Decades, maybe a century, ago someone in my church said there are three noble careers in the world: farmer, doctor, and teacher. I guess the emphasis was on doing work that directly helps people rather than primarily making money while incidentally helping people. Anyone with a little bit of experience knows that money is a corrupter. Both the desire for and the possession of money taints your viewpoint. Hobby becomes side-hustle. Follower becomes customer. Friend becomes competitor. Leisure activity becomes obligation.
That's why I personally avoided becoming an affiliate, an influencer, or ad-supported. Whether it's a hobby or addiction, it would be made worse as money enters the frame. When it's time to relax and not worry about making money, I don't want to buy things, photograph things, or write things while worrying about what a paying audience or advertiser will think about me.
As for demanding more from bloggers and publications: The highest bidder wins.
Decades, maybe a century, ago someone in my church said there are three noble careers in the world: farmer, doctor, and teacher. I guess the emphasis was on doing work that directly helps people rather than primarily making money while incidentally helping people. Anyone with a little bit of experience knows that money is a corrupter. Both the desire for and the possession of money taints your viewpoint. Hobby becomes side-hustle. Follower becomes customer. Friend becomes competitor. Leisure activity becomes obligation.
That's why I personally avoided becoming an affiliate, an influencer, or ad-supported. Whether it's a hobby or addiction, it would be made worse as money enters the frame. When it's time to relax and not worry about making money, I don't want to buy things, photograph things, or write things while worrying about what a paying audience or advertiser will think about me.
As for demanding more from bloggers and publications: The highest bidder wins.
Man...sometimes I really miss being a teacher.
Kind of sucks this is where we're at, but this is where we're at. I appreciate the insight.