[AnkhMorporkian]

Because it's a way to make money while you're between jobs while still using the skills you're good at. Not everyone is great at networking, nor are they necessarily in a place where they could pull good clients even if they were.

It's a shit sandwich, but in tough times, that's all you can find to eat.

[tcd]

> Because it's a way to make money

You're not making money if they're refunding the client. This article and people in this thread suggest it's a terrible way to make money and to AVOID at all costs.

Or, you can use this company and I look forward to reading more of these articles.

[AnkhMorporkian]

Yes, it's worked out terribly for some people, but everyone I know who have done upwork jobs on the side have had next to zero problems.

I don't use them anymore, as I've gotten out of the tech industry and became a professional baker instead, but I get the feeling that we on HN tend to hear a few horror stories, and ignore the thousands of success stories.

I'm not saying that there shouldn't be changes made, but anecdotal evidence does not instantly justify a witchhunt and boycott.

[itwy]

As a professional baker, what do you do differently from traditional bakers?

[AnkhMorporkian]

I get paid for it.

Edit: For a slightly less sardonic answer, I prep an innumerable number of different items every day, and they all have to look near perfect. I decided that while programming was a passion of mine, I wanted to do it on my own terms. I wanted to create projects that I found interesting.

Baking though? If I want to make something at work that I find interesting, I can experiment and do that, and my boss encourages me.

So I still code, but I stopped doing it for money and started doing it to contribute to society. Baking I do for fun and money. It was a later in life career change, but I'm much happier for it.

[Cyberdog]

So is there, like, a Baker News out there somewhere?

[AnkhMorporkian]

There isn't enough dough for that.

[justherefortart]

Fair enough, this is probably why I always have side gigs.