This is another reminder that there’s no excuse to dismiss the damage done to human beings when they are abused. Kids do not get over it, or barely remember it. They are impacted in myriad ways well into adulthood. Not doing everything we can to limit trauma, let alone arguing for policies that create more trauma for certain groups of children, cannot be tolerated.
I’ve gotten some grief online for suggesting that murdering people who abuse children isn’t what the victim needs. Maybe, if you hear it from an expert, you’ll understand what I feel as a survivor who wouldn’t have told anyone if I knew it could lead to the death of another person, even my abuser.
Creative work has therapeutic benefits. Doing the work is the point, not the end result. AI can get you the end result faster, but it takes away the healing power of doing the work ourselves. I do worry that we will lose that in the rush to monetize anything we create, quickly and efficiently.
There are fantastic benefits for our minds in doing the work ourselves. I use AI for many things, but I also know how much I enjoy taking pictures, writing, teaching, etc. Why would I deprive myself of things I enjoy? That’s part of being human.
Do I wish I never had to hear another survivor’s story? Of course, I do. Not because of my discomfort, but because I wish these stories didn’t have to exist. Until there are no more stories, we owe it to survivors not only to hear them, but also to learn from them and take action because of them. Ignoring the truth harms us all and leads to more survivors with stories.
As Renée points out, childhood trauma increases the likelihood of a wide range of physical and mental health issues later in life. To the tune of trillions of dollars. The way to address those outcomes is through early interventions for kids. Often, those are available because of grants and government funding. That costs money, but it’s a better alternative to all of the costs associated with treating the long-term impacts of trauma.
This is part of the connection we need for our mental health. It’s not clear that AI tools can provide this. It’s not human. It’s the illusion of connection when our humanity deserves the real thing. AI can supplement; it is always available and provides access to a wealth of information, but it can’t provide a real human connection.
