Feeding the Machine

[msemma]

Can anyone define the phrase "Feeding the Machine" for me please?

[Clanad]

The word picture described by this phrase has to do with dealing with an entirely impersonal and unfeeling situation. How often have you fed coins into a soft drink machine, for example, and have not received the item for which you've paid? The corrective action is to either feed more coins or try to retrieve the ones already fed and start over in an attempt to placate a machine. At any rate, exasperation is soon experienced because of the uncaring nature of the machine. Seems dealing with some people produces the same results...