The worst thing capitalism ever did to creative people is convincing us that we don't deserve a living wage. And worse, that accepting less was our idea, actually - that insisting on fair compensation is laughable, and cringey. Guys. It's not.

It amazes me how somehow the vernacular just absorbed the phrase ‘real job’ to describe any job that’s not a job creatives do. We use it on ourselves discussing other kinds of work! It’s nuts how insidiously that line got into everything.

When has capitalism ever done something good for anyone save for CEOs, tycoons and the like?

Moralizing productivity. “Legitimizing” profit as a moral starting point for an argument. Celebrating the reallocation of resources and needs of the majority into the meaningless collection of a self-decided few. I could go on…

It is just like how Arts are not as valued in the education industry. Most people think of STEM when it really should be STEAM.

Capitalism is a crime against humanity, and one day it will be recognized as such.

Well put, Kelly. I think the term "starving artist" really has got to stop. It's now ingrained in us. There was a time when creatives were commissioned with the highest regard, and welcomed into courts. The time is now and the place is everywhere for creatives to be at the forefront again.

Yes! I feel the same way about how pretending that getting ahead by working extra jobs and having no life is admirable.

This, plus the idea that you *must* monetize things you enjoy. Every time I share pictures of finished miniatures projects—the hobby I use to ground myself emotionally—without fail, I'll always get a 'Wow, you should sell these!'

And for creatives who haven't "made it" enough to be full time professionals (as well as many who have), they deserve abuse, ridicule, getting their work stolen for sharing their work and trying to develop an audience, because they must just be vain clout chasers anyway, right?