manimatr0n

These are my thoughts on the writers' strike. I don't know who will read them, but I need to have it down. Don't know why, just gotta. I support them wanting their fair share of profits, especially if money is being made off their hard work in even more ways than used to exist, ie, internet and whatnot. I understand the desire to want to be fairly compensated for your endeavors, I really do. But my support faltered when I read one writer comparing their plight to a teacher's income, and I became apalled at the audacity of such a statement. The spokesman, or whomever it was, explained that not every Hollywood writer is some rich millionaire living in the Hills in a mansion. Fine, good, I understand that. They then went on to say the median pay was about equal to a schoolteacher's, emphasizing the lack of digits in the check, I presume. On the surface, it seems a fair comparison. But consider this: Every writer, in Hollywood, makes around $35K-$40K a year, with a decent shot at becoming that next millionaire to break from the pack, with that 'teachers' income more or less the baseline from which one can rise up. However, for a teacher, that's it. There's no breakout, becoming a millionaire educator. That 35 to 40 thousand? That's as high as it gets, no matter how good you are. So, in essence, someone who makes up stories for a living has now declared themselves more deserving of money than the very educators that friggin taught them their craft in the first place. Mr. or Ms. Writer, where is the strike for that kindergarten or first grade teacher who taught you the alphabet, the very foundation of your profession? Answer is, they don't get one. They don't have the luxury, because they're too busy educating our damn future. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the break from reality movies and tv give me, and I wouldn't want to live without it. In fact, the writing profession is one I'm considering for a possible career. But don't, for the love of god don't think comparing yourself to a teacher is in any way acceptable.