@pina_marzo's post on Artfol
If I said "you don't hate Redbubble, you hate capitalism", would you agree or disagree, and why? (This s the short version)
Context (this is the long version): I am reading a lot of complaints and questions and advice by artists that have been selling stuff on Rebubble but now will make less money because the owners changed the rules and now they are keeping a bigger percentage of the sales (as far as I understood. Note: I am just summarising what I read artists say, I haven't checked all the derails and official communications yet). It seems to me that this is a typical capitalistic move: the owner of the business makes the workers work, but keeps most of the value produced for themselves and leaves very little to the the workers, and because of greed for even more gain changes the rules of the business so that the situation becomes more and more disadvantageous for workers but more profitable for the owner (unti it's not tolerable anymore and the workers strike asking for more work rights and equity, or, if you want to imagine a hopeful future, until the Revolution starts and capitalism is ended and a new society without production classes begins). While thinking about this, I remembered that with AI images the problems they can create to artists' jobs are also caused by capitalistic mechanisms, and in fact I heard several people saying "You don't hate AI art, you hate capitalism". So I thought, in the present case the situation could be similarly summarised in "You don't hate Redbubble, you hate capitalism". But I also remembered that I don't know the full story (as said, I just read some reactions of some artists who sell there), and also I have never used the website as a buyer nor as a seller, so basically I know nothing about those experiences and how they will change. So best thing is asking people about their (kind and polite pls) opinion!
Do you agree or not, why, what's your experience, what part am I missing? (eg. maybe I am unaware that the bigger value percentage taken from artist is going to raise the salary of factory workers? It would be nice). I am also going to look for more official info on my own, but I am curious about opinions of people too.
Potete rispondere anche in ITALIANO
Vous pouvez répondre en FRANÇAIS aussiApr 20, 2023
Context (this is the long version): I am reading a lot of complaints and questions and advice by artists that have been selling stuff on Rebubble but now will make less money because the owners changed the rules and now they are keeping a bigger percentage of the sales (as far as I understood. Note: I am just summarising what I read artists say, I haven't checked all the derails and official communications yet). It seems to me that this is a typical capitalistic move: the owner of the business makes the workers work, but keeps most of the value produced for themselves and leaves very little to the the workers, and because of greed for even more gain changes the rules of the business so that the situation becomes more and more disadvantageous for workers but more profitable for the owner (unti it's not tolerable anymore and the workers strike asking for more work rights and equity, or, if you want to imagine a hopeful future, until the Revolution starts and capitalism is ended and a new society without production classes begins). While thinking about this, I remembered that with AI images the problems they can create to artists' jobs are also caused by capitalistic mechanisms, and in fact I heard several people saying "You don't hate AI art, you hate capitalism". So I thought, in the present case the situation could be similarly summarised in "You don't hate Redbubble, you hate capitalism". But I also remembered that I don't know the full story (as said, I just read some reactions of some artists who sell there), and also I have never used the website as a buyer nor as a seller, so basically I know nothing about those experiences and how they will change. So best thing is asking people about their (kind and polite pls) opinion!
Do you agree or not, why, what's your experience, what part am I missing? (eg. maybe I am unaware that the bigger value percentage taken from artist is going to raise the salary of factory workers? It would be nice). I am also going to look for more official info on my own, but I am curious about opinions of people too.Potete rispondere anche in ITALIANO
Vous pouvez répondre en FRANÇAIS aussiApr 20, 2023
#question
#redbubble
#capitalism
Comments
btw the original statement is what Im critical about . the AI statement is a really weak strawman made by crypto bros and tech idiots. that industry is riddled with corruption and they dont care about who they step on. they just want to take advantage of legal loopholes to get rich. that's not capitalism. thats none regulation. capitalism needs regulation or there is no market. thats why crypto and nfts tanked.
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Im gonna say youre going to have to work on your statement because its a strawman.
I never like redbubble. I used it once as a consumer and a customer and never bought from them again. this is because their practices werent ethical and their print quality was trash. Of course I hate capitalism. But no capitalism is not an excuse for bad business ethics.
I never like redbubble. I used it once as a consumer and a customer and never bought from them again. this is because their practices werent ethical and their print quality was trash. Of course I hate capitalism. But no capitalism is not an excuse for bad business ethics.
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As a joke, sure! But in seriousness, I can’t fully agree with the simple statement of “you don’t hate X company, you hate capitalism.”
All “capitalism” technically means is that trade/industry is controlled by private owners for profit. It’s just as possible to be an ethical business owner as an unethical one. (Easy? Not necessarily, but definitely possible!)
Of course, this system encourages greed among business owners which is the source of a lot of problems, but because the situation is so nuanced, I don’t think it can be summarized so simply.
All “capitalism” technically means is that trade/industry is controlled by private owners for profit. It’s just as possible to be an ethical business owner as an unethical one. (Easy? Not necessarily, but definitely possible!)
Of course, this system encourages greed among business owners which is the source of a lot of problems, but because the situation is so nuanced, I don’t think it can be summarized so simply.
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I have only ever used redbubble once a couple of years ago so I dunno if I have enough to bring to the table about this situation.
But I do think it is interesting how a system that people have worked under for generations are now starting to be viewed as unacceptable by the newer generations. Does make me wonder about the future of capitalism. But I cannot really predict the future so I guess I shall remain one of many witnesses.
But I do think it is interesting how a system that people have worked under for generations are now starting to be viewed as unacceptable by the newer generations. Does make me wonder about the future of capitalism. But I cannot really predict the future so I guess I shall remain one of many witnesses.
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It was a bit hard to read without indentation and spaces.
But uh the first part, Ja, Redbubble is a business so of course they want to seek profit (that's part of capitalism). Got to exploit something to make the bucks (some ways are worse than others).
For AI, no one truly owns it since majority of the codes are opensource so anyone can technically play around with it if they know how to code themselves. Are there businesses that exploit it, absolutely. If the analyst says it has the potential of being very profitable, you know companies will hop on it.
I've used Redbubble and their stuff have always been pretty low quality and honestly i didn't want to raised the prices either just for whatever lil pennies i will receive afterwards. I honestly deleted it after a while, better to find a business that catered to certain things for better quality.
But uh the first part, Ja, Redbubble is a business so of course they want to seek profit (that's part of capitalism). Got to exploit something to make the bucks (some ways are worse than others).
For AI, no one truly owns it since majority of the codes are opensource so anyone can technically play around with it if they know how to code themselves. Are there businesses that exploit it, absolutely. If the analyst says it has the potential of being very profitable, you know companies will hop on it.
I've used Redbubble and their stuff have always been pretty low quality and honestly i didn't want to raised the prices either just for whatever lil pennies i will receive afterwards. I honestly deleted it after a while, better to find a business that catered to certain things for better quality.
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