[jimmywanger]

I think you're inferring something different from what I'm saying.

If you're a writer and you're not inspired to write, you're not going to write your magnum opus. However, you still have to write something or another - spend 3 hours writing uninspired writing just to practice your skills. If you're a musician and you're not inspired to compose, you'll still have to practice your scales and do little throwaway compositions to get better at it. Thinking that inspiration can flourish when you don't have practice with structure, realistic dialog is unrealistic. In fact, the more you force yourself to write the more easily you can recognize when real inspiration comes along, and the more you won't waste it.

As for your second example, we're seeing it all over the place in San Francico right now. A lot of people didn't optimize their financial situation, working as artists or painters and social workers, and now are being forced out by people who did optimize their financial situation, the programmers. Is that right? That is personal opinion, but the fact of the matter is had you been prepared with more money from savings or a more lucrative job or a cheap home somewhere else that you bought, you have options that you currently don't have.