[LINK] OzBargain discussion today

[Craig Sanders]

On Fri, Jan 05, 2024 at 12:00:21PM +1100, David wrote:
> > Hey fellow bargain hunters, I've got a bit of a creative itch and spare
> > time in coming months, and I know there's a bunch of talented developers
> > on this forum who might share the feeling. So, let's put our heads
> > together and vomit some amazing ideas for new apps, websites, tools, or
> > even plugins!
>
> Or maybe try subscribing to Choice Magazine...
>
> Why does this sound to me like someone trawling for business ideas?

Also sounds like the programming version of "give me your art/music for free.
You'll get paid in super-valuable exposure!!!", which has been around for a
long, long time.

I've seen people (mostly marketing and business types) pitching stuff like
this since the 90s when they first started realising that there's gold in them
there internet hills, they just need some geeks to dig it out for them.

 * give me your ideas
 * give me your tech skills
 * give me your time
 * give me your labour
 * give me all the credit
 * if it works and I get rich enough, you might get a reward

It's worse than "standard" employee exploitation, worse even than startup
style exploitation, because the workers aren't called employees and don't get
paid, they don't even get share shackles in lieu of pay (which are always
vastly diluted in value before the IPO or acquisition).  It's kind of like
venture capital without the actual capital.

The only time something like this may be worth it for those working on it is
when it's structured as a non-profit or maybe as a worker-owned co-operative.

craig