4 ms·

While this is true, I think there is more nuance to it. We also value cheap food but we don't care that migrant food pickers make $10 an hour (or less). We are

While this is true, I think there is more nuance to it. We also value cheap food but we don't care that migrant food pickers make $10 an hour (or less). We are a selfish race, as long as we get a deal, screw everyone else. As long as the exploitation benefits us, we don't care. Amazon, diamonds, food supply, new mobile phones, etc.

Aerroon 6y ago
On the other hand, I'd like to assume that other people are making the best decisions they can in their own lives. Picking fruit for $10 an hour could likely be better than their alternatives. I've worked for much less than that as a programmer. At the time I didn't see better options. People have different limitations. Some limitations might not even make sense to others, but those are the constraints that they work around.
- snarf21 6y ago
  I agree. I was only trying to highlight that we basically don't value other's time as much as we value our own. We want to shop at the dollar store but we would never work for the wages that the hated Chinese will to make this crap. We want food delivered to our house but we don't tip because we can't "afford it" to value the minimum wage workers that are busting their ass and destroying their cars to bring to us. The thing you highlight is that a lot of people don't really have a choice so they will take anything, regardless of how exploited they are. This makes me sad as it feels like we've regressed to the 1900s. If all these gig economies eventually have to treat their works as employees and $15/hour goes national, I don't see how any of these companies are profitable except in the biggest cities.
Bakary 6y ago
While that is true, it is a non-trivial task to make actionable change on any of these propositions. Even boycotting certain companies is a job unto itself.

4 ms·

While this is true, I think there is more nuance to it. We also value cheap food but we don't care that migrant food pickers make $10 an hour (or less). We are

by snarf21 6y ago

Aerroon 6y ago
On the other hand, I'd like to assume that other people are making the best decisions they can in their own lives. Picking fruit for $10 an hour could likely be better than their alternatives. I've worked for much less than that as a programmer. At the time I didn't see better options. People have different limitations. Some limitations might not even make sense to others, but those are the constraints that they work around.
- snarf21 6y ago
  I agree. I was only trying to highlight that we basically don't value other's time as much as we value our own. We want to shop at the dollar store but we would never work for the wages that the hated Chinese will to make this crap. We want food delivered to our house but we don't tip because we can't "afford it" to value the minimum wage workers that are busting their ass and destroying their cars to bring to us. The thing you highlight is that a lot of people don't really have a choice so they will take anything, regardless of how exploited they are. This makes me sad as it feels like we've regressed to the 1900s. If all these gig economies eventually have to treat their works as employees and $15/hour goes national, I don't see how any of these companies are profitable except in the biggest cities.
Bakary 6y ago
While that is true, it is a non-trivial task to make actionable change on any of these propositions. Even boycotting certain companies is a job unto itself.