So lately a computer management system that I write many freelance articles on has been flagging my attempts to edit my own stories as “potentially malicious request(s).”
That’s kind of hilarious given that my latest assignment was on “best dry skin moisturizers” and kind of ~not~ because I need CMS access to turn in said assignment and (eventually) get paid for writing it. It’s also not-so-hilarious because I’m now running behind my prescribed deadline despite working very hard! to get things in on time.
I wish I could stop complaining here but I ~shan’t be doing that~ because the situation took a turn for the worst yesterday afternoon when a call with my client’s tech team revealed not only that my CMS access was perceivably revoked but also that my iPhone’s microphone was………..broken........and no, unfortunately, I was not on mute.
We still managed to facilitate the call in a special I-use-my-computer-while-they-talk-to-me-through-the-phone hybrid way — with them telling me to open this or that page (so they could snoop around with their spyware) and me doing my best to follow their orders whilst crying dramatically (since they couldn’t hear me anyway) — but we didn’t exactly solve the issue and I didn’t exactly feel super great after they hung up, either. Instead I felt ignorant and voiceless and problematic and technologically challenged and newly stressed about whether or not I needed a new phone (which, tbd).
Working around technological barriers is one of the not-so-glamourous parts of being a freelance journalist — along with several other not-so-glamorous parts — that takes time out of your (my) workday without increasing your (my) pay. Money aside, I’ve run into more tech complications as a freelancer than a staff writer largely due to the limited permissions I’m granted and the small number of programs I have access to, which is another way of saying my clients aren’t super into freebees.
But technological challenges aren’t exclusive to freelance journalists or staff journalists or members of the working world. Many of us use multiple forms of tech each day and, if you’re like me, struggle to spend a full 24-hours without tech. Also if you’re like me, you might think you’re immune to the iron grip of screen time until your phone microphone breaks or CMS malfunctions or some other first-world-disaster occurs and forces you to realize how disgustingly dependent you truly are.
Welllllll I kind of feel like a puppet being handled by a robot (scary!) because my work remains at the mercy of this faulty system and I can’t vent about it on the phone because no one can hear me! At the same time, this is simply not the biggest of deals and, as you can tell, I’m still very much online. Overall, I’m interested (and disappointed) in how much I rely on technology for work and social purposes, and want to try to change that somewhat…………..but not completely because I also love being with you in this online community. Thanks for reading, xoxo.
Also! New™ as of this week, I’ve launched a buy me a coffee page. A lot of Substackers I admire use this site, and I’ve been wanting to try it out. If you’re not familiar with the concept, this is a totally optional way for you to contribute to my coffee-and-or-snack fund while I work. To be clear, there is less-than-zero pressure to contribute to this every week………or ever at all…………and right now, my Substack is very much free. But if you’re so inclined, thanks a bunch!
And, before you go, here’s a sketch I drew of someone on their laptop, who may or may not be experiencing life-altering technical difficulties.
.