I come from a long line of artists in various groups. Maybe outlining this will make naysayers understand a little why I hate AI. Musicians, artists, toymakers, and writers. These were my ancestors. Creatives are not "non-essential." My great-great-grandfather played on one of the penultimate recordings of the Star Spangled Banner while he was Principal Cellist in the Chicago Symphany Orchestra (having been hand-picked by Theodore Thomas for its inaugural season - originally named the Theodore Thomas Orchestra). Thomas poached him from the Berlin Philharmonic. His wife was a lauded and highly accomplished pianist, and later played in a trio with him. His five nieces and nephews were all child prodigies and performed for czars and kings. His father was the Stuttgart music director. My great-grandfather studied art in Paris, had his work on display in Chicago museums, then went to LA and opened two art galleries, and he periodically worked for Paramount. He also wrote several books. His nephew (my grandmother's first cousin) is responsible for Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, Lite Brite, Mystery Date, and a host of toys and games most of us grew up playing with. My grandfather was a draftsman by trade but spent his life drawing and painting. He worked at the toy studio (where he met mybgrandmother), for Lockheed (draftman), and also for Sonny Sunbloom (artist), and did their Sunkist Soda calender for (if memory serves) 1959/1960. I have two or three of the original months' artwork. He also built a sailboat with his own two hands. My grandmother painted. My dad wrote two full-length novels and was working on a third prior to his death last year. I have written 4/7 of a mainstream fiction saga based in the music business, and one as yet unreleased true crime book about an unsolved quadruple homicide. My original dream was to be a singer, and I started in a recording studio when I was 14. My daughter went to a performing arts high school and has won awards for her paintings. My other daughter is an exceptional photographer. My grandchildren are all talented in one or more artistic disciplines. So yeah. I'm a bit touchy about being told art, music, literature, etc. are "non-essential." We spend real time, effort, thought, and creativity practicing and perfecting what we do. We fill your museums. We play in your symphonies. We make your movies. We adorn your walls. We entertain, amuse, and teach your children through fun. Is that non-essential? Are plumbers and electricians and builders and physical laborers the only essentials in this life? What are we working so hard for? Where are we spending our money? Aside from monthly obligations, we spend it on things that bring joy to the life we've worked to build. And in return, we are mocked, devalued, and told we're "butt hurt" over AI robbing our work. I will never be okay with that. I speak for myself and all the generations before me. Attached are sample of our work, either created by us or written about us. Since I can only add 4 at a time, I'll add a post in the comments with more photos.