Return of Connects

[williambernal]

Now that Upwork has doubled and tripled the average amount of Connects spent to submit a single proposal, we strongly suggest that freelancers pay strict attention to-

1. Client/Post information

2. Upwork's Terms of Use re: 4.1 Prohibited Site Uses

As freelancers we cannot expect Upwork to responsibly provide a "safe and thriving online workspace" and, in our experience, the "Help" Center is a completely unmotivated "support" team at best, and not at all interested in providing any responsible support at worst.

Clients, unfortunately, often misrepresent and/or use misleading post information such as" "URGENT" "Need Today" "Hiring Today", etc., in order to troll for the maximum number of proposals.

This language is a DIRECT VIOLATION of Upwork's Terms of Use, 4.1 EXAMPLES OF PROHIBITED USES OF THE SITE which clearly states- "Fraudulent or misleading uses or content, including: Misrepresenting your experience, skills, or INFORMATION"

Freelancers should be aware of misleading, misrepresenting post information, and should contact Upwork whenever and wherever this occurs.

If you've lost valuable Connects as a result of this ToU Violation, you may request an immediate return siting the above rule.

Work smart, work safe!

[akbgill]

good info

[cmdcodemaster]

Very useful and informative info.

[kochubei_valeria]

Hi William,

Thanks for posting. I would, however, like to note that the best way to report a job you believe is in violation of Upwork ToS is to use the option to flag it as inappropriate. That way, the report is sent directly to the team that specialises on reviewing postings and profiles for violations. Each flagged job is reviewed by them. If it's confirmed that the job posting is in violation of Upwork ToS, that posting will be removed and connects returned to freelancers to sent their proposals in.

To flag a job as inappropriate

1. Click the Flag as inappropriate link located at the upper right of every job and public profile on Upwork.
2. Select a reason you think the posting is inappropriate.
3. Click Submit.

[williambernal]

Thanks for your reply.

We'll have to agree to disagree over the *"best way to report"* however.
In our years of experience, the "Flag as inappropriate" option rarely, *if
ever*, leads to responsible, professional, timely action no matter how
clear the violation is, or how clearly it is pointed out to this *"team
that specialises on reviewing postings and profiles for violations"*
We're quite certain most experienced Upwork freelancers understand this.

Once again, given that Upwork has now *doubled and tripled the amount of
Connects it takes for one single bid*, we trust that freelancers must now
take more direct and comprehensive action so that Upwork might possibly
take "maintaining a safe and thriving online workspace" a bit more
seriously.

And perhaps the valid concerns of hard working, contributing freelancers
will also begin to be considered more seriously as well.

[petra_r]

---

william b wrote:

...In our years of experience...
...we're quite certain...

What's all that "we" and "our" you speak of?

For what it's worth, the last two profiles I flagged were gone within 6 hours. (One had copied my overview word by word lol)

The last two jobs  even quicker (one in less than an hour.)

[williambernal]

Thanks for your reply and congratulations on your successful experience
with the "Flag" option.
Over many years this has not ever been our experience, however, with this
same option.

We're simply here to offer effective alternatives to the almost always
ineffective "Flag" option. We believe that taking direct action may lead to
more effective solutions and that contacting Upwork directly may help
everyone understand our concerns.

And by "we" we mean all Top Rated US freelancers and/or any freelancers who
are concerned with maintaining the integrity of a safe and thriving online
workspace.
I do hope you're one of us.

Thanks again.

[petra_r]

---

william b wrote:

And by "we" we mean all Top Rated US freelancers and/or any freelancers who
are concerned with maintaining the integrity of a safe and thriving online
workspace.

---

Oh.

So who died and declared you the spokesperson of all top rated freelancers? You discussed it with "all Top Rated US freelancers and/or any freelancers who
are concerned..."

I must have missed the vote.

My bad.

[williambernal]

There's really no need to be angry or confrontational in this forum Petra.
As we wrote previously-
We're here to offer alternative solutions that may benefit us all, and we
do hope you're one of us.

A safe and thriving online workspace is in all of our best interests.

Thanks again.

[petra_r]

---

william b wrote:
There's really no need to be angry or confrontational

---

I am neither

---

william b wrote:

We're here to

---

I think you need to quit the "we" 😉

---

william b wrote:

A safe and thriving online workspace is in all of our best interests.

---

Absolutely. But you are not "we."

'
You want to quit pretending that you are some kind of spokesperson. You are not.

[williambernal]

It's a movement Petra, and you're invited!
As a "Community Guru" we know you share our concerns, so go ahead and get
on board.

[martina_plaschka]

---

william b wrote:
There's really no need to be angry or confrontational in this forum Petra.
As we wrote previously-
We're here to offer alternative solutions that may benefit us all, and we
do hope you're one of us.

A safe and thriving online workspace is in all of our best interests.

Thanks again.

---

Who is we? You are starting to scare me with your rhetoric. Are you a large group? What is your end game? Are you planning any kind of uprising ... on, well, upwork?

[williambernal]

You don't need to be angry, confrontational, or afraid Petra.
It's not rhetoric, it's a party.
And you're invited!

Thanks for your time.

[williambernal]

As is every freelancer who is concerned about maintaining a safe and thriving online workspace Martina.

[florydev]

Count me out Locutus.

[williambernal]

Yes, Mark, it is difficult to care about maintaining a safe and thriving online workspace for all.

Thanks for your valuable time and input!

[florydev]

You can care about whatever you want...but you are still you...you are not me.  Stop talking in the we and maybe WE will take you seriously.

But thanks for valuing my time and input.

For no other reason than it is fg weird man.

[williambernal]

Really no need to be angry or confrontaional in this forum Mark.

And certainly no need at all to give anyone orders.

As a "Communtiy Guru" I'm sure you know that already so please mind your tone and remain professional in your correspondence.

You're invited, but of course we absolutely do NOT require your appearance, nor are you under any obligation to join.

Thanks again for your valuable time, and invaluable input.

[florydev]

You are very welcome.

[williambernal]

Much better.

As a Community Leader, we always look forward to your expert support and ongoing commitment to helping maintain a safe and thriving online workspace for all.

Thanks again.

[r_satta]

Man, you are starting to sound like the Upwork support. It's scary.

[williambernal]

Please don't be afraid of a commitment to helping maintain a safe and thriving online workspace Roberto.

It's in all of our best interests, including yours of course.

Thanks for your time and input.

[joansands]

What is it with the "royal we," William?

[williambernal]

As a "Community Guru", we would certainly hope that you understand what "we" means Joan??? 

We are committed to maintaining a safe and thriving online workspace.

Would you like to join?

Thanks for your time and input!

[feed_my_eyes]

---

william b wrote:

As a "Community Guru", we would certainly hope that you understand what "we" means Joan??? 

We are committed to maintaining a safe and thriving online workspace.

Would you like to join?

Thanks for your time and input!

---

Okay, I'll bite - how do I join "we", and what exactly is the plan?

[joansands]

No, William, I do not understand what you mean when you constantly write your messages in the royal we format. And, whatever it is you mean, you do not speak for me.

[cartrellgeneral]

Well the collective of me, myself, and I will just ignore this thread and pretend like WE never saw it.

[williambernal]

That's very fair Joan, and thanks for your reply.

We understand that certain Upwork members may have separate agendas which do not align with our own, or with the best interests of all freelancers.

Of course you are certainly entitled to your own agenda, and we are entitled to a commitment to maintain a safe an thriving online workspace for all.

Thanks for your time!

[tlsanders]

---

william b wrote:

That's very fair Joan, and thanks for your reply.

We understand that certain Upwork members may have separate agendas which do not align with our own, or with the best interests of all freelancers.

Of course you are certainly entitled to your own agenda, and we are entitled to a commitment to maintain a safe an thriving online workspace for all.

How very smug and self-righteous of you to declare that those of us who think you have bad ideas could only think that because our interests are not aligned with "the best interests of all freelancers."

Many of us who have been successful freelancers for decades are confident that it is in the best interests of all freelancers to put on their grown-up pants and run their own businesses rather than relying on a faceless corporation to create a safe little playpen and a set of rules that locks them into being more like employees at someone else's mercy than professionals.

[williambernal]

Please keep your language professional and mind your tone Tiffany.

There's no need for ad hominem attacks, and no cause at all to be angry or defensive. 

A safe and thriving online workspace for all is in the best interest of all of us, including you. You are invited to the party!

Of course you are under absolutely no obligation to join.

Thanks.

[williambernal]

Very clever Catherine!

At last a "Community Guru" with a sense of humor and some skill at articulating their pov with the written word.

Kudos to YOU!

[florydev]

Are you being funny "Active Member" William?  You might be right about the sense of humor if you are trying to be funny.

[williambernal]

Mark- Please reread previous reply. (Hint: No one was addressing you)

[florydev]

Does this mean we cannot join in with you?

We have already learned to address people by their community titles such as you "Active Member" William.  Have we upset we?

[williambernal]

Already invited you and everyone who is committed to maintaining a safe and thriving online workspace Mark!

If, however, someone has an agenda that is distinctly separate from that very clear and transparent goal, then they should begin by explaining their agenda as honestly as they possibly can before they chime in.

If, for example, we were discussing global warming, and You were being subsidized by Big Oil, then you might want to begin by explaining that. If you chose not to, this is what's known as a "conflict of interest", and ethically speaking, you should at that point step out of the room.

But, as a "Community Leader", we're sure you're aware of that.

Feel free to be as transparent as possible, whenever you're ready, and feel free to join us too!

Thanks again.

[florydev]

Now I get it.

YOU think that I am a paid schill for Big Upwork.  I will never be able to convince YOU that I am not, so I will not even try.

By the way if YOU post any more you will be made a "community leader" as well.  Seriously, all it takes, just blabbering on too much.  I do not currently have enough work to entertain me so I have blabbered a lot.

Good luck!

[jboazman]

Hi William. Thank you for coming on here to help and give out information. Ignore the ignorant trolls attacking you. 

[williambernal]

JB,

No problem. 

It is a bit of a shame that so many "Community Gurus" seem to be entirely unconcerned with maintaining a safe and thriving online workspace for all.

But we have to allow everyone to have their own private agendas, and we must remain focused on the greater goal for all!

Work smart, work safe!

[tlsanders]

William, I think that Petra's response was quite reasonable in response to a stranger suddenly declaring that he speaks for a massive group of freelancers when she and many of the rest of us in this thread belong to the group as described and strongly disagree with you.

[williambernal]

Tiffany, 

Your reply was sober, reasonable, professional, clear and respectful of all. Of course we completely disagree with your opinion but you are absolutely appreciated for sharing yours in a professional manner. You should really consider tutoring your fellow "Community Gurus" on how to behave in an open online forum. 

Far too many seem to engage on a personal level that middle school children would be embarassed to demonstrate. (and would definitely be admonished for if they did)

Thanks for your time.