The internet has made it even easier for organizations to to exploit young, underemployed aspiring writers. Ordinary Madness host Steve Barker has just published a story about his frustrating, brief "career" as a "Collective Clicks Paid Writing Intern," which basically meant he was expected to write reviews for products he never used for a disappointing sum of money:

Moments later I received an email explaining that completing the internship required three more weeks. I would have to write five reviews a week at $2 per review for a grand total of $30 upon completion. I would only be eligible to receive the money if I completed all 15 reviews to a satisfactory standard. I would also receive $2 for the previous four reviews I wrote. I chose the review subjects randomly from a large spreadsheet. I was told it didn’t matter if I’d used or seen the product before. I could get all my information from Google and Amazon.

My first review was for a Men's Reserve Chronograph Blue Dial Stainless Steel Chronograph Watch. I know nothing about watches. Even before I carried a cell phone in my pocket I never wore one. I could never remember to put it on in the morning and the few times I did it just ended up getting in the way or feeling uncomfortable. I asked for a pocket watch for Christmas when I was 16 and it lasted two weeks until I fell off my skateboard and landed on it.

The watch I had to review was retailed at $1500. A $1500 watch is a luxury item I have absolutely no desire for.

Go read the whole thing, and remember to be wary when responding to Craigslist ads offering employment to writers.