Current Events > Imo unpaid internships are fine

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Otoh, if all you mean is that capitalism is exploitative then that doesn't say much of anything about unpaid internships per se at all and I don't understand your opinion at all. I think there would be more "unpaid internships" if we didn't need to make money

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Godnorgosh posted...

I think he might reply that, certainly, poor people allowing themselves to be exploited in an attempt to get ahead is the rule rather than the exception. Actually getting ahead is closer to an exception, which is evident in the fact that poverty is a systemic problem.

The fact that people have to rely on exploiting themselves in various ways to "get ahead" even though it won't pan out much of the time is part of a broader issue, and why I think characterizing unpaid internships as "fine" is wrongheaded, even if, under our current unfortunate circumstances, we're better off with them than without.

But this argument would also apply equally to paid interns and workers in general. But you guys would, I assume, not have such an objection to me calling those fine (maybe I'm wrong)

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COVxy posted...

Do you think it's an exception that poor people let themselves get exploited to get ahead?

I don't. Certainly not from my own experiences, nor from others I know in similar situations.

But one of the issues is taking a 3rd person above the earth shot and asking "is this right and good?" vs. taking the subjective 1st person through the eyes shot and asking "is it better for this person that this exists?"

I think we all agree that it would be better if we waved a magic wand and made all unpaid internships paid opportunities. But that's not reality. And if I were betting on my chances on competing for paid internships back in the day, my guess is I wouldn't have gotten it, and I wouldn't have gotten the many great things that followed.

getting ahead is the exception. it has to be in order to "get ahead", there has to be someone else to "get ahead" of.

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There's just too much abuse of 'unpaid internships', or even worse, internships where you have to pay to get them. Honestly, legitimate employers don't need to do these to remain sustainable, and if anything, they should see this as a genuine investment in the people.

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Godnorgosh posted...

I think he might reply that, certainly, poor people allowing themselves to be exploited in an attempt to get ahead is the rule rather than the exception. Actually getting ahead is closer to an exception, which is evident in the fact that poverty is a systemic problem.

Right, but as Balrog said, getting ahead is an exception generally. I think that's kind of the wrong comparison.

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Balrog0 posted...

But this argument would also apply equally to paid interns and workers in general. But you guys would, I assume, not have such an objection to me calling those fine (maybe I'm wrong)

remember who you're talking to here

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averagejoel posted...

remember who you're talking to here

Oh I'm aware. I still don't think you would respond to a topic that said "working is fine imo" this way

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What industry/fields are you guys thinking anyway? I've seen exploitation in all fields, but it seems more prevalent in the unskilled/retail type roles rather than professional (although even that has had various scandals).

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