Comments on: Craigslist Ad of the Day: “The So What if I Don’t Pay, At Least I’m Honest” Ad

By: Misty

Misty — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:33:28 +0000

Question… if this guy’s life is so great that we would want to live it vicariously, why can’t he afford to pay?

By: Christy

Christy — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:20:10 +0000

Thank you for posting these ads Deb, they’re so funny (in a sad way of course, lol). Unfortunately for this guy most awkward and inappropriately funny bloggers are accustomed to getting paid fairly well for their sense of humor.

Have a happy Halloween!

By: Ann G.

Ann G. — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:50:10 +0000

@Valerie – I just turned down a job offer after the guy forwarded an email he’d received from a woman, giving her email and everything, who outbid us all by offering him 50 cents per article for the job he needed done which was to look up information on a government Web site and then rewrite the news stories into 100 to 200 word stories. She ended up getting the job when no one else would match her price, so unfortunately there are people that work for that little.

By: Aurora

Aurora — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:17:26 +0000

This poster isn’t looking for a freelance writer. He is looking for a person who needs a new hobby.

By: Valerie

Valerie — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:57:19 +0000

Excellent post, Deb. Another thing that upsets me is seeing ads where they offer to pay $1 an article. Is anyone willing to work for that???

By: Jeanne Dininni

Jeanne Dininni — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:02:48 +0000

Bravo, Deb!

Thanks for cutting through the garbage and telling it like it really is!

Jeanne

By: Dawn

Dawn — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:58:33 +0000

Hmm.. Implying that we don’t live well-enough through our own lives seems a cheap shot at an already cheap recruiting strategy. Why on earth would we want to write for free, innapropriately none-the-less, when we could do the same exact thing to benefit OUR own career under any number of the free blogging websites out there. If we want to write innapropriately.. We could do the very same thing, without having to meet requirements, on our pen-named-blog.
Grrrgle.. I don’t see anything wrong with people writing for free to better their career or for charitible reasons, but to do so to better HIS career seems insult dropped atop insult.
Thanks for the post Deb, this is a good read for newcoming writers and experienced alike.

By: Mike Panic

Mike Panic — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:31:34 +0000

I saw this on Craigslist in a few different cities as well, the concept of his / her site is there, but why no pay? Better question, why are they so cheap that they won’t even pay for webhosting?

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:19:30 +0000

I think you underestimate the deep satisfaction of living vicariously through the brilliant website jockey who designed this magnificent ad. I mean it’s something I’ve dreamed of since I sat in the sandbox pondering what I’d do with my life. While I realize there’s only a chance that I’ll actually get to live vicariously through one of these tried-and-true heroes, it’s something I’m willing to work for. After all, the most successful vicarous-living professionals didn’t get to where they are overnight. I, for one, appreciate this great opportunity. I would love to feel better about where I am in life and giving away free work is just the ticket.

Any chance on getting the website involved here? I’d love to see what genius the pursuit of the vicarious lifestyle inspires.

By: jennifer

jennifer — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:47:01 +0000

I just have to offer up a huge BWAH! to both mmeetoilenoir and John Hewitt! And Amanda, you bring up a great point! Because you just KNOW that this dude would be IM’ing you at all hours of the day, wanting to know when you can make your next inappropriate post for him. For free, of course.

Deb, thanks for posting this one, I needed a good laugh!

By: Zenzele

Zenzele — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:34:38 +0000

Heck, I’m already writing on my own website, for free, why would I want to do it on his? No, thank you.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:12:21 +0000

I live vicariously in my own life, thank you!

By: John Hewitt

John Hewitt — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:48:27 +0000

I’d rather be awkward and inappropriate on my own site. It’s been working for me for years.

By: Kristen

Kristen — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:36:40 +0000

But hey…at least I get to live vicariously…

Ummm….well…

Yeah, no thank you.

By: mmeetoilenoir

mmeetoilenoir — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:28:40 +0000

EPIC FAIL. I

By: Amanda Nicole

Amanda Nicole — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:24:16 +0000

I also love that ichat is required. You know, so you can be on call at all hours – and not get paid.