Comments on: Craigslist brings sweatshops online

By: 20thCenturySkunkApe

20thCenturySkunkApe — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 03:12:53 +0000

I was a construction worker once. A genetic illness surfaced and just like that, I was unable to do the only thing I knew. I would have been glad for an indoor job like that-I could have lived simply on it (I always lived simply anyway). And I could have gone back to school while doing it. Too bad I knew more about foundations and walls than I did about the Internet and photoshop. And as far as CL’s format? Hey, it’s functional. No one cares about it. It’s just a big E-classified section, with larger print, thank goodness.

By: Lou,Broker

Lou,Broker — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:47:25 +0000

It is clear that we have a lot to know at this moment and in my opinion, your points in Features are nice.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 06:34:39 +0000

@Whatever: Remove your comment? And miss the chance to call you an anonymous asshat? Naw. Anonymous asshat.

Good or bad, this site “has” a design – Craigslist doesn’t. They’re obviously not too concerned about it, and all the power too them – but you can’t for a minute call that a “design”.

Honestly, are you so dense as not to see the connection to having Photoshop’s logo in the header of a design category, and equally so the Google SEO bit for a category about making money online? Pretty weak critique bro.

I don’t follow your point about the waiters. It’s an unspecialized skill set that anyone can do (and anyone does). You wouldn’t compare what a KFC counterboy makes to a graphic designer in the US, why are you trying to do it with China?

Your point about it being a market economy is valid, and I don’t feel quite as harshly about the ad as I did when I wrote the post. But one question, what do you think people in sweatshops sit at? Sans-PhotoShop, but well…

By: Whatever

Whatever — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 05:32:56 +0000

Easy to bash Craigslist on their design — but your design for this site is horrendous. It looks like you just learned how to use Layer Styles in Photoshop — hey, make sure everything has a drop shadow or inner glow. And what’s up with stealing the old Photoshop logo for your icon buttons? Google’s logo?

It’s a market economy. Waiters in China make 400-800 RMB a month. So, if someone can make 30-60 RMB per hour, obviously there will people who will happily do this job. Sweatshop labor? Are YOU f**king kidding me? Sitting at a desk, using Photoshop is sweatshop labor? Go ahead, remove my comment to keep your shitty blog nice and clean.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:12:46 +0000

Hey Shaun, there’ll definitely be takers – which is why I use the “sweatshop” analogy. That’s the problem with sweatshops right, they prey on someone’s disadvantagedness.

To do what he’s asking you’d need at least a mildly in depth knowledge of photo manipulation, as well as how to use a sophisticated piece of software like Photoshop – I’m sure there’s no shortage of people that will do it for the price he’s asking – but in my opinion it just doesn’t make it right.

From what I’ve read about Craigslist, I get that sense of “we’re cool because we’re not flashy”. But fugly is fugly and a great personality can only take you so far.

By: Shaun

Shaun — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:55:03 +0000

Despite the bad taste that the ad leaves you have to admit there are probably many people that would take that on. $4.50/hr isn’t bad money for somebody that is bed ridden or agoraphobic living in China.

Now, regarding the ugliness of the site, I cannot agree with you more. I remember an interview with somebody that works for the site and they are happy sticking with the technology that they use to run it. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I shiver at the thought. I bet there is a grease monkey script or the like to reformat the craigslist pages just floating around.