Saturday, August 11, 2012

My Predictions Are Coming True & People Reading Craig's List Ads are Fighting Back

Yes, some of them are.

The first is that for now, things are working out on my husband's job front. Maybe someone did their homework on me or realized that maybe it wasn't a good idea to start triggering angry natural redhead lawyer wrath so they'd better not transfer him to some hellhole area & invite trouble. So that whole being spared from falling trees on Amtrak turned out to indeed be a sign that the situation would be resolved.

The second is that people are fighting back against shitty job ads on Craig's List. I swear I didn't write any of these but I kind of wish I had, especially the last one.

Here's the first ad that begged to be shared on free writing services:

WHAT? Looking for Free Editing (deadbeat city-POST IN VOLUNTEER)

Date: 2012-07-17, 10:17AM EDT
Reply to: 4m7xg-3144786649@gigs.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]


listen, who ever you are, this is a JOB BOARD where people are seeking to EARN MONEY to live on.............

You seek a volunteer not a professional writer...get it....PROFESSIONALS=GETS $$$$. The avg cost of a good freelance
writer is at least $25 an hour. Can't afford it? Well guess what, you can't have a website based business unless you write
it yourself...can't write? OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, then you can't have a website related business.

THAT'S LIFE

I wish you people who are looking for jobs would flag people like this and most of the intern
bull dinkie as well...no where on CraigsList are there more moochers than in the writing
section....

IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD A WRITER, YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO BE IN A WRITING RELATED BUSINESS.

Do not, young writers, write for free unless it serves you own personal writing goals as writing
for some of these Bozos ( most of them) can ruin your reputation for good. THEN WHAT?
I didn't make this information up-it comes the Idiots Guide to Professional Blogging...what
ever you write today may bite you tomorrow.

Do these people go to the supermarket and ask for free food?
Do their landlords give them free rent?

But they want writers to edit, write, etc for ZERO

Get lost, okay....FLAG EM

Location: deadbeat city-POST IN VOLUNTEER
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Compensation: no pay

PostingID: 3144786649


The only free writing I do is for myself. Whether to increase my public persona, vent or expose people to something new that begs to be in their radar, I make those decisions on my own.

I also get to work on my schedule, not anyone else's & retain some creative control. If I didn't get that, what on Earth would be the point? I did a book review for NYCLA that's going to be published soon. It was through my choice & at my husband's suggestion. Plus, it's on a book that I felt the legal community should be exposed to since how many people do we have who hate their law firm jobs, other lawyers or any variation of those? Lots.

I also like to see things that aren't your typical bland, boring or stuffy content that gets characterized as being "for lawyers." I sure don't fit those things myself so if no one else is going to step up, I guess it's up to me to inject the controversy.

Considering I've gotten paid to write (and done lots of different styles of writing) plus was told I'm talented by people who actually know what they're talking about, I won't work for free. I also get offended by resume/cover letter ads asking people to write them for $25. Please! I'm a business professional & a licensed advocate. Getting a letter from me is at least $100 for an hour considering the high praise my letters have generated & my knowing what it's like to be an interviewer. Give your $25 to your best buddy, not some stranger on Craig's List.

Here's another choice ad:

STOP Asking for Free Graphic Work (Your Black Soul)

Date: 2012-07-24, 1:04PM EDT
Reply to: msjdm-3159986449@gigs.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]


Unless you are a BONA FIDE non-profit who is looking for someone that believes in your cause, just STOP asking for free graphic design/motion work. And you, designers, just STOP enabling these fuckers by DOING THEIR WORK for alleged "film credit!" It's bogus and you all know it. And spare me the "Hey, Man, we're all about community and creativity and spreading the love and getting experience and there's gonna be TONS more work down the road and blah fucking blah." Please. The only one being helped is yourself. For fucking free. Just. Stop.

Oh yeah, Ryan Gossling is a prick.

Location: Your Black Soul
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

Compensation: no pay

PostingID: 3159986449


I agree with this sentiment. The art director at my company is highly talented & highly respected. We don't waste her time with bullshit since that's just disrespectful.

Now if you have no $ to pay anyone & you offer deferred pay plus expenses or equity, that's one thing. At least don't make it a loss for people working with you. Deferred pay or equity tells me that even if you don't have the money today, you're not going to dick me if you do make something from the project. Outright freebies, however? Totally a dick move.

If you want to be a legitimate company & get respect from people, don't do it. You will be known as those cheapskate assholes who exploit creatives. People talk & you could easily get blacklisted if you mess with folk.

Plus, I just don't trust anyone offering future work unless they're going to put that in writing. No writing = go fuck yourself. Professionals aren't stupid & anyone with a brain respects people for protecting themselves. Anyone getting nasty about the presence of lawyers, agents, managers, contracts, etc. is an obvious scam artist & you will get screwed over. Don't say you weren't warned. Even friends & family who are professionals take care of formalities when it comes to their business.

As for Ryan Gosling being a prick, I have no personal knowledge on that one. However, if he were a prick to me he'd not get to work with my company & I would be spreading the word. My husband would also kill him or make him wish he was dead if he tried to bother me in a sexual manner.

This last ad, though is the fulfillment of what I've warned employers about for posting ads for illegal internships. Read here:

PAID INTERNSHIP? (Midtown)

Date: 2012-08-09, 10:56PM EDT
Reply to: qdxvh-3195676900@job.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]


We are currently seeking past or current interns for a possible lawsuit against employers. Increasingly, greedy companies are using "interns" to avoid hiring entry-level employees. According to the US Department of Labor, this is illegal.

Several lawsuits are now challenging the legality of unpaid internships.
These include suits against prominent media companies such as Fox Searchlight and PBS.

If you feel that your place of work has abused your status as an intern or student, you may be entitled to compensation. If, as an "intern," you were required to work full-time, or for long periods, without pay, contact us immediately. You may have a claim, even if you received school credit. You may be entitled to compensation even for work that you have performed 4-6 years ago.

If you do the work, you should get paid. With our help, you can fight back for lost pay and overtime.

For a confidential consultation with an attorney, please email us.

Compensation: To Be Determined

Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

PostingID: 3195676900


I'm proud to see someone doing this. I hope it's legit since that would make this one of the most awesome law firms ever. If you've previous entries on ads I responded to that offered illegal internships & how shitty the circumstances were, you know I've said stuff about knowing they didn't have an attorney around & that they were going to eventually be sued.

Looks like there's an attorney working on that. I love it! I'm tempted to contact this firm & tell them of their awesomeness; I hope this ad is still up on Craig's List. Maybe they should read some of the ads I've seen & the dressing down I've done of people doing that shit.

I wonder if they're exclusively going after entertainment/creative companies or if they're also going to go after the law firms offering this bullshit. I hope they smack down the law firms I've seen doing it; that would tickle me & make me laugh at some folks' misfortune (and some people truly deserve it).

So, fuckers with an entitlement complex: perhaps this firm will sue your sorry ass for expecting people to be your slaves. I hope other firms will follow suit since this is a prime example of "serving the public" and all those high lawyer ideals we're supposed to (in theory at least) be living up to. Bravo to these folks! Glad to see I'm not the only one who finds that stuff offensive & has high standards. This also makes me feel vindicated when I've been strict on how the internships are structured in my company & how folks are treated.

No comments:

Post a Comment