Is ‘Buy Human’ the New ‘Buy Local?’

When I was a teenager, a Wal-mart was going to be built in my hometown of Warrenton, Viriginia. My small town went to war, viewing it as a direct threat to Main Street.

I joined the "local" side of the fight by putting a bumper sticker on my guitar case that said, "Wal-mart kills American towns."

In the end, Wal-mart got what they wanted by moving in *just* outside of the city limits.

Nowadays, I don't think twice about shopping at Wal-mart (or Target or Costco or Home Depot...).

Back then, there was a lot of meaning in the "Buy Local" movement, meaning you should buy from independent, locally owned stores, such as the ones that lined Main Street in Warrenton.

But the big box stores pressed on (despite my bumper sticker :)

Since the pandemic, the mantra in my mind has morphed into "Support Your Local Economy." I try to buy from brick-and-mortar stores rather than ordering what I need on Amazon (although you wouldn't guess it right now with Amazon dropping off Christmas gifts every other day). Buying from a brick-and-mortar store—even Wal-mart or Costco—feels better than helping Amazon take over the world (and leaving empty storefronts lining the streets).

But now, the next evolution of this mantra will probably be "Buy Human," where AI is used to create almost everything and people who want to support businesses that employ humans will have to make a concerted effort to find such products.

My favorite book I read this year is called "I Cheerfully Refuse." It's about (among other things) a not-too-distant future where segments of society consciously withdraw from the mainstream, opting for meaning over convenience.

I think about that phrase a lot: "I cheerfully refuse."

I do not feel "left behind" by not using AI in my work. It makes me feel good. It gives meaning to my daily life. Whatever the outcome may be of this decision, I cheerfully refuse.

- I cheerfully refuse to accept AI-generated garbage as the future.
- I cheerfully refuse to get on the "AI or die" bandwagon.
- I cheerfully refuse to cheer on and support companies that are speeding us down this path.

I know it doesn't make any difference to Sam or Elon or Bill. And that's fine. I still cheerfully refuse.