Is earning money solely from the internet ethical?
By Bellapop
@Bellapop (1279)
June 21, 2010 7:10am CST
Working and earning money from the internet, often means staying at home. Casting aside the IT job related occupations, what we mean here, the significant numbers who earn through Ebay, Amazon, review writing, daily clicking sites, cashback etc. Many do it alongside their jobs for some extra cash, and there are a significant few who manage to do it full-time or manage with it as their sole income. It means, they stay at home, less likely to go out to work, which means social skills deteriorate, depression, isolation, losing work place skills and interaction - these are just a few of the issues that arise. Working this way - can it really work in the long-term and what do you do when people ask the question 'so what do you do for a living?' - this is only because many years ago it used to be a bit of a taboo subject, because it meant that you were unemployed and doing 'sod all' - so has this changed now? And how do people see this?
2 responses
@lumenmom (1986)
• United States
21 Jun 10
I think earning money solely from the internet can be very ethical, as long as you are using ethical practices and not trying to scam people. Unfortunately there are probably more scams than legit work. That is the big danger. But there should be no stigma from earning your money from your house as oppose to going to some corporate office and having a fancy title. Plus it offers options for those who have trouble leaving the house due to disabilities or other reasons, and because you can do so much on the internet, people are able to express themselves in ways they have not been able to before. They are finding their creativity and passion and learning how to make money from it. Article writing gives people a potential audience (hence exposure) that they may not have gotten before. Lastly, because some money making opportunities eventually run on autopilot, it actually frees people to get out more and do more things whereas before they would have been confined to their office for 8 or more hours a day. As far as what they do for a living, they don't owe anyone an explanation but many people PROUDLY say they work online. This is a new day and age and the internet is where it's at.
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
21 Jun 10
Well I think you are seeing a skewed point here. I do earn a living online and do stay home. I do this not to be socially awkward but because it enables me to stay home with my kids as well as home school them. I am not depressed or isolated, I have friends, we go out, I pay my taxes and I do tell people I have a site or two online and many are impressed that I can make it work. I have never had anyone tell me that it wasn't work as I said most are surprised I can make enough to not need to leave. Am I or will I be a millionaire, no, and one can hope, but there are plenty out there who work for companies from home who are just fine as well. There are people who have all the traits you listed who work in offices and other jobs, who are not at home working. I am supporting my family at moment and have been paying a large chunk of our bills from my online earnings.
