Categories: uncategorized
Date: 17 July 2008 03:52:53
Further to previous discussion...
I replied to the inquirer that Wordpress was a very good option for charities and non profits to set up easy clean looking websites very quickly and at their price (as in $0) noting too that I'd be happy to add all supplied content for her at an hourly rate - I'd anticipate such a thing taking a day or so to do so the expected cost would be well under $1000 dollars. Admittedly, to gauge their commitment to the project I'd inflated my usual hourly rate to what is closer to standard tech rates. I should quote higher prices as a rule, I'm worth it, but because the business stuff is supplemental to my regular income I don't usually bother, it gets me a bit of repeat business/word of mouth etc.
Anyway, I wonder if my polite inquirer forgot that they are connected to me on one of my social networks or if the following comment on their page was a passive way of dissing my suggestion - they certainly never replied to my email. I wonder if they've even checked out wordpress and seen the great stuff on there...
"Polite Inquirer is looking for a website designer to work pro bono for their charity." (tense/gender changed toprovide a bit of anonymity)
I've done pro-bono before, in fact, one job I did has turned into a great internet friendship (hi Gem!) which is far more valuable than any monetary remuneration would have got me. But this whole situation has got me wondering once again at the sort of culture that develops in churches in which people seem to think that because you're a Christian you should cut them some kind of slack. The unfortunate outworking of this, sadly more often than not, is a feeling of being taken advantage of or worse still, actually being taken advantage of...
So, consider this next question research, given that not all my readers are church goers; Do people in your workplaces/clubs/service organisations/wider social circles have expectations on you to offer your skills/professional expertise and experience to do work for them for nothing or for a substantial discount etc? What are your own expectations on others with skills you don't have?
Truth is, it's been so long since I worked in a secular environment I wonder if I haven't lost a bit of perspective. And please, don't think I don't do friendly discounts or help for actual friends... but for people who I know who I'm more 'acquainted with' than 'friends with' I do sometimes think such expectations are a bit 'on the nose'.
What do you think?