Times are tough. The economy is in the dumps. Companies are closing their doors, and those that remain open are forced to reduce the size of their workforce. If you currently have a good job, you are one of the fortunate ones. If you are stuck in a bad job, well, at least you have a job. If you are unemployed, chances are you’ll stay that way. If you are lucky enough to find a job, you’ll probably be underemployed and hate it. Such is the sad state of affairs for many people in our society right now. I fall into the unemployed category. Well, I am self-employed, but my various revenue streams have all but dried up. Nobody has the money to spend on what they would consider a non-essential product or service. Those who can afford it are hesitant to spend their money right now, not knowing where this economy will lead. I don’t blame them. I’m holding my cards close to my vest as well, and looking for other opportunities and new revenue streams. I’ve tried to find a job, over the past couple of years, and even had a few interviews. But I haven’t been able to land a job. Now that I’m advancing into my 50s, I’m not so attractive to potential employers. Yes, age discrimination does exist in employment, as do other kinds of discrimination. Mechanical Turk offers a unique opportunity for me to pick and choose which jobs (HITs) to accept, work in the comfort of my own home, on a schedule that works well for me. No pressures. No hassles. No commuting. No strict schedule. No discrimination. If I want to do something, I do it. If I don’t want to do something, I don’t have to. This freedom does have its cost. Nobody will ever get rich, or even earn a comfortable living, doing Mechanical Turk HITs. But it’s better than sitting at home not making any money, or driving yourself crazy trying to find a job that doesn’t exist. Mechanical Turk has helped me retain my sanity, doing tasks I enjoy, while making a few bucks in the process.