I get frustrated with the idea that creative pursuits like writing and art are generally considered “passions” and not “jobs”, cuz that’s how the world sets them up to be underfunded & underappreciated, and still act like they’re doing creators a favor by paying for it. We are tradespeople. Period. - ThreadSky

johannamation.bsky.social • 369 days ago

I get frustrated with the idea that creative pursuits like writing and art are generally considered “passions” and not “jobs”, cuz that’s how the world sets them up to be underfunded & underappreciated, and still act like they’re doing creators a favor by paying for it.

We are tradespeople. Period.

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carlydraws.bsky.social•369 days ago

yes! beautifully said

astrocat.bsky.social•369 days ago

Really saddens me that as I get older it seems the path to financial security is to be cruel and willing to exploit other people for your own gain

kidgalactus.bsky.social•369 days ago

Yeah. It's skilled work. The idea that it's some kind of special treat, and that the work is also your compensation is absurd, and destructive.

creativewronging.bsky.social•369 days ago

There is a similar phenomenon in the so-called "care tax" seen in other fields like social work, teaching, and non-profits. The idea being that since your work is personally meaningful, or spiritually fulfilling, it gives your employer the right to pay you significantly less for your passion.

emilyriesbeck.bsky.social•111 days ago

the "care tax" TOTALLY exists in creative work when it's time to negotiate pay! the idea that we should be happy to get the opportunity to make books at all. it annoys the hell outta me.

johannamation.bsky.social•369 days ago

Absolutely! It’s as though they’ll only pay good money for a job if it’s either beneath them, or something they wouldn’t want to do themselves

creativewronging.bsky.social•369 days ago

Unfortunately, not even then in many cases. It's only like $15/hour to take care of the elderly, disabled, or children with disabilities.

Capitalism being an evil that treats people like shit, in order to elevate the status of ownership & products.

I think they only pay us right is when forced 🙃

insym.bsky.social•108 days ago

This is a great take. #TeamINSYM approved. Completed agreed!

jessjhernandez.bsky.social•111 days ago

It's particularly diminished with female creators. Men are artists and novelists. Women do crafts and "journal"

esaucy.bsky.social•368 days ago

What's even worse is that marketing is a thing, which is a "job" that leverages others' "non-jobs" in order to sell "product".
And ofc the marketer makes more money than the creatives they leveraged because why not?

bigkafka.bsky.social•369 days ago

"jobs" are neatly designed in utilitarian packages.
Art is not that.

goldeneyesblind.bsky.social•369 days ago

Nothing drives me up the wall more than people saying "you should create for yourself instead of others" I can still create for myself and want to get paid fairly and well

angeloslh.bsky.social•369 days ago

It's even worse that we do things which are kinda important, even ignoring the cultural/life enriching properties of art - everybody's clothing, housing and furniture wouldn't exist without people who studied to be artists, your dang phones would be impossible to use without UI/UX

bkbirge.bsky.social•369 days ago

Some are, some aren't, it's not a one size fits all. But yeah completely agree the devaluation that society does across the board to all artistic pursuits whether for others or for passion is annoying as heck. But I've got news for the non-creative pursuits, AI is coming for you too.

lettucewrangler.bsky.social•369 days ago

This is why i price my work by the hour, the same rate as i would get for using my tools on a jobsite.

boshyboo.bsky.social•369 days ago

🙏

illaurastrates.bsky.social•369 days ago

Amen 🔥🔥

lotarion.bsky.social•369 days ago

Once you start earning money off of an activity, it's now a job

Yes, that includes arts people
Yes, that also includes sex workers

rogerthedodger.bsky.social•369 days ago

Some are tradespeople, some aren't. I know loads of people that do art as a hobby, it helps them relax. If people in the UK sold their art based on the hours that they put in multiplied by the national minimum wage, their art would cost thousands.

louistonehill.bsky.social•369 days ago

And then there's the irony that every time anyone applies for a job outside these fields we still have to say x job is our passion, dream job, the thing we've been destined for since before birth

csandds.bsky.social•369 days ago

You all have more power and skill than you're remunerated for. If you were 'the same' as everyone else you'd never get paid at all.

mamday.bsky.social•369 days ago

Realistically anything that you can get people to do without paying them you don't pay them for because you will make more money. Software engineers are actually experiencing this for the first time now because companies have realized young people will do it basically for free

spidermoribundi.bsky.social•111 days ago

That’s the grift. It’s the most important thing in the world, so of course we gaslight creators until even we think we’re worthless. God forbid even poor people have an equal chance at elevating themselves in society by creating something worthwhile.

emilyriesbeck.bsky.social•111 days ago

i keep a sticker on my water bottle that i take to my day job every day that says "MY JOB IS BOOKS"

technicallyowen.bsky.social•368 days ago

This is one of the central ideas in Bullshit Jobs the idea that the more pointless and unnecessary a job is the better it pays because you can't have both a meaningful valuable job and get paid well that's not fair on all the folk doing Bullshit and having to slowly die inside.

brianwinkeler.bsky.social•369 days ago

I spoke to college graphic design students all day last Thursday, and told them with the democratization of design via phone apps, cheap logos on https://fiverr.com and AI, the challenge will be finding the people who truly value original work. And value means respect AND money.

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