Comment Working Illegally In New York (Score 1) 1716
...for $3.50/hour, 6 days/week, 2 6-hour shifts with 2 to 4 hours in between, standing outside selling merchandise in the cold bitter enough to make my hands and feet go numb within the first hour of each shift. All of this while being homeless and not being able to afford better clothing.
Then: dealing with a knife being pulled on me, shots fired where I work, and the ever-oppressive NYPD. No time off, medication, or healthcare during colds and flus. A guy collapsed once close to where I was working and my boss wouldn't even allow me to cover him with a blanket (because it was for sale) while we waited for the ambulance. The most depressing part of it was seeing hopeless cynicism about humanity take root so deeply inside the people I worked with.
The second worst conditions were as a street sexworker, which despite all of the involved risks was actually much better. It paid better ($20 to $100/trick) and it didn't suck up all of my time (several hours/week). I did however, have to put up with some pretty disgusting and hygienically challenged men with somewhat bizarre tastes accompanied with negative attitudes.
I have a hard time imagining what is going on in less privileged societies and/or 3rd world countries, but I hope to see a day when abusive occupational conditions and exploitable situations in our world are abolished.
Then: dealing with a knife being pulled on me, shots fired where I work, and the ever-oppressive NYPD. No time off, medication, or healthcare during colds and flus. A guy collapsed once close to where I was working and my boss wouldn't even allow me to cover him with a blanket (because it was for sale) while we waited for the ambulance. The most depressing part of it was seeing hopeless cynicism about humanity take root so deeply inside the people I worked with.
The second worst conditions were as a street sexworker, which despite all of the involved risks was actually much better. It paid better ($20 to $100/trick) and it didn't suck up all of my time (several hours/week). I did however, have to put up with some pretty disgusting and hygienically challenged men with somewhat bizarre tastes accompanied with negative attitudes.
I have a hard time imagining what is going on in less privileged societies and/or 3rd world countries, but I hope to see a day when abusive occupational conditions and exploitable situations in our world are abolished.
