Is metafilter jobs really for medical studies?

December 1, 2006 5:25 AM

Uh, wtf? Is this really what Jobs is for? (And I get a coldfusion error trying to flag it, which is why I didn't just flag it and move on...)
posted by yeoz to Etiquette/Policy at 5:25 AM (26 comments total)

wow. i guess jobs is now just like craigslist.
posted by lester's sock puppet at 5:42 AM on December 1, 2006

I swear there should be a month long waiting period for Jobs posters.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:03 AM on December 1, 2006

And, you know, merciless deleting.
posted by cortex at 6:08 AM on December 1, 2006

You too can be a lab rat!
posted by SteveInMaine at 6:15 AM on December 1, 2006

Terminate with extreme prejudice.
posted by grouse at 6:23 AM on December 1, 2006

I'm just not sure about MeFi Jobs.
posted by danb at 6:38 AM on December 1, 2006

Huh? Getting paid to be a test subject sounds like a job to me. I made some easy cash taking part in various experiments when I was a student. Or are we only allowing ads for Web Developers on MeJobs?
posted by EndsOfInvention at 6:46 AM on December 1, 2006

EndsOfInvention,

While I'm not positive about what the earlier posters find objectionable, I suspect it is not just the test subject stuff, it is the fact that it is referral spam - the job poster gets a kickback for everyone he can get to sign up. Do a google search on "[phone]".
posted by RichardP at 7:01 AM on December 1, 2006

Yeah, sounds like a job to me, too. Not one I'd take, but I see nothing wrong with it being there.
posted by dobbs at 7:02 AM on December 1, 2006

Ah, okay, shoulda previewed. If what RichardP says is true, it's a banning offence (as Spam), no? And, perhaps the guidelines need to be clear that it's only jobs you're personally offering.
posted by dobbs at 7:03 AM on December 1, 2006

I'm personally offering $1200 for Short-Term Holiday Clinical Studies in New York, but only if I can also harvest some of your organs on home video. Tourists preferred.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 7:09 AM on December 1, 2006

I don't think anyone wants to restricts job postings to web developers, but (to me anyway) it is more the tone of the ad:

as a study volunteer, you could Earn Up To $800 or more

So I am a volunteer, meaning if I make any money it is just a bit of extra luck? So perhaps I could earn "up to" $800. Unless I earn more. What can I earn "down to"? $100? $20? $0?

MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL DATES!!!!!! (Inpatient means you will be living on site for the duration of study.
If you cannot, do not respond!)

How about letting me know what the dates are?

EMAIL YOUR NAME, AGE, HEIGHT, WEIGHT, PHONE NUMBER
YOU WILL RECEIVE A YAHOO AUTO RESPONSE, FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS TO SIGN UP

To where?

Plus, the location is Kansas but a NY phone number is given. Perhaps that is not unusual for this sort of thing, but in combination with everything else it doesn't inspire confidence in the validity of whatever they are doing.
posted by mikepop at 7:11 AM on December 1, 2006

Ah, OK. I guess it does seem pretty spammy in language/tone, even if the actual job (test subject) is valid (in theory).

Earn Up To $800 or more

Heh, so I will be earning either less than $800, $800, or more than $800? Brilliant!
posted by EndsOfInvention at 7:26 AM on December 1, 2006

Yeah, the problem is not clinical testing. The problem is that this should be stapled to a telephone pole.

Heh, so I will be earning either less than $800, $800, or more than $800?

More realistically, you will be making signficantly less than $800.
posted by cortex at 7:36 AM on December 1, 2006

dobbs wrote: And, perhaps the guidelines need to be clear that it's only jobs you're personally offering.

Yeah, I don't think the post actually breaks any of the existing rules. Mefi Jobs is kind of like Projects - anyone can pay $5 for an account and then immediately post their content. I don't really recall any guidelines that limit what you can post to Projects or Jobs. Although, naturally, in the case of a project or job that is really objectionable or in very poor taste matthowie could always delete the post and ask the poster to rewrite their post.
posted by RichardP at 7:43 AM on December 1, 2006

A month long waiting period for posting on jobs would render it potentially useless for both posters and readers.

Just moderate the thing regularly and you should be fine. Posting volume is still relatively (very) low there.
posted by twiggy at 8:22 AM on December 1, 2006

twiggy - I think the one month deal was, you have to have been a member for a month before you can post a job. That makes sense; it will help prevent people signing up just to use this as a job board.
posted by Mister_A at 8:24 AM on December 1, 2006

Oh sure, pick on the one job I'm qualified for...

You may qualify if you're no more than 30 lbs overweight...

Damn.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:26 AM on December 1, 2006

...a project or job that is really objectionable or in very poor taste...

I don't think that's the issue, the issue is it is spammy crap from a random stranger. To my mind objectionable and in poor taste is usually primo stuff, man.
posted by Meatbomb at 8:33 AM on December 1, 2006

Anyway, re: this jobs post, I ain't fer it, I'm agin it. Sure looks like spam to me. It's probably some schmuck at an ad agency, demonstrating his/her "out of the box" thinking. The $5 is probably not his/her money.

Sure I'm speculatin', why not? Also I bet the person who posted it hates America.
posted by Mister_A at 8:43 AM on December 1, 2006

I also get the coldfusion error.
posted by Mister_A at 8:47 AM on December 1, 2006

it's ugly, icky, ooky, pukey and poopy - but not in a good way.
posted by taz at 9:47 AM on December 1, 2006

You people have obviously never had to find a job in Lenexa. It's all organ harvesting in one form or another.
posted by melissa may at 12:00 PM on December 1, 2006

There are a few companies and institutes that do drug/medical trials in the greater Kansas City area (encompassing Lenexa) and they do recruit pretty heavily on TV and radio. At least one also gives significant bonuses to people who refer usable candidates. If that's your thing, you can make pretty good money, even more with referrals. I'm sure this is just a third party cashing in on referral money, if you're in the area and interested just google for medical trials in the KC area. There are plenty of resources that will hook you up directly with the companies and once you're on their lists they'll contact you for every trial you could possibly qualify for.
posted by Science! at 2:41 PM on December 1, 2006

Is it against the principles of Jobs to join just to use it as a job board? This post was rather spammy, but that might not always be the case for posts from folks who have nothing else to do wtih MetaFilter.
posted by owhydididoit at 4:18 PM on December 1, 2006

I think Matt has deleted it now. Good riddance.
posted by grouse at 1:44 AM on December 2, 2006