In the US, or many other developing countries (i.e., those without a robust social security mechanism), the only way most of us can afford to pursue our passions to a high degree of performance is through cross-subsidization with a "real job".
The benefits that passion provide to a rounded life, better mental health, sense of perspective and so on are far worth the price paid, assuming your day job can finance it appropriately.
It's either that or poverty, which works OK for some until they have or want a family, get sick, have to take care of their parents or worse.
Monetizing passion is a shitty Faustian Bargain imposed upon us by the time and place we live in, unfortunately.
I find it to be inflexible and also wrong in my personal experience. It’s like saying you can’t love two people at the same time, or have balance and nuance in your life
It would be great if I had a bathtub full of ice cream as well, and if we all lived in a world overflowing with love, respect and joy for all living things. Until then, I'm happy that these kinds of incredible tools are (and increasingly will be) be in more of our hands for close to free. Upwards and onwards!
Seems like with every passing year, we are going downwards, not upwards. Perhaps it only seems the other way around to those with the greatest addictions to technology, who will justify any development to satisfy their cravings.
Well, I for one am happy that less compute is being wasted on blockchain, and if the total BTUs and tonnes of CO2 remain equal while the proportion allocated to AI goes up, that'll also be a good thing. Doing useful stuff, and becoming more efficient (eliminating high carbon wasteful human activities and replacing with AI compute using less overall carbon), is also a net win.
Counterclaim: I live in Dubai, have several trans friends and colleagues who live and work here, and they have many other trans friends who come to visit frequently.
Never heard a single instance or issue of this, not to mention executions.
In the US, or many other developing countries (i.e., those without a robust social security mechanism), the only way most of us can afford to pursue our passions to a high degree of performance is through cross-subsidization with a "real job".
The benefits that passion provide to a rounded life, better mental health, sense of perspective and so on are far worth the price paid, assuming your day job can finance it appropriately.
It's either that or poverty, which works OK for some until they have or want a family, get sick, have to take care of their parents or worse.
Monetizing passion is a shitty Faustian Bargain imposed upon us by the time and place we live in, unfortunately.