Artificial intelligence: We should be wary
I am writing to urge area residents to try, as much as possible, to limit their use of artificial intelligence, on phones and computers as well as in their daily lives.
Yes, AI is being touted as the latest, almost perfect high-tech benefit, but it also has its dark side. AI has no soul. It can quickly give us a lot of information, but that info may not always be reliable. AI can also be used to access our personal information.
In addition, AI is created using huge automated data centers that devour enormous amounts of energy. These centers have the potential to strip away people’s jobs in almost any calling. Also, many of these centers are being built by destroying forested land, often near state and national parks and historic sites. This destroys wildlife habitat and disrupts the migration routes of birds.
Yes, I know artificial intelligence isn’t going away. But if you are working online, or in daily life, and you are offered an AI shortcut, think twice before taking any action that might be a mistake.
Allen Chesney
On gender identity, science, biology are key
I cannot agree with the recent Chattanooga Times editorial about gender identity and transsexuality. And my position does not “stem from a place of ignorance and bigotry.” It comes from a place of science and biology. It is obvious to anyone who has ever seen body-building men and women that men have a greater capacity to build muscle mass. A transitioned male is still a biological male and should not be considered female in athletic competition.
When it comes to youth, we rightly reserve certain rights for ages when the average person has the capacity to make the decision(s) incumbent with the right. Consider: driving age 16, tattoos age 18, sexual consent age 18, drink alcohol age 21, voting age 18, etc. Therefore, it is right to believe persons under the age of 18 do not have the capacity to weigh the lifelong consequences of sexual transition.
And quite the opposite of the editorial claim of “the anti-trans position” being immoral, the immoral position rests in encouraging and abetting young persons to believe feelings (which by their nature are transitory) are more important than biology (which is an unchanging fact). It is also an immoral position, even a high form of child abuse, to provide gender-affirming procedures/medications for a young person experiencing gender dysphoria, as surely as it is an immoral position to deny psychological treatment for a person who is uncomfortable with their gender dysphoria.
Dennis Urbaniak
Signal Mountain
Time for GOP to speak up
In a 2017 book, “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump,” 27 psychiatrists and mental health professionals made it clear that Trump is a sociopath who poses a threat not to just the US, but the entire world. Some of the assessments of Trump’s personality in the book include the following: Trump is an impulsive, immature, incompetent person who, when in the position of ultimate power, would easily slide into the role of tyrant.He is profoundly an evil man exhibiting malignant narcissism and if left unchecked, his pathological narcissism could lead to World War III.
This was 2017 in Trump’s first term and now we are seeing those warnings come to fruition. If this is left unchecked, I fear the warning in the book could become reality. It’s time for Congress to seriously consider enacting the 25th amendment or impeachment and conviction. His entire presidency consists of signing executive orders, golfing and “making deals.” This is not governing.
The time for Republicans to stay silent is over.
Rebecca Rochat