felt very emotional while reading this as I too have unfortunately been acquiring odd jobs these days (nothing to the extremity of being a catfish porn star, though). the worst thing is I did receive my college degree, graduated magna cum laude, too (if that even matters). however, after hundreds of applications, i have been rejected by every single company. feels like there’s no end in sight, but your writing gives me hope <3
here with you in solidarity as well. graduated last june, now juggling 2.5 part time remote jobs and realizing i may have sold more hours than there are in the workweek. trying to enjoy shopping, the one little treat that capitalism gives us, without destroying myself. one day, a better world!
Good lord. We do not have anything remotely even left in our two-party system. You are braindead and need to actually read about the systems you have become an idol worshiper of. Capitalism is a death cult for us and for the environment. Having “profit” as the end goal, by law, for everything is the reason we are in the shithole In every sense of the word. And that’s not even getting into the human and environmental effects of the colonialism and imperialism that is needed to uphold this ever collapsing system. (See us currently being directly responsible for the daily slaughter of over 200 children and the starvation of over 2 million people trapped in a concentration camp in Palestine, as only one of many present day horrifying examples.)
Salute from one odd job college grad to another, we’re going to find our way! Selling our labor in a way that feels fulfilling is hard and frustrating to find but we’re stronger
“ There’s nothing I can say to this end that hasn’t been said better by someone else in a way that feels more concise and less trite, but I still put my hand out into the ether for you to hold.”
has been added to the quotes section of my notes app. thank u for sharing ur words and feelings Eliza :) the compassion in this piece feels like warm tea. lots of love
Never feel bad for those men. They are still pathetic as hell and easily could’ve paid for therapy services. They just wanted to talk to a girl without putting in any effort
You thought you ate. Pls girl pack it up. These men are not worth feeling bad for when it’s their own distasteful view of women leading them to do those things
"These men" are a product of our broken societies. Yes, they could do better. Probably. But they are not the cause, they are a result. Same as absolute most of us.
this was beautiful holy shit. i work for a street wear sneaker brand in aus and often times it feels like i am selling my soul in order to reach arbitrary sales goals. we are forever competing against each other at a store, regional and national level. thank you for perfectly encapsulating the nature of the salesperson.
I see this as another reason for people to stay away from California, New York City and other expensive places. Life is too hard there. One can make a good living in most of the US doing regular jobs. It is simply not worth it to engage in such places. I lived in Manhattan for years doing work I would have rather not done, and I am so happy that I rage quit and moved back to the Midwest where I belong.
This was thoughtful, moving, and humanistic — not what I expected as I started reading (some version of “men are the worst, I’ll show you why”). Thanks for steering clear of the hot take with the easy conclusions and instead giving us things to think about.
eliza if i eventually can write half as elegantly as u do, i will have achieved every goal in my life. i would never have expected to read an essay about minimum wage jobs in la with such excitement
felt very emotional while reading this as I too have unfortunately been acquiring odd jobs these days (nothing to the extremity of being a catfish porn star, though). the worst thing is I did receive my college degree, graduated magna cum laude, too (if that even matters). however, after hundreds of applications, i have been rejected by every single company. feels like there’s no end in sight, but your writing gives me hope <3
here with you in solidarity as well. graduated last june, now juggling 2.5 part time remote jobs and realizing i may have sold more hours than there are in the workweek. trying to enjoy shopping, the one little treat that capitalism gives us, without destroying myself. one day, a better world!
what i dislike about capitalism is that it's a mass extinction event gray. also that it generates people like you.
I’m pretty sure I went to high school with you. Is your last name Grandy? I’m so tired.
Good lord. We do not have anything remotely even left in our two-party system. You are braindead and need to actually read about the systems you have become an idol worshiper of. Capitalism is a death cult for us and for the environment. Having “profit” as the end goal, by law, for everything is the reason we are in the shithole In every sense of the word. And that’s not even getting into the human and environmental effects of the colonialism and imperialism that is needed to uphold this ever collapsing system. (See us currently being directly responsible for the daily slaughter of over 200 children and the starvation of over 2 million people trapped in a concentration camp in Palestine, as only one of many present day horrifying examples.)
Salute from one odd job college grad to another, we’re going to find our way! Selling our labor in a way that feels fulfilling is hard and frustrating to find but we’re stronger
feel you too hard. i have my masters and still no luck finding work in my background.
this is oddly beautiful for something about work and minimum wage jobs
“ There’s nothing I can say to this end that hasn’t been said better by someone else in a way that feels more concise and less trite, but I still put my hand out into the ether for you to hold.”
has been added to the quotes section of my notes app. thank u for sharing ur words and feelings Eliza :) the compassion in this piece feels like warm tea. lots of love
Never feel bad for those men. They are still pathetic as hell and easily could’ve paid for therapy services. They just wanted to talk to a girl without putting in any effort
Never feel bad for another human, least you risk becoming fully human yourself.
You thought you ate. Pls girl pack it up. These men are not worth feeling bad for when it’s their own distasteful view of women leading them to do those things
"These men" are a product of our broken societies. Yes, they could do better. Probably. But they are not the cause, they are a result. Same as absolute most of us.
You caring about men that would never dare to care about you back. Pathetic
I am afraid that only kindness and compassion can lead to change, for all of us. It's our ticket out.
this was beautiful holy shit. i work for a street wear sneaker brand in aus and often times it feels like i am selling my soul in order to reach arbitrary sales goals. we are forever competing against each other at a store, regional and national level. thank you for perfectly encapsulating the nature of the salesperson.
such a beautiful reflection on the ways isolation changed and hurt us. i admire your writing greatly!!
god you are brilliant!!!!
I see this as another reason for people to stay away from California, New York City and other expensive places. Life is too hard there. One can make a good living in most of the US doing regular jobs. It is simply not worth it to engage in such places. I lived in Manhattan for years doing work I would have rather not done, and I am so happy that I rage quit and moved back to the Midwest where I belong.
I can almost guarantee these people exist across the board, not just high-cost of living areas.
very based essay Miss eliza...been waiting 4 this one 🙌🏻❤️
Eliza that last paragraph. So beautiful.
This was thoughtful, moving, and humanistic — not what I expected as I started reading (some version of “men are the worst, I’ll show you why”). Thanks for steering clear of the hot take with the easy conclusions and instead giving us things to think about.
Agree!
I was tearing up.
We have not forgotten one another.
We have not forgotten we are humans, we are real, we are more than the lies
this was incredibly beautiful and insightful
eliza if i eventually can write half as elegantly as u do, i will have achieved every goal in my life. i would never have expected to read an essay about minimum wage jobs in la with such excitement
You took a gruesome experience and spun it into gold. That is creative alchemy at its finest! Brava!
Eliza, wow. Equally cutting and beautiful. Thank you for sharing your mind with us.