LOCAL: Why do South Africans call it a 'robot' and not a 'traffic light'?
What do you call it?
If you are South African, then using the term 'robot' in reference to traffic lights is the norm.
But not for the rest of the world...
In fact, many people from around the world think we are either backward or behind the times in using the word robot to refer to a traffic light.
Considering traffic lights are lower tier technology when it comes to the overall advancement of tech.
As a way of solving the mystery behind why we call traffic lights robots, a Redditor posted a researched answer.
Now not only does this answer help us learn a little bit about ourselves, but it also helps us with realising that we may be thought leaders in the traffic light invention.
After a person shared the below meme on Reddit in a South African group, the reason behind the term came to light...
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It seems that the history behind the term does in fact resonate with something that depicted an actual robot.
Check out the answer below, courtesy of Reddit.
Image Courtesy of Pexels Website