The following post comes courtesy of John T. Maloney, who sent me an email reply to one of my newsletters and it just was too good not to share. Thankyou John. Nicely delivered.
The 'gig economy' is dopey. Always had a problem w/the term.
For me, a gig is a trident tip spear used for gigging. Period.
Growing up in rural and coastal Connecticut, from April to November, gigging was a principal pastime. We'd go after anything gigable, but mostly bullfrogs and flounder. It was very effective.
Imagine it was quite unpleasant for the gigged fauna. (Not unlike the 'gig economy.') Most of the catch made it to the table. We could gig in the Winter, by simply cutting a hole in the ice, chumming and waiting. It was cold and not as fun.
Once moving to California, the prospect of gigging New England Style was not really available. However, gigging with a modest technological change, was even better than gigging in ponds and estuaries on the East Coast.
Supposedly the Hawaiians invented the 'Hawaiian Sling'. It’s a gig with a piece of surgical tube attached. It is wicked effective.
From Santa Barbara to Mendocino got to gig/sling a lot. The best was the halibut at the beach at the entrance to Diablo Canyon in SLO at night. Wow. Could fill my freezer with one clean shot. (Later learned it was a key halibut spawning area, thus frowned upon.) It was fun and delicious while it lasted.
Gigging is a good metaphor for the gig economy. Just make sure you are on the right end of the gig. Avoid the King Neptune of Gigging, Dara Khosrowshahi.
Have to say ... of gigging as described by John I know nought, but totally with him on the Dara reference and that is another story about why a gig is no solution.