Every day, we publish a selection of your emails in our newsletter. We’d love to hear from you, you can email us at yoursay@theconversation.edu.au.
Monday May 4
Can AI evolve?
“This article seems to overlook that evolution of anything needs a physical mechanism for reproduction that can be influenced in some way (deliberately or otherwise) by the entities that are evolving. Decades ago I read a sci-fi short story about a planet populated by extremely intelligent horse-like creatures whose four limbs ended in razor-sharp hooves. Great for fighting (and the story) but without the ability to manipulate objects and their environment they were stuck forever in the lifestyle of ordinary horses. Sounds to me like AI.”
Peter Tuft, Kettering TAS
The problem with going to Antarctica
“I applaud the thoughtful article on Antarctica. I considered a trip there this year, knowing that at 81 I don’t have many chances left. And then I considered the number of people now going there, with commercial benefits to the many cruise lines, and the consequent environmental impact, and decided such a trip would not be ethically acceptable. So I am going to the Eastern Mediterranean instead – where ancient civilisations have already trashed the place!”
Julie Lake
Tuesday May 5
Speed cameras or revenue machines?
“The driving public has been assailed by many automated enforcement systems for quite some time. There needs to be more pressure placed on state governments to rein in their desires to raise revenue in the name of road safety. As the author stated, there needs to be more context and consideration of the appeal process. I would posit that if I took a photo with my security camera of someone breaking into my house they wouldn’t take the person identified in the camera into custody without further evidence. It seems like we have a situation with road safety that is very much akin to ‘big brother’. What is obvious to me is the notion we are considered ‘guilty’ until we can prove otherwise. Doesn’t that go against the underlying tenet of our legal system? I would also like to point out that even with all the automated enforcement systems, the number of road fatalities has not dramatically decreased. They do not work for the purpose intended or stated, and I suspect the authorities know that.”
Bob Sibson, Adelaide, SA
Bearing the brunt
“Why is raising interest rates the only way to manage inflation? Home owners carry the burden. Why have we not looked at a variable rate of superannuation? Some industries are not affected by interest rate increases (some even benefit from them) so why not flip the script and change superannuation to be variable and the Reserve Bank can choose to change interest rates, superannuation contribution rates, or both?”
Melita Kemp, Nipaluna/Hobart
Fashion vs fine art
“The question of whether fashion is an ‘art’ is a fascinating one. Activities included in the ‘arts’ have varied throughout history, and have included such things as saddle, tent, hat and glove making. The current list of ‘fine’ arts, along with the distinction between ‘fine’ and ‘decorative’, was only settled in the 19th century: ‘fine’ art is essentially the product of the uncoupling of the production of ‘art’ objects from church, court and state, and the development at the same time of auction houses. The number of activities included in the category ‘art’ needs to be kept small and rarefied (one-off items, hand produced by an ‘artist’) to maintain high values. In broad terms, fashion doesn’t fit in because it’s mass-produced and available to pretty much anyone: it would undermine the art market to start including such things as fashion as a ‘fine art’.”
Gavin Oakes, West Melbourne
Wednesday May 6
Modern politics, ancient lessons
“One of the great legacies my father left me was the full set of Britannica’s Great Books of the western world. The set was published in 1951, my birth year. Yes some are difficult to read, but more importantly about the classics is the opportunity to read and understand the foundations of our civilization. Not that things are so civil at present. The Republicans in the USA could well do with learning from Plato. Read the conversations of Socrates in The Republic and they may learn something about justice, injustice and the requirement for a true leader whose primary focus is working for the benefit of their citizens. The false leader is primarily focused on their own personal gain.”
Gerard McDonald
Troublesome Trump
“I cannot understand how anyone could see the current US president as an ally. He is manipulated by others to start wars that no one else wants and then wants everyone else to help solve the problems he creates. He is causing our inflation spike and has put global fuel supplies in jeopardy. He is breaking up the global rule of law, stripping aid from those who desperately need it, undermining NATO and the UN and we call him an ally! Trump is clearly a highly irrational bully, but we are equally as irrational unless we demonstrate that what Trump stands for is incompatible with Australian values and Australia’s best interests. It’s time for a serious review.”
Jon Temby
Not so simple
“I feel really sorry for the Australian women (sometimes called ‘ISIS brides’) and their children trying to return to Australia from Syria. We need to consider some of the cultural family norms under which these women went to join their ISIS-linked husbands in the first place. We imagine that they went voluntarily, fully supporting their husbands’ ideals but I’m not so sure about that. I would like to see the Federal government investigate these women more carefully, and their family links back here in Australia. If indeed they went fully supporting their husbands’ ideals, then maybe we don’t want them back. However, if they went under family orders and the politics of the whole scene was out of their full understanding at the time, then I think we should extend some human compassion and allow them to come home.”
Elaine Langshaw 
Thursday May 7
Has Albanese played it too safe?
“The articles on Labor’s achievements vs election promises and Albanese’s refusal to countenance indexation of tax thresholds were interesting and timely. Looking at his career over his decades in politics, I have just one word for Anthony Albanese: gutless! Here is someone who cherishes personal power so much that he shafts any perceived threats to his position like giving Tanya Plibersek difficult and unpopular portfolios or hamstringing Chalmers’ efforts at tax reform. A Prime Minister who won a record number of seats at the last election but who is too timid to use his numbers to attempt any meaningful reforms, let alone set the nation up for a prosperous, secure future.”
Stuart Kennedy, Oatlands NSW
Decision fatigue is real
“I felt Emma Beckett’s article on decision fatigue and food choices in my bones. It gets even harder in a fully neurodivergent household (autism and ADD), not just juggling regular nutrition, but also sensory sensitivities to a variety of textures. All this with baseline difficulties with executive functioning and planning. Peak frustration was on Monday when, after realising the shops were closed for Labour Day and I couldn’t get ingredients for Plan A, I figured out Plan B, realised at meal time that I was missing ingredients for that too, gave up, got take out, then woke up the next morning remembering that I had in fact got everything I needed for Plan Z a couple of days prior and just totally forgotten about it. All those decisions and I still didn’t manage to feed anyone a home cooked meal!”
Katrina Couzens
Art for all?
“The Met asks: is fashion art? I say yes, but only when it reaches us all. Things like The Met Gala are expressly exclusive. The fools glamping in front of that staircase believe we care about them.”
Kym Houghton
Friday May 8
Show some spine
“I agree with Stuart Kennedy [Your Say, May 7] regarding Albanese’s poor-spirited leadership. His heart is in the right place; his moral compass is good, but where is his drive, a strength so necessary for a leader? The Labor Party far outweighs any opposition potential, so please Mr Prime Minister, show some spine.”
Jennie Clarke, Lindisfarne TAS
Don’t cut what works
“As a psychologist who sees clients through the NDIS, I have clients with mental health disorders who have previously been helped enormously by attending equine therapy. Horses are known to be able to respond to human emotions, particularly distress, and many people have been supported through access to horses, even to the point of saving their lives. Now they do not have this type of therapy. I realise there are many calls on financial aspects of our life in Australia, and that there has been financial immorality in terms of rorting. But the positive supports for genuine clients has now been reduced for a large number of people. I would like to request that this be considered, and perhaps changed.”
Lesley Adamson
Careful what you wish for
“The Trump government promotes a ‘might is right’ stance. Trump himself has urged Americans to ‘take back their country’, while Pete Hegseth prays for ‘overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy’. After the recent incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, maybe the Trump administration should be more careful what they wish for.”
Merv Robbins, Coburg