I think (but could be convinced otherwise) that machine learning, LLMs, etc are ethically neutral… in theory.
But the way these systems have been been created, deployed, promoted, and used has been an ethical nightmare at every stage and on many axes.

So particularly if you are new to this and seeing frequent “if you don’t like making [art] don’t be an [artist!]” and thinking “But sometimes I DON’T like it…” and Imposter Syndrome is gathering you close and whispering you’re-nothings in your ear, please push it away.

I also, fwiw, find that one of the more frustrating blockers to writing is when there’s already a (bad) suggestion of what you should say. You are no longer able to organically find the idea because the suggestion in front of you knocks you off the track of your natural thought process.

The year’s greatest Christmas songs have dropped, everybody gather round and prepare to sing along with Arlo

I can't be bothered to read something that nobody was bothered to write.

Codename S.T.E.A.M. uses public domain characters…
Codename S.T.E.A.M. 2 confirmed to have Mickey Mouse?

If I want to be needlessly provacative..
Pokémon SV 🤝 Balan Wonderworld.
Intentional game design disliked because people expected it to be a different genre

Circling back to Joy’s original point, Pokémon SV actually handles the problem better than most open world games, e.g. Skyrim because the predetermined levels add structure.
However:
I understand disliking it, even though I personally love it. It’s not for everyone, clearly.

I agree that RBY are more linear and more restricted. But many of the gyms, *even in the remakes*, can be done in any order, and one mid-game (I can’t remember which) doesn’t need to be finished until victory road.
SV are more open-ended, but set level scaling is a tool used by both sets of games.

Tell that to the public school system. What do you mean grade 3 has to come before grade 4?? Bad design.

I do think Area Zero is too big an obstacle in the middle though. That’s my biggest gripe.