funny- for the longest time it seemed like people with an inclination toward problem solving, fixing and building things with their hands were the absolute least cool people on the planet.

Next time you're at a party and someone asks you 'What'd you do today?" go ahead and reply "I rewired my bathroom" -see what kind of response you get.

I have no doubt that working in an amazon warehouse sucks. Working in any warehouse probably sucks. Its systemic; it's a nationwide problem that good working-class jobs are disappearing. The "free market" is a race to the bottom.

But goddamn, 2 extremely whiny white-collar employees does not make an epidemic. Yes, Amazon expects you to work hard and be good at your job. They also pay well. I know some people who got burned out there; they quit and got another job. I also know people who love it there. This is Seattle, I can't walk 10 feet without tripping over a tech job offer. If they're telling you to work "80-100 hour weeks", QUIT. You're obviously not doing a good job anyway.

Jonnon, this was part of an ongoing series. Sure, some people like working in a hostile environment where you are expected to put the company first. Most of us work to live, amazon is hardly conducive to that. I think he critiques are spot on, the I humane environment of Amazon is not just a problem for the warehouse workers, it is a problem that goes almost all the way to the top.

Wonder what effect Alibaba.com is having on Amazon.

@2,

There are many more than two "whiny" ex-employees just FYI.

The main objection that I have toward how Amazon treats its white collar workers is that Amazon still seems to be living in the fantasy that its still some sort of scrappy, up-and-coming startup. It's one thing to put in 100-hour weeks with the implicit promise of a big cash payout when the company goes public, but Amazon has been a publicly traded corporation for 17 years. It's time for Bezos et al to grow the hell up.

@5 I agree, I know amazon is kind of a sweatshop... this is my point, the employees SHOULD quit! Or work 40-50/week and risk getting fired over it. Have an impossible jerk manager? Stand up for yourself and risk getting fired over it. The higher their turnover, the sooner Bezos will ask why they're spending so much on new badges.

Maybe I just don't understand why people are so beholden to their jobs there; the tech economy in seattle is not bad at all.

When you put in those kind of hours while being insulted drains some people so much they can't summons the energy to look for another job. And they can't afford to quit without a job.

Yep those are boobs, alright

More maniacal Maniac.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHRnCNbBA…

Seems to be a naked book club and only for ladies. It would be awesome if the library could be like the gym for gay dudes.