Polish schools get a taste of the Retroactively Amended Purchase Experience; subscription capitalism

Summary

In this episode, host Lewis Rossman addresses health-related absences from his channel and delves into the issue of subscription capitalism, exemplified by a school district in Poland. He criticizes the shift from ownership to subscription models, particularly in educational software like edu Vulcan, which now charges parents a subscription fee despite being previously covered by school licenses funded by taxes. Rossman connects this to larger issues in the education industry, such as the exploitative practices of textbook companies like Pearson, and encourages viewers to push back against these changes to prevent further exploitation.

Takeaways

• 😷 The host, Lewis Rossman, has been taking time off due to health issues and will be appearing less frequently on the channel.
• 🐟 Lewis enjoys being a fish owner and uses it as a metaphor for not wanting to become 'fish food', implying the need to take care of his health.
• 📚 The episode discusses a school district in Poland that has started charging parents a subscription fee for an electronic journal application called Edu Vulcan, which was previously free.
• 💸 Lewis criticizes the shift towards 'subscription capitalism', where services that were once purchased outright now require ongoing payments.
• 📈 He argues that this model is exploitative, especially when the terms of sale are changed after the initial purchase, as it seems to be happening in Poland with the Edu Vulcan app.
• 🏫 The app in question is used for communication between parents and teachers regarding a child's school attendance and performance.
• 📝 Lewis reminisces about the old days of faking sick notes and compares it to the modern convenience of apps, which he sees as a loss of a certain childhood experience.
• 🤬 He expresses frustration with companies like Pearson View, which he views as taking advantage of their integral role in education to force students to buy new, expensive textbooks.
• 🇵🇱 Lewis suggests that Polish people should be aware of the business practices of companies like Pearson View and push back against exploitative 'subscription capitalism'.
• 👋 Lewis ends the episode by expressing his love for his fish and hints at an uncertain return date for his next video, due to his health and the need to focus on himself.

Q & A

Why did Lewis Rossman take a break from his channel?

Lewis Rossman took a break from his channel due to some health issues.

What is the main topic of discussion in this episode of 'How Are You Getting Effed'?

The main topic of discussion is subscription capitalism, particularly focusing on a school district in Poland that appears to be affected by it.

What is the issue with the electronic journal application 'edu Vulcan' in Poland?

The issue is that the application, which was previously free to parents as part of the school's licensing fee, now requires parents to pay a subscription fee per child per year for its use.

What does Lewis Rossman think about capitalism in general?

Lewis Rossman likes capitalism and believes it is a great thing, but he is critical of subscription capitalism, which he sees as exploitative.

Why does Lewis Rossman criticize subscription capitalism?

Lewis Rossman criticizes subscription capitalism because it involves changing the terms of sale after a product has been purchased, effectively asking for more money for something that was already paid for.

What is Lewis Rossman's opinion on the company Pearson View?

Lewis Rossman has a negative opinion of Pearson View, calling it one of the most garbage companies in the world due to its practices in the textbook industry.

What is the problem with the way Pearson View handles textbook revisions, according to Lewis Rossman?

Lewis Rossman argues that Pearson View releases new textbook revisions with different questions and answers, making it necessary for students to buy the new, expensive textbooks to do their homework, which he sees as a money-making scheme.

What advice does Lewis Rossman give to people in Poland regarding the situation with edu Vulcan?

Lewis Rossman suggests that people in Poland should start understanding the concept of subscription capitalism and push back against it to prevent companies from changing the terms of sale and extracting more money.

What does Lewis Rossman suggest as a metaphorical response to companies changing terms of sale?

Lewis Rossman suggests using a piece of Italian sign language as a metaphorical response to companies that change terms of sale, implying a strong, negative reaction.

What is Lewis Rossman's personal situation with his health?

Lewis Rossman mentions that he has been dealing with health issues, which is why he has been taking time off and might be seen less on his channel.

What is the humorous anecdote Lewis Rossman shares about his childhood?

Lewis Rossman shares a story about faking a sick note as a child to skip school, where he had to mimic his parents' handwriting by turning it upside down and drawing it.