Ohoho, this one’s a doozy. So a new web community for freelancers called Freesist announced themselves to the world yersterday…
#freelancers Join the revolution. Join @freesist . Sign up to our pilot at https://t.co/drLV6rt376
— Freesist (@freesist) 4 December 2016
Revolution! Yeah! That all sounds fine and dandy. Until you see their selling point is, which is pretty much the polar opposite of revolution. Here’s what’s written in their Twitter bio:
“Freesist lets you find freelancers willing to work for free.”
Wait, what?! So essentially, this is a site for people to use to hire freelancers and not fairly compensate them for their hard work.
Naturally, this struck a chord with a lot of people who have mortgages, bills, ethics, souls etc. and they weren’t happy. Here are just some of many valid concerns they had about this idea.
We like this guy. Pay your writers, people!
@freesist this abysmal idea will fail, and I won’t rest until it does. Writers are already paid shit-all. Disgusting attempt.
— Ian Morris (@IanMorris78) 5 December 2016
The cheekiest part is… SOMEBODY ALREADY TRIED THIS ONCE.
@NaomiGabPhoto @freelancerclub I remember this one, now defunct: https://t.co/VnxpizNWKS
— Ian Morris (@IanMorris78) 5 December 2016
She’s right you know.
@freesist Go f*ck yourself. There’s another word for what you’re doing. It’s called Slave Labour.
— Emma Kennedy (@EmmaKennedy) 5 December 2016
Which makes this whole ‘revolution’ thing an interesting choice of language
@freesist this sounds like quite a shit “revolution”
— helena horton 🐱 (@horton_official) 5 December 2016
Not to mention it devalues everyone’s skills
@freesist yeah, I’ll just take these skills I’ve built up over a decade, that pay my bills, and give away my time.
— Glitcher (@G1itcher) 5 December 2016
It’s a fair question
@freesist Have supermarkets signed up to your fab idea? Cos if I’m expected to #workforfree I’m gonna need free food. #Freesist
— 🌸Laura Marcus🌸 (@MissLauraMarcus) 5 December 2016
This is how Freesist tried to justify it
We all want things for free! NO? why not sharing? give a free gig and receive another from others! @freesist
— Freesist (@freesist) 4 December 2016
But that was soon shot down too
@freesist how are you going to enforce this ‘sharing’?
— Hannah Rutherford (@lomadia) 5 December 2016
This pretty much sums up the rest of the comments.
@freesist Delete your account
— Bjørn Thomassen (@bjornthomassen) 5 December 2016
Guys, guys, guys. We’ve been over this. Never sell yourself short. Perks, incentives and skill swapping is one thing, but when it comes to keeping the lights on – even just treating yourself for your hard work – money, it seems, is everything. The way you’re rewarding for all the learning and hard work you’ve done should be up to you.
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