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Your classification of what people would do if it weren't for the grace of Cha-Cha paying them is offensive -- "soap operas", "Farmville", "watch TV". It's easi

Your classification of what people would do if it weren't for the grace of Cha-Cha paying them is offensive -- "soap operas", "Farmville", "watch TV". It's easier for you to make your argument if you color these people as "do nothings" who are lucky to get whatever work is offered to them. If businesses should be able to pay certain people living wages and others whatever they work for, should McD's pay high school kids $2.50 and single moms more? Also, the work I do is at my own pace, does that mean my company should pay me less since I'm not being forced to produce? The simple fact that it's work done from home doesn't mean the rules that regular businesses must follow need not apply. Also, $2.50/hr overseas isn't $2.50/hr, it's whatever the conversion rate is. That's why that conversation is much more complicated. And I'm not a protectionist, so I have no problem with the notion of offshoring.

gojomo 17y ago
You're straining to take offense, and so imagining slights against these people that weren't present or intended. Really, many of the people doing online piecework, like Cha-Cha answers or MTurk tasks, aren't even looking for a real clock-in job. They're just engaged in a diversion, and happy to be making a little on the side. If they weren't doing the piecework, they would be Facebooking, IM'ing, TV-watching, gaming -- something else they can do in dribs and drabs at home. In fact, they may be doing all those things simultaneously! If your preferred crackdown was enacted -- abolishing their current arrangement -- many wouldn't even look for one of your "fair" regulated minimum-wage jobs, clocking in at some office or fast-food-joint. I respect them to make their own decisions. You "color these people" as if they were helpless victims "who let themselves be taken advantage of" and "aren't using the same judgement and resources to make their decisions as those who know better". That's more denigratory to voluntary at-home pieceworkers than anything I've said.

gojomo 17y ago

You're straining to take offense, and so imagining slights against these people that weren't present or intended. Really, many of the people doing online piecework, like Cha-Cha answers or MTurk tasks, aren't even looking for a real clock-in job. They're just engaged in a diversion, and happy to be making a little on the side. If they weren't doing the piecework, they would be Facebooking, IM'ing, TV-watching, gaming -- something else they can do in dribs and drabs at home. In fact, they may be doing all those things simultaneously! If your preferred crackdown was enacted -- abolishing their current arrangement -- many wouldn't even look for one of your "fair" regulated minimum-wage jobs, clocking in at some office or fast-food-joint. I respect them to make their own decisions. You "color these people" as if they were helpless victims "who let themselves be taken advantage of" and "aren't using the same judgement and resources to make their decisions as those who know better". That's more denigratory to voluntary at-home pieceworkers than anything I've said.