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If I charge money for my car repeatedly, it means I'm renting it so I'm running a business. If I do it through an app, now I'm playing by their rules, not mine.

If I charge money for my car repeatedly, it means I'm renting it so I'm running a business. If I do it through an app, now I'm playing by their rules, not mine. These companies are setting the terms, because they make the software, run the platform and process the payments. The article is correct, no need to bend reality any further, it's quite simple. Maybe your wife was enjoying work during her pregnancy and it was her choice. But then maybe the woman described in the article didn't have a choice - maybe she really needed money to pay for the hospital bill and all the other expenses that come with having a child. In a wealthy, healthy society, women shouldn't be forced (directly or by 'choice") to work until they give birth in their cars. People shouldn't have to do 'gigs' for $5 either. That's just the state of the economy that gives rise to these kinds of rackets. The 'system' is not just the set of rules and regulations, but also the beliefs and convictions of the people - what they think is fair and 'normal'. For some people it's normal for 10-year olds to do hard physical labor, for others it's 'normal' to eat dogs. We've decided these things aren't 'normal'. Seeing the world through the ruthless capitalist work-till-you-die, climb to the top lens is detrimental to the future of the world. We should figure out new ways of living in a society, using technology as a way to reduce injustice, rather than generate newer and newer versions of it in exchange for profit.

DanielBMarkham 10y ago
I don't know if this has occurred to you, but being angry because you think that others are "..Seeing the world through the ruthless capitalist work-till-you-die, climb to the top lens is detrimental to the future of the world. ..." is doing exactly what you hate: viewing everything in life as a monetary transaction, then judging the universe as a result of how much money is made. I said there's a case to be made that companies are setting up monopolies and hurting both parties in the exchange. If you'd like to make that case, do it. I'm all ears. But please (and I speak to the author of this piece more than you) -- don't fuck with me, jumping up on a soapbox and telling me how the world should be. Hell, I never thought they should cancel Gilligan's Island. How the hell should I know whether or not some random person is being exploited unless they tell me? And even then, this is an argument to be made using statistics alongside personal stories used as examples. Anybody that can put a sentence together can preach. All that takes is a lot of emotion and some rubes that like getting emotional. I'll be more blunt: the author needs to get a better game or go home. I'm open to the discussion if it can be made in a reasonable, adult manner. Grandstanding, chest-thumping, and emoting? It's great if you like drama. Just ain't hitting on much when it comes to reasoned discourse. There are a lot of folks in the world who'd rather appear as a talking head on a cable TV show yelling at another talking head than simply open their heart and try to find consensus.

DanielBMarkham 10y ago

I don't know if this has occurred to you, but being angry because you think that others are "..Seeing the world through the ruthless capitalist work-till-you-die, climb to the top lens is detrimental to the future of the world. ..." is doing exactly what you hate: viewing everything in life as a monetary transaction, then judging the universe as a result of how much money is made. I said there's a case to be made that companies are setting up monopolies and hurting both parties in the exchange. If you'd like to make that case, do it. I'm all ears. But please (and I speak to the author of this piece more than you) -- don't fuck with me, jumping up on a soapbox and telling me how the world should be. Hell, I never thought they should cancel Gilligan's Island. How the hell should I know whether or not some random person is being exploited unless they tell me? And even then, this is an argument to be made using statistics alongside personal stories used as examples. Anybody that can put a sentence together can preach. All that takes is a lot of emotion and some rubes that like getting emotional. I'll be more blunt: the author needs to get a better game or go home. I'm open to the discussion if it can be made in a reasonable, adult manner. Grandstanding, chest-thumping, and emoting? It's great if you like drama. Just ain't hitting on much when it comes to reasoned discourse. There are a lot of folks in the world who'd rather appear as a talking head on a cable TV show yelling at another talking head than simply open their heart and try to find consensus.