Things That Bang

The writers’ strike in the US began yesterday and Jon Stewart said that he would 'not' give two weeks salaries to his writers and those of Colbert Report show. Stewart does not have a bleeding heart for those whose ranks he once belonged to but the rumor of him doling out cash did make one wonder about the obscene financial gap between him and his writers.

Obviously its capitalism at work but isn’t it unfair that writers since time and memorial continue to be paid just a little more than that made by a bar maid or by those who flip burgers at greasy counters. Those who do manage to claw their way up become richer than the queen herself even when their work is at best a little better than that written by a bored housewife.

Do writers blame lady luck for their continued hand to mouth existence despite having far more brain cells than those sitting in little cubicles answering the phones or do they then blame society which uses them like disposable items- once read completely forgotten?

Writers in many ways are like entertainers but they don’t get paid the big bucks that entertainers can and do demand, even script writers for most soap operas earn just enough to pay the monthly installments for their dinky little Alto or Maruti 800 and journalists generally agree that’s it’s better to pen under a lord and master (the newspapers) rather to be a free lance writer trying to sell a story.

What’s even worse is readers don’t think twice in indulging in name calling if they don’t like a writer’s article. Most seasoned writers are quite used to it and shrug off the bad publicity as being no different from good publicity- two sides of the same coin but it’s the newbie who shed tears of blood when they get ripped apart by an irate reader. Any blogger worth his salt would tell you how nasty it feels but after a while like journalists one gets used to the volley of abuse that comes one’s way, it’s all part of the profession which just doesn’t pay.

At least those employed get paid, bloggers on the other hand mostly write for the passion, to get their voices across in the online world whereas in the past all they could hope for was a letter to the editor in a newspaper/magazine or in a All In A Day’s Work in Reader’s Digest.

The internet has opened up more venues for writers, some are able to sell their stories online, some via blogging have found fame if not fortune but those who want to earn enough to pay for rent and groceries understand that the net is for entertainment and passion but can never be a source of one’s bread and butter. Obviously when blogging cannot be treated a profession we cannot go on any sort of strike or make demands;)