MOULTRIE — Given the fact that we live in a world where robots and computers are key players in industry and business, it’s only natural that there would be jokes about them.

One of  my favorites is: “My computer may be smarter than me, but it’s no match when it comes to kickboxing.”

That said, we now have a new word that may show up in a future spelling bee or as a category on “Jeopardy.” It’s “robophobia.” Robophobia is the fear that robots will rise up one day and take over the world. I do not have robophobia. I have neuropathy.

My guess is, science fiction has stirred this kind of anxiety. Remember the movie “Westworld?” It was about a robotic wild West town designed to entertain people who had more money than sense.  It starred Yule Brenner, who was much better in “The Magnificent Seven.” In this movie the robotic cowboys, steeped in artificial intelligence, took on a life of their own. They started kicking butts and taking names. I don’t recall if they drank whiskey.

People have been injured by robots. But they’ve also been injured by chain saws and can openers. The injuries were not due to a robot getting angry and slinging a pipe wrench. They were about human error.

I’m not even sure what artificial intelligence is. I don’t think it’s anything like “alternative facts” or Splenda.

It’s hard for me to believe that there are enough people afraid that robots will take over the world to coin the word “robophobia.” But maybe it’s that same group who once thought they could catch a ride on a comet.

Perhaps the movie “Terminator” added to this phobia. In keeping with the story line of that movie, I thought the robot was a better actor than Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Now some people may just fear that robots will completely  take over our jobs, which could be sort of a euphemism for “taking over the world.”

Indeed many “people jobs” have been replaced  by robotic devices. But in this example we’re not talking about robots dressed up like cowboys, riding into town on 4-wheelers and shooting up the place. We’re talking about robots that do surgery, weld car frames and disarm bombs —  all guided by human hands. They have not started their own unions.

And these aren’t devices that have built-in intelligence who secretly have a meeting one night and then take over the White House … as interesting as that thought might be, it’s purely science fiction.

I would think a robot would have no more ability to “take over the world” than would a toaster oven or a coffee maker.

Now my personal computer does things sometimes that I don’t understand and seemingly can’t control. And there are times when I feel like doing a little kickboxing in that regard. But I know how to jerk the plug out of the power supply and go get a chili dog. And I know it won’t beat me up and take my chili dog when I return.

I’m sure there are many illustrations about this particular anxiety. For example, a few years ago a woman called me and said she had been reading a lot about computer viruses.  She actually asked me if she could catch such a virus from her computer. I assured her she was safe.

In retrospect I wonder if she was with the group that wanted to ride that comet.

Robophobia. Go figure.

(Dwain Walden is editor/publisher of The Moultrie Observer. Email: dwain.walden@gaflnews.com)