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I read the entire story and I did not identify any larger theme besides complaining. Is Amazon behaving immorally here (note, did not say "unethically")? Sure,

I read the entire story and I did not identify any larger theme besides complaining. Is Amazon behaving immorally here (note, did not say "unethically")? Sure, I'll agree with that. If this was a concentrated attack on Amazon and their Flex program then I would be understanding. As it's written the article takes swipes at office workers (??) and laments a lack of a pension (because who gets that now-a-days besides gov/factory employees)?? To put it another way: I also order using Flex and I've never considered working a gig. Am I somehow supposed to feel bad because of this simply due to the author's hardships or feel bad about myself because I don't need to work a gig job? Please help me understand the zeitgeist here because the downvotes surely aren't.

noobermin 8y ago
I read a number of themes, how contractors have been a means for companies to avoid giving benefits, how pay doesn't count in costs incurred during work, how the gig economy is inherently exploitative. Do you just want to deny these are issues? If so why?
bittercynic 8y ago
I'm not a downvoter, but I'll try to help you understand another perspective on this. If you think you'll never have to consider doing this type of work, I don't think you should feel bad about using Flex, but I hope you will acknowledge that you are enjoying a level of prosperity that doesn't seem to be available to everyone. Also, awareness of how business is able to turn things that used to be costs into externalities may be an early step in the process of making them take responsibility for costs that seem (to me) to be rightfully their own responsibility.