In light of repeated ad program failures is it right & necessary for HP communit

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   Joe Cookposted 11 years ago

   In light of repeated ad program failures is it right & necessary for HP community to form a union?
   
   In light of recent repeated and prolonged HP ad program failures - is it right and necessary for the hubpages community to come together to form an online union?
   
   In the interests of protecting writers rights, and in the interests of transparency and of prevention of repeated computer failures - should we demand better more clear accountable service?

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   Larry Wallposted 11 years ago

   You are suggesting creating one bureaucratic nightmare. I grew up in a Union house and there are places for unions. This is not one of them. No one forces anyone to join HubPages. There is no promise as to how much money you will make. HubPages has rules, some good and some that bother me, but the rules are there.
   Finally, the Hubbers do not own HubPages. It just gives us a place to part our Hubs, voice opinions and ask questions. You are under no contractual obligation to write a certain number of hubs, to avoid certain subjects, to promote other subjects.
   
   As I said, I grew up in a Union house. While he was working, the employees went on strike for something very radical--company sponsored group health insurance. That was something worth striking for and running the risk of losing your job.
   
   If you have concerns, I suggest you write HubPages and ask for an explanation. When you start demanding accountability that does not charge you any fee, then you might have some problems.

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3. 90

   Georgie Loweryposted 11 years ago

   I think, in this instance, if you are unhappy with the service that HubPages provides, buying your own domain and hosting package may be the route you want to take. I'm satisfied with HP and the way it's gotten my name and my writing out there for people to read.

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   relacheposted 11 years ago

   Labor unions for professional writers already exist.  If you'd like to join one, you are free to do so provided you meet all their criteria and pay your dues.
   
   The writers on this site are all freelance writers, which is how HubPages set up the site.  We are free to accept their terms and write here, or you can not accept their terms and depart of your own free will.  As a freelancer, you may make requests but according to the legal guidelines of the site, they can change or do anything to the service at any time (or not) regardless of how you feel about things.

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5. 92

   Jeannieinabottleposted 11 years ago

   Here is the way I look at it... this is a free site.  No one makes me contribute to HubPages and I am free to take all of my hubs off the site anytime I choose.  A union is really not necessary.  If anyone is unhappy with HubPages, they can take their hubs and move them elsewhwere.... I know some people have done just that. 
   
   If I had to pay to use HubPages, I would have a lot more say in how things are handled on here.  The same goes for Facebook.  I know people that complain about that, too.  Well, it is also a free site.  Once again, as long as I pay nothing to use it, I don't have any say in the matter.  I can stop using it at anytime.

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      LauraVerderberposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree although people pay FB through data mining and Hubpages gets paid through people's articles... But it is not a direct form of payment. It's also a private business. A union here is completely unnecessary.

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6. 86

   B. Leekleyposted 11 years ago

   I have been unaware of the "repeated ad program failures" that your question mentions. Have you written a hub pages article about them and/or discussed them in a forum?  If yes, please give the link(s).  If no, please give details about the failures, either in a hub or in a forum or as a comment on your question.
   
   I suppose a hubbers advocacy group that asks for improvements in HubPages might have more impact than suggestions from individual hubbers. Nothing is perfect and in no need of improvement, and presumably management and hubbers both want an ever better website. But are there any big issues and do most hubbers agree about them? As I said, it would help clarify your question if you would describe the nature, causes, and solutions of the ad program failures that you perceive.
   
   I myself don't have any big complaints, but I'm not very savvy about the workings of the site. My big problems re how to make money hubbing are personal -- how to write better hubs faster. When I can write at least two excellent hubs per month, I'll be able to turn my attention to details of ad programs or whatever.
   
   If you do make a convincing argument for the need and do organize interested hubbers into a union or whatever sort of organization, I recommend that it adopt nonviolent communication (NVC). See http://www.cnvc.org/
   
   Are you familiar with National Writers Union (NWU) (http://nwu.org/)? It is Local 1981 of United Auto Workers (UAW). I belonged some decades ago but had to drop out when they raised dues above what I could afford. They can help freelance writers with grievances over contract issues, copyright issues, etc. As best I can see, there is not a role for NWU among hubbers, but I'm not a very experienced hubber.

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