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Poll: Do you work for "the Man"?

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Re: Poll: Do you work for "the Man"?

#21

Post by NathanKP »

I feel obligated to comment since I inspired this poll: I don't think the way this poll is worded is contributing to accurate results.

For example, I can truthfully say that I am currently employed at someone else's company (a startup that I am consulting for), I am a freelance contractor (for the startup I am consulting for), owner of my own company (an apparel and design studio that I am currently working on with some close friends), and I have numerous side projects including my own startup. If I feel like I should select multiple options, then I'm sure others are having the same problem. I don't think the options in the poll are leading to an accurate answer to the question.

I think the real question is what the percentage of cubicle dwelling office workers being watched over by a boss is compared with the percentage of self employed, freelance consultants.

My initial estimate was that there would be more self employed individuals with self control built by working for themselves, and fewer cubicle workers who are trying to sneakily browse HN behind the back of their bosses.

This poll hasn't answered my question one way or the other though.

Re: Poll: Do you work for "the Man"?

#22

Post by famousactress »

NathanKP wrote: post #21

I feel obligated to comment since I inspired this poll: I don't think the way this poll is worded is contributing to accurate results. For example, I can truthfully say that I am currently employed at someone else's company (a startup that I am consulting for), I am a freelance contractor (for the startup I am consulting for), owner of my own company (an apparel and design studio that I am currently working on with s…

Yeah.. it's a hard question to pose! I was the one that suggested a poll, but stopped short of putting one up cause I wasn't able to come up with the right list of choices, and title that honor the spirit of the original curiosity....

... that and, I got work to do!

Re: Poll: Do you work for "the Man"?

#23

Post by originalgeek »

The idea of not working for "the man" is merely an illusion. If you are freelance or a business owner, "the man" is your clients/customers and the government. Let's say your enterprise involves the illegal distribution of contraband, then "the man" is your supplier. Or let's say you're just a laborer working for a small building contractor, the boss is "the man".

Re: Poll: Do you work for "the Man"?

#25

Post by dawgr »

I'd like to ask to anyone who has worked as both, for himself and for the man, which one is more stressful? To the degree that this question can be answered, I realize it would depend a lot on the exact job and that it's not black and white.

Re: Poll: Do you work for "the Man"?

#26

Post by famousactress »

originalgeek wrote: post #23

The idea of not working for "the man" is merely an illusion. If you are freelance or a business owner, "the man" is your clients/customers and the government. Let's say your enterprise involves the illegal distribution of contraband, then "the man" is your supplier. Or let's say you're just a laborer working for a small building contractor, the boss is "the man".

I disagree.. I mean, yes.. working for yourself is a bit of illusion.. everyone has customers. But the spirit of the question in this case is a bit different. I think 'the man' we're all talking about is a short-sighted middle-manager type who's at the moment working with IT to install web-censoring software, and putting together a dashboard of LOC produced, per engineer, per day.

Re: Poll: Do you work for "the Man"?

#27

Post by microtonal »

Goosey wrote: post #14

I think HN gives off the impression that most people own company or freelance due to the content, but it is a bit of a filter effect. Similar to how everyone is living amazing awesome lives on facebook.

I work for someone else too (a Dutch university). Although I am interested in freelancing or starting my own company in the future, what brought me to Hacker News was the good signal/noise ratio. Both in terms of upvoted items and in insightful comments.

The focus on startups may filter for people who are generally interested in new technology and business methods. You have to be able to tolerate some entrepreneurial posts every day ;).

Re: Poll: Do you work for "the Man"?

#28

Post by originalgeek »

famousactress wrote: post #26
originalgeek wrote: post #23

The idea of not working for "the man" is merely an illusion. If you are freelance or a business owner, "the man" is your clients/customers and the government. Let's say your enterprise involves the illegal distribution of contraband, then "the man" is your supplier. Or let's say you're just a laborer working for a small building contractor, the boss is "the man".

I disagree.. I mean, yes.. working for yourself is a bit of illusion.. everyone has customers. But the spirit of the question in this case is a bit different. I think 'the man' we're all talking about is a short-sighted middle-manager type who's at the moment working with IT to install web-censoring software, and putting together a dashboard of LOC produced, per engineer, per day.

Ever dealt with the IRS? Or even a city business licensing authority?
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