I’m aware it’s more than likely they’ve been doing this all along, and we’re just hearing about it now, which is convenient since the article mentions the ability to “opt out.”  If they’ve already been doing it, they already have a good deal of stolen content.  I have very strong opinions about AI/Machine Learning aka plagiarism software.  I know my next paragraph is going to make some people think I’m a hypocrite, but the two things are not the same.

While I intend to opt out as soon as I figure out how, I’ll be removing my essays and fanfiction, and it’s the latter I’m sure some of you are like “But how is that different from AI?”  Writing fanfiction or making fanart isn’t the same as an algorithm scrubbing content and shitting out an amalgamation of stolen creative work.  Both take actual effort, not entering prompts.  Fanfiction is taking pre-established characters and/or settings and writing something about them.  It takes time, effort, and human creativity to some level.  It also can only make money  if the original creator allows it. unless you’re taking some major risks to put yourself out there.  There’s also a huge difference between stealing from a mega-corporation and artists just trying to survive.  I can already hear the “stealing is stealing!” but if we want to really get into things, people like Jeff Bezos aren’t paying people enough for their labor to make him a fucking billionaire, essentially stealing it, so I really don’t want to hear how all stealing is equivalent.  If a cashier robs the till of $20, they’ll get fired and possibly face criminal charges, but if their paycheck is shorted, the company will face no repercussions.

ANYWAY.  I just wanted to let all two of you who read my stories and essays know that I’ll be removing them soon.  I was thinking about removing the essays anyway since my plan is to eventually publish them as a compilation after much re-writing and editing, but this information seals my decision.  I also figured it can’t hurt to give the rest of you the heads up, though ironically on the very site that’s doing the immoral thing.

Tbh I’m not sure how long I’m going to remain here with this news.  Yeah I can opt out, but it infuriates me that all of these fucking companies are doing this now.  Of course they are because we live in a capitalistic hellscape, but they can because the laws aren’t yet in place to stop it (if they ever will be).