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This review should get pulled. If the reviewer posted this under his real name, then he should remove it. This review will kill his reputation, which will cause

by gexla 9y ago

This review should get pulled. If the reviewer posted this under his real name, then he should remove it. This review will kill his reputation, which will cause more problems than anything mentioned in the review. If it's not a real name, then I imagine it's a violation. This is the only review under this user. The review has a TLDR at the top, but my own TLDR for this review would be "I was desperate". It's easy for me to armchair quarterback these situations, but this is the sort of reason why my parents along with most of middle-class America received medical insurance from their employers and paid into Social Security. Things happen. Most people won't set themselves up for dealing with those things. The government and employers then step in and set up a system in which hopefully will save people from not thinking ahead. Today, more people than ever are freelancing, these safety nets are going away, people run on the edge and any bad turn is going to put them on the street. In developing nations, these safety nets may have never existed. If employers were to Google this person, then this entire review comes up as a red flag. This is a person who is susceptible to disasters, being forced into the street and can't manage the basics of living in the modern world. When things go downhill, rational thinking goes along for the ride. There are many reasons to avoid Freelancer and similar services. That subject has been well covered here. In this case, it's better to build networks of people who will help you out, knowing that you would do the same. Services which deal with money have to follow certain processes. If this were a smart contract, then the contract would be even less forgiving. If you want to deal with people who are going to be human and open to hearing your story and weighing your reputation, then build your community that you can reach out to. Don't put 5 years into being a drone profile on a service.

kristianov 9y ago
What's wrong with you?
JepZ 9y ago
Safety nets are good, but that review is about the abuse of power by a freelancer.com employee.
- gexla 9y ago
  The person who posted the review is projecting this behavior on customer service. We don't know exactly what happened and we only have one side of the story. > It became clear later on that this limitation was placed by a support agent which I apparently angered during the first issue... Was it actually that clear? Did the customer service rep give an indication that he or she was "angry" with this person? No details were offered except for language which most likely wasn't being used. > They didn't use these words, but it was the gest of it. This was used liberally through the review. The reviewer posted the "gest" of the customer service replies which seemed to be filtered through the reviewer's perception of the mood of the person on the other end.
- rufus_2 9y ago
  The reviewer is building a monument to their conflict with a previous employer. Every future interview they have will be in the shadow of this monument. What do they gain? The company they've focused their ire upon isn't going to fold because of these paragraphs. The person working there now has an opportunity to revel in their handiwork - they riled this guy up all the way to the top of Hacker News! Best to relegate your emotional outbursts to your art instead of putting them into your business or relationships if you can't keep perspective of how they'll effect your future. I wish someone gave me this advice.
  - gexla 9y ago
    Thank you. Don't blow up in public. Go ahead and post a negative review, but keep it rational. That you ended up homeless is too much information. Post details about the experience, not just your interpretation of the emotional state of customer service.
jimbokun 9y ago
There is a pattern in the modern Internet economy, of large companies engaging in outright theft and fraud, with the legal system unwilling to take action. How many stories of PayPal, Google, and others outright stealing money from their customers and users, with no explanation, and no recourse from the courts? Oh, I forgot, they “freeze their account”, which is totally different than just stealing, somehow. So, yes, we should all try to avoid these services. But there is also a desperate need to reform our legal system to stop what our common sense tells us is simply theft.
iforgotpassword 9y ago
Seriously, what is wrong with you?
IsaacL 9y ago
I second my sibling poster. "It's easy for me to armchair quarterback these situations" You have the self-awareness to recognise that you are "armchair quarterbacking", then you decide to... blame the guy for his problems, judge him negatively for speaking out, and go off on some airy tangent about the history of social security. "This is a person who is susceptible to disasters, being forced into the street and can't manage the basics of living in the modern world." What the hell? Basing your career on one online platform is not the best life decision, true. There's lots of freelancers who do more stupid things. Yes, this guy could have done things differently, but he doesn't deserve this kind of treatment. If you are based in a tech hub or major city you can build a freelancing career with numerous digital agencies and other professional firms, and learn to sell yourself, manage client relationships, build a specialised skillset, etc. If you do that you also deal with a much better class of clients (have money, know what they want, don't screw you around). That is the exception, though. The average freelancer hustles for generic projects and deals with the shittier kind of clients. This guy sounds like he is one of the more competent individuals in that category. Then he had a key relationship (with freelancer.com) turn sour, and as a result he's been absolutely shafted. "If the reviewer posted this under his real name, then he should remove it. This review will kill his reputation" He's fighting back with the one weapon he has, which is going public with his experiences. He knows he is a taking a big risk with this. He is courageous. On a final note: Jesus F'ing Christ where do you people come from. I've seen comments like this on similar stories. The temptation to victim blame (under the pretence of dispensing helpful advice) seems irresistible for many. I've been on the receiving end of this, so it gets my goat. An experience like this doesn't just hurt you materially and financially, it also smashes your self-confidence. But people are very selective in the things they are sympathetic towards. With other things, they respond with scorn and condescension.
- gexla 9y ago
  > judge him negatively for speaking out Anything you put out on the internet can be a positive or a negative. This sort of post is not a positive. Part of the reason software buyers pay good rates (those who do) is because they need to know they are dealing with competent service providers. If the provider is offering services for less than that which would sustain a business (which many cash-strapped freelancers do) then that's a red flag. If I have a critical, high profile project, then I want to know that the person I'm handing it off to is going to be relatively stable. Think about this from an investor perspective, the people involved in the project need to be able to recover financially from a trip to the hospital (as opposed to going homeless). I need to know you can pay the rent and keep the lights on. If you are one step away from financial disaster, then you're too much of a risk to partner with on my project. That may sound bad, but that's reality. His review will not look good for taking on better paying work. The people who will take a chance on him are likely the same sort of people who he feels has been screwing him over. Bottom line, you might be one misstep away from the streets, but that's not information you want to include on a cover-letter.
watwut 9y ago
0.) What is "person is susceptible to disasters"? You seriously suggest there is something shameful about people who had parents die/car accidents and such people should keep it secret? 1.) Companies and services are open to criticism from their customers or providers. 2.) If you allow and accept positive subjective reviews, you should accept negative subjective reviews too. They are part of the system. Free market requires access to full information, that means both good experiences with provider and bad ones.
- gexla 9y ago
  Medical expenses are a top cause of bankruptcy in the United States (and many other countries). Dealing with this possibility should be a top priority. A person who is going to get wiped out financially by a car wreck is far more susceptible to disasters than someone who is covered by insurance. We don't know how severe the injuries were, but without insurance, even something relatively minor can wipe you out. Back in the day, many employers provided insurance plans which would cover for things like this. The employee would miss some time for the injury, but the medical costs were largely covered. My parents were relatively poor and I had a life-threatening illness (months in the hospital) which was fully covered by insurance. When you're working for yourself, you have to cover for these potential disasters. Money pending in your Freelancer account shouldn't be part of that planning.

by gexla 9y ago

kristianov 9y ago

What's wrong with you?

JepZ 9y ago

Safety nets are good, but that review is about the abuse of power by a freelancer.com employee.

gexla 9y ago
The person who posted the review is projecting this behavior on customer service. We don't know exactly what happened and we only have one side of the story. > It became clear later on that this limitation was placed by a support agent which I apparently angered during the first issue... Was it actually that clear? Did the customer service rep give an indication that he or she was "angry" with this person? No details were offered except for language which most likely wasn't being used. > They didn't use these words, but it was the gest of it. This was used liberally through the review. The reviewer posted the "gest" of the customer service replies which seemed to be filtered through the reviewer's perception of the mood of the person on the other end.
rufus_2 9y ago
The reviewer is building a monument to their conflict with a previous employer. Every future interview they have will be in the shadow of this monument. What do they gain? The company they've focused their ire upon isn't going to fold because of these paragraphs. The person working there now has an opportunity to revel in their handiwork - they riled this guy up all the way to the top of Hacker News! Best to relegate your emotional outbursts to your art instead of putting them into your business or relationships if you can't keep perspective of how they'll effect your future. I wish someone gave me this advice.
- gexla 9y ago
  Thank you. Don't blow up in public. Go ahead and post a negative review, but keep it rational. That you ended up homeless is too much information. Post details about the experience, not just your interpretation of the emotional state of customer service.

jimbokun 9y ago

There is a pattern in the modern Internet economy, of large companies engaging in outright theft and fraud, with the legal system unwilling to take action. How many stories of PayPal, Google, and others outright stealing money from their customers and users, with no explanation, and no recourse from the courts? Oh, I forgot, they “freeze their account”, which is totally different than just stealing, somehow. So, yes, we should all try to avoid these services. But there is also a desperate need to reform our legal system to stop what our common sense tells us is simply theft.

iforgotpassword 9y ago

Seriously, what is wrong with you?

IsaacL 9y ago

I second my sibling poster. "It's easy for me to armchair quarterback these situations" You have the self-awareness to recognise that you are "armchair quarterbacking", then you decide to... blame the guy for his problems, judge him negatively for speaking out, and go off on some airy tangent about the history of social security. "This is a person who is susceptible to disasters, being forced into the street and can't manage the basics of living in the modern world." What the hell? Basing your career on one online platform is not the best life decision, true. There's lots of freelancers who do more stupid things. Yes, this guy could have done things differently, but he doesn't deserve this kind of treatment. If you are based in a tech hub or major city you can build a freelancing career with numerous digital agencies and other professional firms, and learn to sell yourself, manage client relationships, build a specialised skillset, etc. If you do that you also deal with a much better class of clients (have money, know what they want, don't screw you around). That is the exception, though. The average freelancer hustles for generic projects and deals with the shittier kind of clients. This guy sounds like he is one of the more competent individuals in that category. Then he had a key relationship (with freelancer.com) turn sour, and as a result he's been absolutely shafted. "If the reviewer posted this under his real name, then he should remove it. This review will kill his reputation" He's fighting back with the one weapon he has, which is going public with his experiences. He knows he is a taking a big risk with this. He is courageous. On a final note: Jesus F'ing Christ where do you people come from. I've seen comments like this on similar stories. The temptation to victim blame (under the pretence of dispensing helpful advice) seems irresistible for many. I've been on the receiving end of this, so it gets my goat. An experience like this doesn't just hurt you materially and financially, it also smashes your self-confidence. But people are very selective in the things they are sympathetic towards. With other things, they respond with scorn and condescension.

gexla 9y ago
> judge him negatively for speaking out Anything you put out on the internet can be a positive or a negative. This sort of post is not a positive. Part of the reason software buyers pay good rates (those who do) is because they need to know they are dealing with competent service providers. If the provider is offering services for less than that which would sustain a business (which many cash-strapped freelancers do) then that's a red flag. If I have a critical, high profile project, then I want to know that the person I'm handing it off to is going to be relatively stable. Think about this from an investor perspective, the people involved in the project need to be able to recover financially from a trip to the hospital (as opposed to going homeless). I need to know you can pay the rent and keep the lights on. If you are one step away from financial disaster, then you're too much of a risk to partner with on my project. That may sound bad, but that's reality. His review will not look good for taking on better paying work. The people who will take a chance on him are likely the same sort of people who he feels has been screwing him over. Bottom line, you might be one misstep away from the streets, but that's not information you want to include on a cover-letter.

watwut 9y ago

0.) What is "person is susceptible to disasters"? You seriously suggest there is something shameful about people who had parents die/car accidents and such people should keep it secret? 1.) Companies and services are open to criticism from their customers or providers. 2.) If you allow and accept positive subjective reviews, you should accept negative subjective reviews too. They are part of the system. Free market requires access to full information, that means both good experiences with provider and bad ones.

gexla 9y ago
Medical expenses are a top cause of bankruptcy in the United States (and many other countries). Dealing with this possibility should be a top priority. A person who is going to get wiped out financially by a car wreck is far more susceptible to disasters than someone who is covered by insurance. We don't know how severe the injuries were, but without insurance, even something relatively minor can wipe you out. Back in the day, many employers provided insurance plans which would cover for things like this. The employee would miss some time for the injury, but the medical costs were largely covered. My parents were relatively poor and I had a life-threatening illness (months in the hospital) which was fully covered by insurance. When you're working for yourself, you have to cover for these potential disasters. Money pending in your Freelancer account shouldn't be part of that planning.