09/08/2026
Oh boy. Apparently I brought a storm down upon myself. 😂
I get it. Some people REALLY don’t like AI. And there are absolutely legitimate conversations to be had about it.
But being told that using AI is “not a great look” for a business that curates local art and vintage treasures—or that someone was happy we were back but will now “gladly stay away” if I dare use AI as a publishing tool again?
Seriously?
Okayyyyy…..
As many of you already know, I’ve never been particularly talented at doing what other people tell me I should do. 😂 I tend to make my own decisions, and that particular character flaw appears to be alive and well.
So, a few things.
The art I sell is REAL.
The artists are REAL.
The vintage is REAL.
And trust me, the vintage is still VERY OLD.
I am not using AI to create fake “local art,” manufacture imaginary vintage treasures, steal someone’s artwork, or misrepresent what I’m selling.
I’m using it as a TOOL.
I use it to remove ugly backgrounds from photographs, stage products, help market things and occasionally turn my rambling thoughts into slightly less rambling product descriptions.
You know—tasks people have been using Photoshop, Canva, photo filters, background removers, stock photography and various editing programs to accomplish for years.
Marketplace on James has always been about the interesting things I find and the talented people who make things I love.
It has never been a celebration of Eileen’s extraordinary ability to painstakingly remove the kitchen counter from behind a $5 notebook.
Because frankly, nobody needs to celebrate that. 😂
If AI means I spend less time screwing around with a photograph and more time finding cool vintage pieces, supporting funny independent makers and getting their stuff in front of people who might love it, I’m perfectly comfortable with that.
Now, the environmental argument came up too, and that's a legitimate issue.
AI has an environmental footprint. It uses electricity. Data centers require resources and cooling, which can include significant water consumption.
I’m not going to pretend otherwise.
But Facebook has an environmental footprint. Google searches do. Cloud storage does. Streaming does. Smartphones do. Online shopping does. Photo-editing software does.
Pretty much the entire digital world we participate in has an environmental cost—including the platform upon which we are currently having this little environmental discussion.
Meanwhile, a pretty substantial part of what I do involves taking things that already exist and finding someone else who wants them rather than sending them to a landfill or replacing them with something newly manufactured.
Reuse is kind of the whole vintage game.
So yes, I genuinely appreciate thoughtful concerns about AI, artists and the environment. They're conversations worth having.
What I don't particularly appreciate is coming onto someone else's business page and declaring that something is “not a good look” for their business, or announcing what technology they should or shouldn't use.
Marketplace on James isn't a government.
There will be no referendum.
Nobody gets a ballot.
😂
The decision about what tools I use to run the little business I created remains mine.
For goodness sake, I'm not over here hurting puppies and kittens.
I PUT A CARICATURE UP OF MYSELF WITH A DOG. 😂
So rest assured:
The treasures are still real.
The artists are still real.
The vintage is still old.
And I'm still me.
I'm simply using considerably younger technology to help sell it.
And as for what is or isn't a “good look” for Marketplace on James?
I'll decide what look I want to wear.
And chances are, it'll be vintage. 😘
Shameful marketing plug? This amazing coat is still up for sale!!!!! It's real, it's vintage and I put it on all by myself!
