doesn’t work because you’ve made a glorified vending machine and are naming it Bodega.

I have a headache.

Thankfully Twitter flamed the shit out of these losers and their little box of perishable goods, because even if we are living in an Orwellian dystopia, at least we can laugh about it.

You shall be launched into the sun

if you replace my bodega with a fucking box i will launch you into the sun — leon ⛈ (@leyawn) September 13, 2017

I don’t think the dudes at Bodega are familiar with what people actually buy at bodegas…

You not getting one magnum, a chopped cheese sangwich and a Dutch from a bodega box foh b — Desus Nice (@desusnice) September 13, 2017

My own mother won't make me a bacon egg and cheese at 4am while drunk. Don't tell me my bodega don't love me. https://t.co/GMN7QdI6DN — Kazeem Famuyide (@RealLifeKaz) September 13, 2017

LONG LIVE BODEGAS