this post was submitted on 26 Apr 2026
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Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The most popular seem to be lighthearted clever little truths, hidden in daily life.

Here are some examples to inspire your own showerthoughts:

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How quickly we accepted that it's normal to pay someone to go get our groceries for us. To drive us around when public transportation is available. To run errands for us. To bring us fast food.

Covid capitalized on it.

People don't want to give up that luxury now that they've had it. Even if it makes things cost 2x-3x as much.

Even when we all know its exploitive labor.

It's true delivery and driver services have been around for hundreds of years but now instead of companies with full time employees (with benefits) , the gig employee gets paid less while taking on risk that aren't compensated by the employer (car accidents, gas, car repairs, injury or attacks).

Gig work is a much worse thing than maybe a lot of people realize. And it's also making more people servants to others.

It's moving full time employees with benefits and using company property to no benefits and using their own property that they have to pay for.

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[–] daannii@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

I'm not saying people who do gig work are at fault here or should feel bad about doing gig work. I think you have misunderstood

I'm saying the business model of gig work is predatory towards its employees and its customers.

And that people are forced into gig work because better paying practical jobs are being phased out. They are manipulated into believing it's a great option when it's not. It's just the only option.

When you consider the additional cost and risk that gig workers take on, you surely see how these companies are predatory.

They don't exist to help people get work. They aren't there to help you out. They exist to make you dependent on them so they can profit.

Acknowledging this doesn't mean you are a fool for doing gig work. Acknowledging it means you are aware of how you have been manipulated, even if you realize you don't really have alternative options.

Most of us work for shitty companies. Some are worse than others. We all have bills to pay. We are all trapped in the system. But that's no excuse to ignore what's going on even if we don't have alternative options and have to stay with these companies.

You don't owe them anything. Certainly you don't have to talk them up. They aren't there to help you out. They lobby to pay you the least $ and screw you over as much as possible.