When I first read this article yesterday, I assumed it was satire. Then I thought about it. Pretty sure it wasn’t. The article talks about an imaginary TV station called The Daily Kos. Don’t know if Kos is the only person to be paid.
I have a strong bias against unpaid internships. Not because it makes a person take her work less seriously, a serious worker will always work. That’s the problem
At my field placement in Grad School I was almost immediately given “real” work. The second semester and for the following two I ran my own hall. I paid to work. Didn’t get one Social Security credit but I did get a work-study fellowship. Paid for half a class. Since I passed what was then the certification exam while I was still school, they then had me sign off as a CSW There was a well known ethics center run by the director of social services.
According to the law as written and clearly stated, I could take the exam any time in the last semester of my final year, but I couldn’t use the title until I finished classes and graduated. Am I the only person who finds this just a bit strange?
Because they dangled the carrot of a more interesting hall the second year, and would work directly for the director instead of the Social Work Supervisor who told me her problems in our weekly meetings. I wasn’t cut out to be a nursing home social worker. Was offered an internship in a leading Alzheimer’s org, and turned it down for the familiar. I understood the reasons then.
I don’t know how a person develops a work ethic. Neither of my parents could be confused for slackers, but hey I was adopted, and learned once again today how little nurture is supposed to count and how much nature does.
Damn, I’m in a bad mood. As an unpaid blogger I get to say that. As an unpaid blogger I don’t have to worry about word count, or do tedious exercises that could help my writing. Because I’m writing a book, well three, I do worry about word count, and do tedious quaint writing exercises.
Blogging gives many people false expectations. Because they get comments and flattering emails so early, they assume that they can get press and a book contract, become a TV star or live out their fantasy life.
Did a BIO post, that I just tried to link to and ended up with Microsoft test IE 7. MizB this is why I won’t use IE Miz B makes me sound as if I’m on Thorazine. Do think her blog would make a great Iranian/Danish American family living in Spain sit-com. Think that was most of the pith.
Yes I get press. but I have written professionally as both a reporter and tech writer and trainer. While my blog can be all over the place, some of my BIO posts are linear-to-the-max.
Love to blog and will always, but for nineteen months my life has been at the dentist or in front of the computer. I would really love to have a life but my writing takes precedence for now. When I realized exactly how much time I would be spending at the dentist, and how many days during the original oral surgeries I wouldn’t want to be seen in public I did plan it this way.
Only I didn’t plan on becoming addicted to blogging, and spending my days and nights in front of a computer screen. Nothing will ever feel like the thrill of great comments and emails. One thing. Money will be a bigger thrill. I detoured from my goal often because I hate the war and the entire Bush Regime.
Took me a long time to understand that I could delete comments that were personally insulting, and didn’t have to answer negative ones. Nor do I have to use my personal blog for anything but my personal satisfaction.
How many OP-Ed columnists debate their columns? Not too many. Some don’t have public email addresses. All have editors, and editors act as a shield as does the entire paper.
Somehow people assume that any blog that discusses issues has to be a debating platform. Want to debate in my blog? Feel welcome to as long as you’re civil. Manners count too much to me I don’t enjoy debating anymore nor do I particularly enjoy moderating comments.
That was one of the reasons i helped begin BIO. Comments and debate are wonderful blogging tools but in any individuals blog, even if totally political oriented debate is optional.
Being a founder of BIO is one of my proudest accomplishments, and I will crosspost a Sunday Father’s Day. Yes Shayna, soon you will think my parents were yours.
Some of my BIO posts have taken 40 hours. One would hope that they’re of a professional quality. Participatory Culture isn’t a new idea. Some of us were brought up to participate. I’m old enough to remember when campaigns weren’t all about raising funds.
The summer I tuned eighteen I was clean for Gene My parents had banished me to my grandmother’s bungalow colony in a town that was integral to the Catskills Borshct Belt. The only thing that saved me from a summer of boredom at my grandmother’s side were the people who had come to town to organize the McCarthy campaign. I had volunteered all during high school for the Fifth Ave Peace Parade Committee and other anti Viet Nam org.
Later I would volunteer for McGovern. I also volunteered to be an ACLU Court Watcher when Viet Nam Vets against the War posed as an organization called “long hairs for Nixon” Somehow they managed to get many many tickets to a Nixon rally in Nassau Coliseum.
There was an incident that was only reported by Timothy Crouse in The Boys on the Bus. The forwards by the real Gonzo. It’s a great book and goes into the book .
If you have an interest in what political reporting was like then please read this book. It’s called “boys” for a reason, but girls were more welcome in campaigns themselves. In the late spring of 1976 I volunteered for a Senate Campaign, and the next day was an Assistant to the Director of the citizen arm, and Volunteer Coordinator. Worked very cheap, but campaigns weren’t all about fund raising then.
I’m not opposed to people volunteering. That’s wonderful, and as with blogging, talent might rise. I have much against one person or a group of people profiting from volunteer bloggers.
If somebody decided to unleash a Trojan Horse and somehow take over all say Technorati rated blogs, and charge people to read, yet didn’t include the writer, you wouldn’t write your blog. I certainly wouldn’t. Why should somebody other than me profit from my labor? Other people besides me, yes, but I have to be included.
The moment a blog itself directly profits one individual and others are volunteers, it loses all credibility to me. Grassroots blogging means participating at the citizen level. It can be the most effective and the most fun. Yes I think that there should be a paid campaign staff and volunteers. Way different than a TV station with blogger volunteers acting as staff.
I learned that from my field placement. Had to work ten times harder to earn the respect of much of the staff. The work, itself, was the easiest part. And I had graduated from college two decades earlier.
Know I have used many of these thought and anecdotes in prior posts, but never to make this point.
Good luck to you.
Mizzy B is certainly a character and a good women.
I really didn’t know that many bloggers were so interested in publicity and all that nor money nor anything really.
To me it is all becoming uninteresting and that is why I am soon deleting all political links etc from my blog and I am promised myself I will stop commenting on any blog that in any way has a political slant. I think that I have found over the last few weeks that discussing the stuff with people in person works better and is much more satisfying.
No making money for me. lol
Pia,
It’s interesting, isn’t it? You say, as I’ve said myself many times, that it doesn’t really even matter what one posts on others’ blogs. In the end, you’re just trying to reinforce/justify your OWN worldview/standpoint/paradigm/fill-in-the-whatever.
But, what I’ve come to hope (and hope’s a huge icon for me) is that there is a nexus, a connection — that all of us who are members of the human race have more in common with each other than we have differences. Somewhere, at the core, there’s a universal kernel.
It doesn’t matter if you’re black, white, brown, yellow, red, liberal, conservative, communist, democrat, republican, conservative, libertarian, middle class, upper class, redneck, highbrow, stay at home mom, feminist, post graduate degreed, high school dropout, Jewish, Christian, Pagan, Muslim, gay, straight, under 40, over 80, urbanite, country diehard, left-brained or right-brained, a poet, a scientist, a pioneer or a follower, an adult who had a pampered childhood or an abusive one, a woman who has been raped or one who has only felt the loving embrace of her trusted partner, a person who lives in a trailer or a person who lives in a mansion, someone who shops at Saks or WalMart… I hope you’re beginning to get my drift. All this external shit don’t add up to nothing. It is the core that counts, that part of us which remains when all else is stripped away. That’s the only thing we have to “worry” about and I say that in quotes because in reality there is nothing to worry about. We create all the drama we’re involved in. Face yourself fearlessly and really feel the truth of this statement. It’s very liberating.
Anyhow, I realize I’m babbling and no one will probably even see this comment so I shall shut up now.
L’Chaim, Pia
(we have a deliciously poignant/spectacular/magical/abiding understanding of just what that phrase really means.)
Andrea
If I think your parents are mine… Does that mean we could be… SISTERS????? YIPPY!!! 🙂
I would rather debate in person. My blog is for my writing. I’m a writer first and foremost.
I look for universalities in experience and hope that people can get along, and do try to emphasis that.
This post was about why I don’t want my labor to be profited from without me getting a cut.
The rest was on my understanding of blogging
L’Chaim Amdrea. Cooper you’re very wise to be getting out of politics on the Internet. I’m liminting it to BIO, but…
For many reasond but mostly because I have neither the time nor the inclination to debate in print while I enjoy it in person. More meaningful to me
And I’m creative and a good writer. Politics is one side of me of many
Pia,
I think you’re still kinda self absorbed and lame… but good to see you still at it.
Btw, I read your post about Bush, and may make it over to BIO to chip in on realities side. I’ve been gone from this for way too long.
Dont worry, I’m not looking for a debate, and I know you have some loyal readers that will put me back in my place.
See you around.
😛
Morning Pia,
I’ve said it before, you are a brilliant writer with a voice that needs to be heard. I enjoy reading, but I don’t enjoy debate. Debate is simply tongues flapping, open wide this won’t hurt.
Can’t wait to read your BIO post on Sunday.
Hi – surfing for credits at Blog Explosion, wound up here. I am very frustated with Bush & Co. to the point that even though I don’t usually write political statements on my blog, but I just snapped today – LOL
I updated the words to a Vietnam war protest song, as follows:
Well, come on Wall Street, don’t move slow,
Why man, this is War-a-go-go.
There’s plenty good money to be made
By supplying the Army with the tools of the trade,
Shares are good in Otto Bock*
Lots o’ lost limbs over in Iraq
And it’s one, two, three,
What are we fighting for?
Don’t ask me, it’s just so sad,
Next stop is ol’ Bagdad.
And it’s five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain’t no time to wonder why
Whoopee! We’re all gonna die.
Well, come on mothers, so his arm is a hook?
Pack your boys off to Kirkuk.
Come on fathers, don’t hesitate,
Send ’em off before it’s too late.
Be the first one on your block
To have your boy come home in a box.
*Otto Bock is the global leader in developing and manufacturing innovative prosthetic technologies and devices.
More people should have the courage to speak out like you do. Best wishes to you.
Hey G,
Have no fear.I like to think that I am a reasonably intelligent guy who can think for himself.I am neither Republican nor Democrat,Liberal nor conservative.I think and speak and vote depending on the issue.It would be a breath of fresh air to know any person who is not stuck in a mob mentality and can think for themselves.I don’t need a Messiah to follow.I don’t believe there is any one person or any one party that has “THE” answer.I would be interested to read what you think.
Peter:
I’ve just put one up about the Iraq war that might perk your interests then. I’ll post something on your site to grab your attention, but I’m not a bike enthusiest, so i can say that I will have much else to contribute.
Pia,
is BIO down? I followed one of your links and no dice… hmmm