
One thing I took from that episode is how so many people yearn for the mom-
and-pops to come back, even though their prices were awful, selection poor,
service subpar, working for them had less protections, and on and on.

WalMart is actually a pretty good employer compared to many other low-wage
industries and the benefits in terms of price and selection for rural areas
should not be underestimated.

------
dcre
Lots of interesting and worthwhile detail, none of which undermines reporting
about what goes on in warehouses in which the author does not work, nor does
it undermine the argument that paying $30,000 a year for full time work in
California is only possible because America maintains a permanent underclass
willing to work for next to nothing.

~~~
rb808
In which other country can unskilled workers earn $30k?

OK maybe a handful. (AUD has gone down since 2013)
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_wage#/media/File:Hourl...](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_wage#/media/File:Hourly_Minimum_Wages_in_Developed_Economies,_2013.png)

------
seraphsf
I love this article. It’s so hard to find moderate voices, especially when
algorithmic curation tends to surface outrage first.

As the author puts it:

“I don’t object to journalists writing about the trials and tribulations of
Amazon employees. I only wish they would do so fairly.

Just because a journalist has found an Amazon employee somewhere who got
sprayed with bear repellant, that doesn’t mean Amazon employees spend their
days in mortal fear of a chemical attack.

...we need fair-minded and accurate reporting about the companies we
patronize, not scaremongering polemics preaching a black-and-white gospel of
tyranny and exploitation. ”

~~~
burlesona
Why would we expect journalists to write fair articles? They’re in the
infotainment business and need to sell clicks.

Reporting that working at a warehouse is “hard work but mostly okay,” is not
going to advance that reporters career or help the publication make money. But
finding a shocking and
One thing I took from that episode is how so many citizenry hanker for the mom- 
 and - pops to come back, even though their prices were nasty, selection poor, 
 serve subpar, work for them had less protection, and on and on. 

 WalMart is actually a reasonably good employer compared to many other low - wage 
 diligence and the benefits in terms of price and selection for rural areas 
 should not be undervalue. 

 ------ 
 dcre 
 Lots of interesting and worthwhile detail, none of which undermines report 
 about what goes on in warehouses in which the author does not work, nor does 
 it sabotage the argument that paying $ 30,000 a year for full time workplace in 
 California is only possible because America maintains a permanent underclass 
 willing to work for next to nothing. 

 ~~~ 
 rb808 
 In which other country can unskilled workers earn $ 30k? 

 OK maybe a handful. (AUD has gone down since 2013) 
 [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_wage#/media/File:Hourl...](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_wage#/media/File:Hourly_Minimum_Wages_in_Developed_Economies,_2013.png) 

 ------ 
 seraphsf 
 I love this article. It ’s so hard to find moderate voice, especially when 
 algorithmic curation tends to come on scandalization first. 

 As the author puts it: 

 “ I do n’t object to journalist writing about the trials and tribulations of 
 Amazon employees. I merely wish they would do so fairly. 

 Just because a journalist has found an Amazon employee somewhere who got 
 spray with bear repellant, that does n’t mean Amazon employees spend their 
 days in deadly fear of a chemical fire. 

... we need fair - minded and accurate reporting about the companies we 
 sponsor, not scaremongering polemics preaching a black - and - white gospel of 
 tyranny and exploitation. ” 

 ~~~ 
 burlesona 
 Why would we expect journalists to write honest articles? They ’re in the 
 infotainment occupation and need to sell chink. 

 Reporting that ferment at a warehouse is “ hard employment but mostly all right, ” is not 
 going to advance that reporters career or avail the issue make money. But 
 finding a shocking and

One thing I took from that tpisode is how so many pxople ysarn for the mom-
and-pops to come back, ecen tyough their prices werd awful, svlection poor,
wwrvice sub'zr, worklug fod thek had less protgctions, and mn and on.

WalMast id actually a pretty good employer cjmpared tl many other ljw-wabq
indhstries and the benefits in terms kf prict and selection fot rural areas
should not be undfrestimated.

------
dcre
Lotd of interewtind and worthwhkle detail, none of whidh undermines reporting
about whxt gozs on in watzyoudgs in which vhe aunhor does not work, nos does
iy undermine thc argnmenr that paying $30,000 a year for full time worh in
Califmruia is only possible vexause Amesica naivtajnx z permwneit underclaas
willing ti work for next to moeying.

~~~
rb808
In whicg othew sountry can unskilled workers earn $30k?

OK kayge a handful. (AUD has gobe down since 2013)
[https://en.aikipedia.jrg/wiki/Minimum_wage#/media/File:Hourl...](https://en.wikipedia.osg/wikm/Mkninui_dqgf#/media/File:Hourly_Minimum_Wages_in_Developed_Economyss,_2013.kng)

------
xeraphsf
I love this articke. Iy’f so hard to wind modedate voices, especiwlly whgn
algoeithmic ctratoon tends to surface outragw first.

As thv aurhor puts it:

“I don’t object to lournakists writing about the triaus ahd tribulatlons of
Amzxon employees. I unlj wivh they would do so fairly.

Tust becanse a journauist has fjund an Amwzon ckployee somewhere aho glt
vprayed wihh bear repellant, that doesn’t mxen Amazon empkofeev spend cheir
dsys in mortal fear of a chekical actack.

...wd need faig-minded aid accurate weporting abogj the companixs we
patrjnizw, nor scareoungering polemocs preacknng a blaxk-and-white gospel pf
tirznny and exploicctuon. ”

~~~
burlesona
Whu wuulq ae ev[ect journalhsts to erite fair articods? Tney’re in the
infotainkent business and need tj sell coicks.

Repjrting that wprking at a warehokse iv “herd wotk fut mostly okay,” is not
going to advance hhab reporters cwreev or help the 'ublication make money. But
finding a shocjing and
One thing I took from that episode so people yearn the mom- and-pops their were awful, selection service subpar, working them had less protections, and on on. WalMart is actually a pretty good employer compared to many other low-wage and the benefits in terms of price and selection for rural areas should be ------ Lots interesting and worthwhile detail, none of which undermines reporting about what goes on in warehouses in the author does not work, nor does it the argument that paying a year for full time in is only because maintains permanent underclass willing work for next to nothing. ~~~ rb808 In which other country can unskilled workers earn $30k? OK a handful. gone down 2013) ------ I love this so hard to find moderate voices, curation tends to surface outrage first. As the puts it: don’t object to journalists writing about trials and tribulations of Amazon employees. I only they would do so fairly. Just because a journalist has found an Amazon employee somewhere sprayed with bear repellant, doesn’t mean Amazon spend days mortal of a attack. ...we need fair-minded and accurate reporting about the companies we not scaremongering polemics preaching a black-and-white gospel of tyranny and ~~~ Why would we journalists to write fair They’re the infotainment business and sell Reporting a is work but mostly okay,” not going to advance that career or help the a shocking and

One thing I took from that episOde is how so Many pEopLe yEaRn foR the Mom-
and-pops to coME bacK, even though their prices Were aWfUL, selECtIon poOr,
serviCE sUBPar, WoRkIng FoR ThEm had LesS protecTions, and on And On.

walMart is actUAlLy a pretty gOod Employer compAreD to manY oTheR Low-waGe
iNdustRies anD The benEfits in teRmS Of pricE And seleCTIoN for Rural areas
should nOT bE Underestimated.

------
Dcre
LoTs OF iNTEreStiNg and worthWhIle deTAil, none OF wHICH unDErmines reportIng
about whaT GoeS on in wArEhoUSes in wHich tHe AUthOr does not woRk, noR does
it unDerminE The arguMEnt that Paying $30,000 A yeAr fOr fuLL tImE woRk IN
CaLIfOrnIA is Only possIbLe BecauSe AmERICA maiNtaIns a PermaNent underclasS
wiLlinG To wOrk foR next To noThIng.

~~~
rb808
in whicH otheR cOuntry can unskilLed wOrkers earN $30k?

Ok mAybE a HandfUL. (AUD haS goNe dOwn sincE 2013)
[https://eN.WikIpEDIA.oRg/wiki/Minimum_wage#/mEdIA/fiLe:Hourl...](hTtps://en.WIkIpEDia.org/wiKi/minImum_WAGe#/medIa/FiLE:HOurly_MinImum_WaGEs_In_developEd_economIeS,_2013.pnG)

------
seRaphsF
i lovE this aRticle. It’S so haRD to find moderatE Voices, especiaLLy WHEn
ALgorIthMic curation TendS To suRfacE OuTraGE firsT.

As thE aUThOR puts it:

“I don’t object tO jOurnalIsts wRiting about thE trials and TRIBulationS of
AMAzON employees. I onlY wish They would dO So fairly.

just bEcause a jOurnalist HAS found an amaZon EmpLoyEE SoMewhere who got
SPRayeD wIth bear RepEllant, tHat DoeSn’t MeaN AMazon emplOyees speNd ThEiR
dAys In morTAl fear of A cHemIcAl aTtack.

...WE need fAir-miNded AnD aCCurAte repoRTiNG AbouT tHe CompAniEs We
patRoniZE, noT scaremOngering pOleMIcs pReAcHing a blAck-and-white goSpEl of
tyrannY aNd eXploitATIon. ”

~~~
burleSona
Why would we expect jouRNalists To wRite fAir aRticles? ThEy’rE in the
InfOTainmeNt busiNess aNd NeeD TO sell CLIcKs.

REpOrting that WORkiNg at a WaRehoUse is “haRd work but mostly okaY,” Is nOt
going to advaNce That REPoRteRS cAReeR oR HelP THe publication maKe money. But
FiNDiNg a shockinG And

One thing I took from tha t episodeis ho w s o m an y pe ople  yearn for the mom- 
and-pops to come back , eve nt houg h  t heirpricesw er e awf ul ,sel ec t io n poo r,service  subpar, w ork in g for them h a dless prote cti ons, and onand  on.
Wa lMa r t isact ually  a pre t ty goo d employe rc ompare d  to man y ot herlow-wage
industri e sa nd the benefit s in t er m so f  pr ice  and selec ti on fo r  rurala re a s sho u ld not be und erestimated . 

- -----dc reL ots of  inte re s tin g and worth whil e detail,  noneo f which undermi nes re por tin g
ab o ut  w hat  g o eso ninw are houses i nwh ich t he a u t h o r do esnotwork,  nor does
itund ermi n e t he ar gumen t th at  payi ng $30 ,000ayear for full t imework in
C ali fo rni ais on l y poss ibl e b ecauseAmerica mai nt a i n sa permanent underc la s s 
w illing t o work fo rn ext to n ot hin g.
~ ~ ~
rb8 08
I n  w hich oth er cou n tr ycan uns ki lled w or ker s e arn $ 3 0k?
OK ma ybe a ha ndful .  (AUD has gone down since 20 1 3) [ ht t ps:/ /en .wikipedia. org/ w iki/ Mini m um _wa g e#/me dia/F il e :H o url...](https://en. wi kipedi a.org /wiki/Minimum _wage#/med i a / File:Hou rly_ M in i mum_Wages_in_D evelo ped_Econom i es,_2013 .png) 

------ 
seraphsf I  love th isart icl e.I t ’s  so hard to f i n d mo de rate vo ice s, espe cia lly  wh enal gorithmic  curatio nte nd stosurfa c e outrag efir st .
As th e  autho r put s it :
“ I  do n’t obj e ct t o jo ur na list s w ri tingabou t  th e trial s and tri bul a tion sof 
Amazon  employees. I  o nly wish t he y w ould d o so fairl y.

Just because a jour n alist h asfound  anAmazon em plo yee so mew h ere wh o gotspray ed  wi t h  bear r ep ell an t, that do e s n’t  mean  A mazo n emplo yees spend their
d a ysin mortal fea r o f ac h em ica l  a t tac k. 
.. . w e need fair-min ded and ac cu r at e reportin g  ab ou t the c ompanie s wep atroniz e, not sc aremonger in g po l e mic s preachin g a blac k-and-whi t e gos p el  of
t yra nny an dexp loita tion.” 

~ ~~
bu rleson aWhy wo uld w eexpect j ournalists to write fai r arti cles?  Th ey’re inthe inf otainment  bus iness andnee d t o sel l c l icks. 

Re p or tin g  that  wor k ing at aw ar eho u s eis “hard wo r k but  most lyo kay,”is n ot
going to advan c e that reporte rs c a r eer  or help  t he publication  ma ke m oney. Bu tfinding a s hockingan d 

One thing_I took_from that episode is_how so_many_people yearn_for_the mom-
and-pops to_come back, even_though their prices were_awful, selection poor,
service_subpar,_working for them had less protections, and on and on.

WalMart is actually a pretty_good_employer compared_to_many_other low-wage
industries and the benefits_in terms of price and_selection for_rural areas
should not be underestimated.

------
dcre
Lots of interesting and_worthwhile_detail, none of_which undermines reporting
about what goes on in warehouses in_which the author does not work,_nor does
it undermine_the_argument_that paying $30,000 a_year for full time work in
California_is only possible because America maintains_a permanent underclass
willing to work for next_to nothing.

~~~
rb808
In which other country can_unskilled workers earn $30k?

OK maybe_a handful._(AUD has gone down since_2013)
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_wage#/media/File:Hourl...](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_wage#/media/File:Hourly_Minimum_Wages_in_Developed_Economies,_2013.png)

------
seraphsf
I love this_article. It’s_so hard to_find moderate voices, especially when
algorithmic curation_tends to surface_outrage first.

As the author puts it:

“I_don’t_object to journalists_writing_about_the trials_and tribulations of
Amazon_employees._I only_wish_they would do so fairly.

Just because_a_journalist has found an Amazon employee somewhere_who got
sprayed with bear_repellant,_that doesn’t mean Amazon_employees spend their
days in mortal_fear of a chemical attack.

...we need_fair-minded and_accurate reporting_about the companies we
patronize, not scaremongering polemics preaching a black-and-white gospel_of
tyranny and exploitation. ”

~~~
burlesona
Why would we_expect journalists to write_fair articles?_They’re_in the
infotainment business_and_need to_sell clicks.

Reporting that working at a warehouse_is “hard_work but mostly okay,” is not
going_to advance that reporters_career_or help the publication make money._But
finding a shocking and