Live data from Hacker News

Startups bet that lonely freelancers crave company

bloomberg.com

1–10 of 77 posts

Re: Startups bet that lonely freelancers crave company

#4

Yes and no. Coworking spaces exist but there's nothing like not being interrupted to supposedly "watch someone's laptop"* when you're trying to get things done. * You should take a picture of it and list it for sale on Craiglist as part of a joke.

As soon as they are out of sight you run over and start installing preyproject onto it and add a cable lock while that's going on. run back. email them an invoice.

I mean if people assume you are going to watch over their stuff like it's your own, it's the right thing to do right?

Re: Startups bet that lonely freelancers crave company

#6

Yes and no. Coworking spaces exist but there's nothing like not being interrupted to supposedly "watch someone's laptop"* when you're trying to get things done. * You should take a picture of it and list it for sale on Craiglist as part of a joke.

> "watch someone's laptop"

I'm that guy. Whenever I need to work in a coffee shop, I ask this of a coworker. Do you really feel like it's too intrusive? I never thought it would be a problem.

Re: Startups bet that lonely freelancers crave company

#7

Yes and no. Coworking spaces exist but there's nothing like not being interrupted to supposedly "watch someone's laptop"* when you're trying to get things done. * You should take a picture of it and list it for sale on Craiglist as part of a joke.

As soon as they are out of sight you run over and start installing preyproject onto it and add a cable lock while that's going on. run back. email them an invoice. I mean if people assume you are going to watch over their stuff like it's your own, it's the right thing to do right?

Wow - that escalated quickly - should of added the sarcasm flag to it. Certainly it's not okay to tamper with someone else's system without their permission.

I would suggest they just take it with them, I would not leave mine laying out for other's to watch.

Maybe I should of suggested having a battery powered 360 camera on hand, perhaps shaped like the blue yeti microphones and painted like an eye?

Surely there is or one could be made / adapted to have an app where they can watch their laptop from the loo.. or rewind and see if anyone got near it. Maybe just a battery for a wise cam that can last 20 minutes. That way storage and app is and detection is already done.

Put into a minion or sauron tower / all seeing eye and it would be easy to keep an eye on it while keeping your eyes to your own projects.

Re: Startups bet that lonely freelancers crave company

#8
As a freelancer I dont want a startups "company". Yes, a fridge full of kombucha is not really interesting. Nor is a bunch of people bragging about spending VC money for no reason or working on useless garbage pseudo-product. And Im not lonely. So, why dont we kick it old school, and you just pay me money. As you have done for the last 20 years and will continue to do until Im bored of you.

Re: Startups bet that lonely freelancers crave company

#9

Yes and no. Coworking spaces exist but there's nothing like not being interrupted to supposedly "watch someone's laptop"* when you're trying to get things done. * You should take a picture of it and list it for sale on Craiglist as part of a joke.

> "watch someone's laptop" I'm that guy. Whenever I need to work in a coffee shop, I ask this of a coworker. Do you really feel like it's too intrusive? I never thought it would be a problem.

I think it's part of the social contract when working in a coffee shop. You're in public, drinking coffee, and people need to use the restroom... It's OK to ask people for help.

Getting upset at something is similar to people getting upset when they're bumped on public transport. You're in a cramped space, that's moving, and that people are entering and leaving, what else would you expect?

Re: Startups bet that lonely freelancers crave company

#10

As a freelancer I dont want a startups "company". Yes, a fridge full of kombucha is not really interesting. Nor is a bunch of people bragging about spending VC money for no reason or working on useless garbage pseudo-product. And Im not lonely. So, why dont we kick it old school, and you just pay me money. As you have done for the last 20 years and will continue to do until Im bored of you.

> So, why don't we kick it old school, and you just pay me money.

That's the whole point of all these extra "benefits": so that they can pay you less money.

Post reply on HN