So as a digital artist I…

Sure sounds to me like they are claiming this is digital.

And it’s just gatekeeping art. I wouldn’t tell a painter they aren’t a real artist just because they can’t play guitar. And all art forms have long history of passing on information across generations. The saying “good artists borrow, great artists steal” is far older than any computer.

There’s a lot of problems with AI in general, but most of these complaints I see about AI art in particular are really misdirected complaints about how terrible copyright and other intellectual property laws are. For almost all of human history until about a century ago it was common and encouraged to take and build upon the ideas of others- it’s only because capitalists found a way to profit off of restricting ideas that we started to do so.

Among other criticisms, “using technology” does not mean something is “digital”. The example on the rock seems to be analog from everything in the post above.

So I’ll start by saying I may just be wired differently. I have friends who struggle with severe ADHD and chronic depression, and I can confidently say I have neither.

There is definitely some component desire or temptation inherent to humanity. Every religion I can think of has at least sone sect that focuses on this. You could look at the snake tempting Eve in the garden of Eden or ascetic Buddhist monks that deny themselves the pleasures of the flesh. Often this is as much about people in power trying to control others as it is about anything else- a well-documented recent example would be the way the Islamic State used sexual denial to make their recruits more violent and less rational, using an afterlife of sexual reward as an incentive. It does not have to be religious, but when you dive into the history of most groups advocating for self-deprevation theres usually a strong religious component. Mormons don’t drink, Jews have Kosher restrictions, Muslims have Halal restrictions, and smaller groups like the Millerites, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Scientists, 7th Day Adventists (like Kellog), etc. Heck, Alcoholics Anonymous was founded with absolutely zero science or academia- it’s a 12 step program because Jesus has 12 apostles. And studies on its efficacy have had… Let’s say mixed results. You also see groups advocating for moderation and balance, although I’m struggling to think of many examples at the moment.

On a personal note I have two approaches that have helped me. The first is to get in the habit of considering as much information as you reasonably can for your decision making. This is easier said than done, and decision-making fatigue is a very real thing. I’m an accountant, so for me it’s about fully understanding the transactions I make. If I want to grab a beer, I’m thinking about not just how it will taste and make me feel in that moment, but how much it cost me to buy and how I’m going to feel the next day- my sleep will be worse, I will have consumed more calories and carbs so I’ll be in worse shape, my eyes will probably be tired, my joints will be inflamed (look forward to aging lol). Plus opportunity costs- I have my own boundaries and rules that I follow for drinking (no driving, power tools, ladders, working, etc).

And it’s not just drinking. If I get an ad for some neat gadget or doodad that I’m interested in, I’ll start to think about how many hours of work it takes to earn the money to buy it. Where is that item going to live in my house? Does it need charged, and where is the charger going to live? How long is this going to last?

Which brings me to my second piece of advice: set yourself up for success. Proper sleep and nutrition are really important for fighting decision fatigue. That’s why it’s often a good idea to “sleep on it” before making decisions. Post-nut clarity is a bit of a meme but also has some validity. Don’t go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. If you’re freshly trying to stop or cut back on something like alcohol, drugs, or playing a videogame, maybe you need to take a break from hanging out with friends who are doing that. Or ask them to do something else instead. Block ads or stop going to websites that are bad about that.

And also recognize that’s it’s okay to not be perfect. If you focus on the same of failure that can often lead to just a downward spiral. Moderation is often a lot healthier than cutting things out entirely. Just taking the time to think about your decisions is huge. Impulse buying and eating a chocolate bar when you’re on a diet or a budget is bad, but planning ahead and saying “this Friday I’m going to treat myself to this nice chocolate bar as a bit of a break, a bit of a reward” can be fine. It depends on who you are and what you’re dealing with: that may not be fine if you’re 600lbs.

In my experience the people who describe themselves as “sex addicts” are people who were caught hurting their loved ones and trying to excuse their behavior, either socially (cheaters) or legally (rapists).

Somewhat adjacent, I have heard of people claiming “sex addiction” to pressure their partners into more sex than they would otherwise want. Apparently there’s a whole section of feminists who believe that “blue balls” is completely made up by men, because it’s really common for men to claim blue balls is a more serious issue than it is. I’ve had to explain to multiple women in my life that it is both real and just a minor inconvenience.

You’re not wrong about the religious zealots, I just wanted to bring up that there’s a TON of sex disinformation being spread by different people for different goals. And “sex addiction” is particularly ripe for such disinformation.