Lots of interesting bits in here, and some parts very prescient. The more interesting thoughts to me were near the end: “throw-away workers”, and the last quote on “truth”.
As a developer who does not need to seek work, due to well known previous work, I am dismayed as my friends are unable to acquire staff positions and are all "disposable workers" - long term freelance with no benefits.
It was kind of chilling to see the author’s depiction of “throw-away workers” twenty years ago in a modern context. The aside of “maybe he’s about due for his pension” might have seemed so heartless then, and yet today, someone in the same position as that 50-year-old has, at best, a fickle 401(k), and at worst, simply nothing, as a participant in the gig economy.
Maybe that 50-year-old is trying to make ends meet delivering for Caviar, and a short series of slip-ups and consequent low ratings causes his “position” to be automatically terminated by an algorithm. Throw-away workers indeed.
