Andrew, this is the last time I respond because this conversation is going nowhere. You can hide your profile, but I already saw it, and you are not prepared in any way for freelancing. You stand out as a victim. Three days on the platform, and you are already an expert. Amazing. You refuse to look at the rules and listen to freelancers trying to keep you from losing everything; instead of declaring yourself as an expert who can inform us of problems, focus on yourself. If you had read anything, you would know Upwork is flooded with fake freelancers and scams.
"If 20% or so of jobs posted are bogus and actually looking to rob the very users of Upwork, at the very least you have a spam problem."
How can you read the forum and not see that we have been discussing the scams since last August, especially since January?
"You're implying it's OK to spam the jobs boards nd we should do nothing to stop such spamming (when there's obvious solutions)"
Do not put thoughts in my messages. In case you have not noticed, I have no problem being direct. If you bothered to read anything - this is not news. We know. Upwork knows. Exactly what do you think you are bringing us?
"I assumed jobs posted had gone through at least SOME vetting process."
You know what happens when you assume. Assumptions are no way to run a business. Upwork never vetted the clients.
"Surely that would be a basic expectation of a freelancer"
Only ones who think they don't need to understand how the platform works and the rules. Rules matter - expectations don't. This is a business.
Jeanne H wrote:
I have used this anaolgy before but it works. If you are going down the street and someeone comes out of a dark alley and says they want you to do a job because you are so special, and you just walked by all the giant signs saying "Don't go into the alley with strangers." Then the person offers you a whole lotta' cash for just helping them out. Well, if you want to go down that alley, be prepared for the consequences without complaint.
I'm not sure your analogy works the way you intend to. You're insinuating UpWork is "the wrong side of the tracks" Actually, I agree with you It's a far less safe place than I anticipated. "
Upwork is the sidewalk; the dark alley is where you go off the platform.
"People who've used UpWork for some time now have become enured by them and criticise a new person for daring to point it out."
None of the freelancers would bother to post if they didn't care. If you would look through the posts, no one likes scams. We hate them and want them to go away. The best way to get rid of them is to starve them out. I guarantee that they will fade away if the feasting isn't good here. As long as freelancers don't think they have to read the rules, much less follow them, the scammers will find many easy targets and will stay here as long as the victims line up.
"My point isn't that new people are idiots or victims, it's removing the incentive, for scammers in the first place."
I never called anyone an idiot. If freelancers refuse to read and follow the rules, they are ignorant of the facts. That's not an insult; it is the truth. All freelancers have the same opportunity to fail or succeed,
"You seem insistent on shaming new people here."
When you have been here two days, have no profile, no history, and nothing to show you are ready to be a freelancer, what do you expect? Two days and you are complaining about subjects you don't understand. You don't have to be ignorant, you should educate yourself, but you refuse to and want Upwork to take care of you.
I am not shaming anyone. My comments are all true. By refusing to follow the rules and refusing to create a decent profile, you make yourself a victim in waiting. Unless you change, you will never get a real job. And if you do, it will be a scam because you don't know the rules and aren't interested in following them. If you cannot accept the rules and take personal responsibility, freelancing will never work for you.
Even if you were on the platform in 2010 - that's 12+ years. Times and technology change, and if you are going to be online, you have to change with it, or you will fail and lose your money.
"I think UpWork do bear at least SOME responsibility on what is posted on their platform."
Since this was right after you said I am shaming people, I don't know if you mean Upwork should censor what happens in the forum or the platform. If it is the former, Upwork moderators read the posts and take them down or edit them if they feel it is appropriate. If you mean the latter, Upwork doesn't state anywhere they will save you from scams. Especially considering that 99.9% of scams are easily avoided by not going off platform, there is little excuse.
You do not want to accept personal responsibility. You think you are an expert because you have been here now for a total of three days. You refuse to accept the rules or even set yourself up as a professional. No one except a scammer is going to hire you with that profile. I am ending this now because you have no interest in being an adult and taking responsibility for yourself. If you want to follow the rules, I might read your posts after you have actually worked on the platform for a while. You will not take that action; therefore, there is nothing to discuss.
