the fact that capitalism has pushed us to the point of desperately needing to monetize every ounce of our energy and effort is just… ugh. everytime i see someone doubling down on the “pay me to pick my brain” take, i die a little inside. and don’t get me wrong, people should be compensated for their time, work, and expertise… but i think capitalism is the real reason why creative conversations and collaboration now come with a fee.