Comments on: I Heard a Rumor…

By: rjmterrado

rjmterrado — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:06:20 +0000

Oh, now I understand why there’re posts in craigslist, which are off the list just few hours after they’ve been posted. That was a really big puzzle to me but I never ever thought that it’s due to this. Whew. So, “professional writers” are really capable to do this?

By: Leigh

Leigh — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 14:48:48 +0000

This would never occur to me — if I can’t get a job legitimately because I am a skilled writer with relevant clips, then I don’t want the job.

Instead of doing this to each other, we should be banding together to flag down the ads from publishers looking to pay $1 per 500 words or who want us to write “audition articles” with no promise of paid work in the future. You know what they say — “United we stand, divided we fall.”

By: anonymous

anonymous — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 10:00:27 +0000

This is indeed happening – it happened to a job that I posted, and unfortunately, I have no way of knowing which of my applicants was the offender. Completely ridiculous!

By: anonymous

anonymous — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 10:00:10 +0000

One more possibility – other job posters who are competing for the attention of writers and who are paying nothing or next to nothing might be flagging posts of better opportunites. We, the writers, aren’t the only ones in this business competition. For example, if Ms. X posts she will pay $10 per 200-word article for a new site and Mr. Y is offering only $3, who knows if Mr. Y isn’t the one who is flagging? Without clear evidence, there’s no need to throw fellow writers under the bus.

By: melinda warner

melinda warner — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:59:55 +0000

There’s another side too. I posted what I felt was a legitimate opportunity for someone to write content for my website. It wasn’t long before I received several cover letters from not very good writers and an email from Craigslist telling me the ad was removed. I have no idea why I was flagged because Craigslist doesn’t make that information available. I learned my lesson though. I’m never posting on Craigslist again.

By: the insane writer

the insane writer — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:59:33 +0000

I certainly hope that isn’t true! It’s a shame that writers would stoop that low just to get a job. I always thought competiton was fun. A wonderful challenge! It’s a way to give us a chance to really show off our writing talent. Why waste it by flagging posts to gain a job and never really have the opportunity to show potential employers what you can really do?

By: devon ellington

devon ellington — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:59:06 +0000

I hope that’s not true! I always thought if a job was flagged, it meant a professional recognized it as a scam — a few jobs I looked at once, was leery of, then went back to look at again have been flagged, and I figured that’s why.

I HOPE so-called writers aren’t just being sleazy!

By: anonymous

anonymous — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:58:38 +0000

Yes, the competition is fierce. Nonetheless, I would never think of doing something like that. Unfortunately, we may begin to notice more and more flagged ads.
Some writers may read this discussion and wonder, “why didn’t I think of that,” and start flagging legitimate and higher paying job offers.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:58:22 +0000

Actually, I believe it takes flags from separate IP addresses to flag down a CL post.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:58:07 +0000

WARNING about the “Freelance Writer for Jewelery (sic) Newsletter” job with Goldenmine.com:

The same ad was posted a couple of weeks ago, and I sent a resume and a very applicable clip.

Today I was told I had made the final cut. The guy wanted me to send in a “free sample article” on a specific topic so he could judge my writing skills. Uh, no … that’s what my clips are for.

And why is he advertising again? Must be fishing for suckers to provide lots of free content!

By: kristen

kristen — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:57:52 +0000

that is so pathetic!!!

By: laura

laura — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:57:36 +0000

I agree with everyone here who say it’s unethical as a job seeker to do this. However, it does happen and will continue to happen as long as Craigslist keeps their policy of removing posts with only 2-3 flags.

In the meantime, a tip to help beat the problem. If you click on a job and it hasn’t been flagged down yet, but can’t respond right away, copy the entire posting and email it to yourself rather than saving the link for later. That way you’ll have the info after it’s been taken down.

By: sheila at family travel

sheila at family travel — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:57:20 +0000

If you are a solid writer and act professionally (turn in work on time, with the correct word count, on the correct topic, meeting the expectations of your query) then you don’t need to do such a thing.

There’s plenty of work out there if you’re good.

By: robin

robin — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:57:04 +0000

I should be more surprised by something like this, but I’m not.

I am surprised though that it only takes two or three people flagging an ad before it is removed. I would think it would take more than that. Do the Craigslist people look over the flagged item first or do they just automatically remove it?

The only time I flag a job is when it is non-paying. If I understand it correctly the “jobs” section is for paying jobs only. Isn’t there a separate “gigs” section for non-paying jobs?

By: dawn

dawn — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:56:44 +0000

Wow! That’s seriously underhanded (I could have used other words, none of which are in a thesaurus).

Karma, do your magic.

By: mark young

mark young — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:56:29 +0000

That would have never occured to me to do such a thing. I think it’s horrible. I don’t even know how that works to tell you the truth, but I would hope that if a job is flagged down, then the people flagging it down should have to have their names on it, so others can see who is doing what. That’s just awful.

By: latoya

latoya — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:56:14 +0000

That would explain why so many ads have been flagged down by the time I see them.

I guess it’s another incentive for being the early bird.

By: deb

deb — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:55:59 +0000

Anon -

I think we all flag scammers. My gripe is with those who flag legitimate opportunities in hopes of eliminating the competition.

Deb

By: melissa barton

melissa barton — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:55:41 +0000

That would explain why some legit jobs I did apply for got flagged down….

By: anonymous

anonymous — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:55:24 +0000

Before you judge, please hear me out. I check Craigslist writing jobs in many cities daily. If anything seems appealing, I reply. If the poster responds to me with details about the gig and it is obvious that he (she) originally posted a deceitful ad, I will not accept the assignment and will go back and flag it. The poster, in many cases, is the one being sneaky and unethical. The writer who flags, in these instances, is doing all of us a favor.

By: brenda marie hoffman

brenda marie hoffman — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:55:07 +0000

I’ve noticed this too and was wondering if it was just me. In fact, 2 of the jobs you listed below have already been flagged down. This really stinks! LOL

By: anonymous

anonymous — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:54:50 +0000

Well, if there’s anything to the whole Karma philosophy, maybe the ‘writers’ will wind up with some clients that don’t pay or scam them… Hell, if you’re going to be unethical, the least that can happen is others treat you the same way.