Real Artists Can Not Be Replaced By Robots

Eco-Friendly Knitting is a journey. I was knitting up a swatch today and I didn’t have Size 9 needles in Bamboo or Wood, so I used my plastic ones. I actually started to feel guilty. I tried to convince myself it was OK to use what I have but I couldn’t shake off the guilty feeling. I had some size 5.7 long double pointed needles and I switched to those. I seriously felt better and calmer because I felt like I was less of a hypocrite. So I’m putting away my plastic needles and accessories and switching to my bamboo and wood and I think I am going to make this a hard change. I am going to even be avoiding nylon cables even though they have bamboo tips. If it’s not compostable, I don’t want to bother using it.

Today I actually had some deep thoughts about our art, about yarn crafting.

I saw a few videos today on the yarn and crafting industry. I am very inspired and also in my head I want to disagree with modern trendy philosophies about a “climate emergency”. I don’t worry about my carbon footprint. Carbon in the atmosphere is not a real thing and not all scientists agree on this. I don’t believe the world is threatened by methane gas or our carbon footprint while we do natural things as we have always done. It’s ridiculous to go that direction and it hurts crafters and our industry and our economy. There are skilled knitters, weavers, embroiderers, tailors, animal fleece shearers and others all in this industry and we can not be replaced by robots even though this is the direction people are going to profit from it. This is where the parrallel economy and greedy people divide to different lives and economies. I’m also an artist being trained in an art college before computers. Art and craftsmanship can not be replaced by the human soul and mind. AI is a thing of destruction. It is better to pay triple the price and have much less of a wardrobe than have a mass produced garment made in China by robots or poorly paid people. China is on the top of the pollution scale! The thought forces me to know where the wool and fiber came from and how they were made into fabric or a yarn hank. We also must support people making a living in our own country and it affects our own economy as well as the people putting their heart and soul into making things or producing them the old fashioned way by love and years of generational skill.

I also don’t want to dictate what others should do either and I cqn recall what I was buying 10 years ago or 20 years ago even when I thought I was being eco-friendly. We can’t be bullies and like I said, it is a journey. Considerations are made and views about our own journey are being changed by our thoughts and by inpiration of others and by pur own personal challenges we put on ourselves to achieve goals and master skills and discipline ourselves for the sake of art. Unfortunately, as we think we also live in a real world where we are forced to think about income and budget. We have the ability to gift and to practice charity as well.

Anyway, we won’t be replaced by robots. That will never come to our final end as humans by being replaced by technology even if that appears to be the dystopian future. Say no to AI and transhumanism. We are the teachers and influencers born at this important time and era as the people of wisdom to tell the next generation of young people and people with the capability to learn and think that we need to pass on traditions of our ancestors and cherish them. They were not stupid people and they were hard working soul-filled people. We are now this generation’s influential people. Don’t be afraid, keep making art and enjoy the process.