If I sent the following to you about your job, how would it make you feel? “If your posts were more focused I might pay but you should know that an upfront request for money makes it appear that you are entitled to money for what you write.”

Americans, we are here in part because too many of you think people shouldn’t make money for their work. While I understand that not everyone can afford to pay (and am even coming up with ways to mitigate that and still get paid for my work), treating people who do this work this way is one reason you have a crap information environment. Lots of people decide to quit instead of braving this kind of abuse day after day.