What I'm not saying out loud in 2021 (IWLTS)

[Ella77]

Never do any kind of work for a startup, they are cunts.

[nineseven]

Never, ever again. It's never gone well. They're too close to the product and go completely mad.

[Froozy]

Is there a lot of ‘it’s my baybeeeee’ going on?

[nineseven]

God, yes. They ALL brief me and then decided they want something completely different to what they asked for after I file the work. They're far too close to it to be sensible. Give me a disinterested account manager any day.

[AshleyX]

Oh my god, nine, that sounds horribly familiar. I’ve only done it a couple of times, and both times it’s been horrendous and they’ve quibbled over copy and paying (which has never happened before or since in 10 years of being freelance). Never again.

[nineseven]

I think this is my third one and I’ve ended the job early with every single one

[AshleyX]

Sounds about right Both of mine moaned about the copy and then used it word for word and one also moaned about the (agreed) price and then asked me to go on their preferred supplier list. Yeah, no thanks

[Dandelion]

IWLTS: I am never writing copy for the founder of a start-up again. You are all, without exception, nightmares to work with.

Oh, wonderful. I work for a start up travel company - business is slow at the moment. Tomorrow I have been asked to start writing content (which I have never done before) for our spin off website - I can’t wait.

What could possibly go wrong?

[nineseven]

If you’re an employee you might be ok! They seem to think freelance copywriters are mindreaders.

[AshleyX]

Good luck, Dande! (And this is no offence to you at all, but the very fact that they’re expecting someone with no experience whatsoever in this area to write it does speak volumes.)

[Dandelion]

Thanks, Ashley.

[Morganna]

I think that eBay should change the rules so that postage is covered by the starting bid, and everyone knows where they stand. Having said that, I have hardly ever sold anything, so that may be entirely impractical.

IWLTS 'If you plan to keep doing these classes, please sort yourself out? '

To a woman who turned up to a new series of Zoom classes tonight. She was 10 minutes late, which is bad enough at the best of times, but it was the first class of a series and the facilitator was new and a bit nervous, and was clearly unsure about whether or not to start without her, as there are only 6 of us. She refused to put her camera on as she was 'a bit sweaty' after a bike ride , and had her son's name as her ID thingy, which confused everyone. We were put into breakout rooms and I was on my own with her, which was awkward as she could see me but I couldn't see her. She hadn't done the exercise we were supposed to be discussing, as when it was set she had been talking to her husband and had missed what we were meant to do, so instead of feedback on mine I got an explanation about her son being picked up by his father. All the way through the 2 hour class she interrupted discussions as she couldn't put her hand up on account of not having her camera on, and didn't use the 'raised hand' facility, but just butted in. To add insult to injury she hadn't muted her notifications, so her computer pinged every couple of minutes when she got an email.

It appears that I am in a less than tolerant frame of mind

[Ella77]

I hate her .

[Arrietty]

Me too

[Ella77]

If you get paired with her next time, try leaving the breakout room, which will drop you back in the main room, and ask to be put in a different group. She may well not notice. Also turn your camera off if hers isn’t on, the rude cow.

[AshleyX]

What an arsehole. I hate her too.

[Morganna]

Thank you for your collective hatred .

[Kleio]

I will join in with the hate.

IWLTS: Please don’t say my comment was funny. You’re a fucking Tory MP but if I tell you to go fuck yourself I’ll be kicked out of the group.

Also, I guess our MP watches TikTok

[Starry]

Also not turning your camera on means you’re doing something else and don’t want to be stung. She sounds annoying.

[Morganna]

We had been sent a Zoom etiquette guide in advance, which asked us to get there early, mute notifications, have cameras on and mics off unless speaking - all the usual stuff.

I got the impression that she would be equally irritating in person, expecting to always be the exception, and thinking that people will make allowances. Zoom has a way of making things like that worse though.