Topsey Falls Silent - My experience with fiverr.com

What would you do for $5? 

What would you pay someone $5 for? 

I stumbled onto a website called fiverr.com which has kind of freaked me out. The concept is this: a person posts something they are willing to do for $5 (really$4 since fiverr takes a cut.) If someone is interested in the service, they pay through fiverr and the two people connect. People offer to draw pictures, provide voiceovers, create origami roses, tweet messages to their followers. 

One of the services being offered was by a young woman with a screen name of Topsey23. Topsey’s service being offered on the site is titled: 

I will call you and talk to you for ten minutes for $5. 

Now, this service struck me for being both funny and sad. The thought that people out in this world are so lonely they will pay for a ten minute conversation is both surreal and heartbreaking. Topsey23 had just joined the site a few days earlier. Her avatar on the site is an inverted photo of herself. In the photo she appears young, with dyed orange hair, fair skin and a black t-shirt. She’s not looking into the camera and the angle gives one the impression that she might be lying in a tanning bed.

Underneath the title she elaborates on exactly what the offer is: 

ill call you and talk to you about anything you want for five dollars or ill make a prank to your friends.. you let me know I’ll do ittt (:

Intrigued by this website, and Topsey’s service, I wanted to find out what her experience has been so far. I wanted to learn if she had received many calls and why had people called her. Before signing up, I messaged Topsey. 

Hello - 

I write a blog and would like to do this 10-minute conversation but want to take notes and use this for my blog post. Are you ok with that? I’ll link to you. Also - have you had many responses? 

Topsey replied: 

Yes, I’m okay with that. And no, I haven’t had many responses yet. 

So I signed up and paid five dollars. The money would be held by fiverr until the transaction was completed. A short time later, through the message service, we agreed Topsey would call me around noon the next day, Friday, and I sent her my cell number. I wrote out the following questions: 

Tell me what prompted you to offer to talk to a stranger for ten minutes? 

I know you just started this a few days ago. What’s the response been? 

What do people want to talk about? 

Has anyone asked you to pull a prank? 

What do you do when you aren’t talking to strangers thru fiverr? 

In your avatar, it looks like you are in a tanning bed. What is the photo? 

You have another post that says you will draw a picture for $5. Have you had responses to that? 

So I sat by the phone for fifty-five minutes waiting for the call. Okay, I was actually doing some writing and paying some bills. Nothing happened. No call. I used fiverr’s message service and let Topsey know I had to run out but if she would give me a specific time the next day we could try it. She never responded. I guess she got cold feet. 

So what is funnier and sadder than someone willing to pay for a conversation with a stranger? Someone who is willing to pay and is stood up! 

By Sunday morning, fiverr sent me a message that read: 

It seems the seller is late on delivery. You may now cancel your order. 

So I did. I do find this whole concept strange and am thinking I may try another service. There are several which received positive reviews. The most popular service is from Kevinfar - “I will create 3 videos about a topic of your choice for $5,” or maybe I’ll go with Woofy31’s service “I will interpret 5 of your dreams for $5.” So what’s $5 worth to you? 

The Man Named Start Loving

Start Loving is one of the most recognized peace activists in Washington DC. He has held several hunger strikes and in 2009 joined the peace vigil which has been held continuously for the past twenty-eight years in Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House. This 30-minute documentary is an interview with Start, who discusses his path to Washington DC and his philosophy of universal love.



The Man Named Start Loving from Jim Breslin on Vimeo.

The Coach

This was originally written in February 2005 when Jay was 12 years old.

Jay is on two different hockey teams this year. His one set of coaches this year are nice men, a little loud on the bench, and they believe in physical play. Before the season began, I was at the coaching certification class (I'm assistant coach on Jay's second team) and one of these coaches was there. A nice guy, I'm guessing mid-40's, who definitely lives life out loud, if you know what I mean. 

Anyway, around Christmas time this coach stops appearing at the games. This coach's son is on the team, and is friendly with Jay, but we don't know why the father isn't there. At one point, Jay mentions this coach is in the hospital. The son continues to make the games, but isn't playing as well as his first few games. 

On Saturday night, Jay has a game. As they drop the puck, Brendan tells me the coach is here. I look down to see the coach limping to a spot in the stands. He looks gaunt and pale, has lost alot of weight. It looks as though he has cancer, but I'm not sure. 

The man's son plays his best game of the year, scoring two goals and making some great physical plays. The man applauds and occasionally cheers. When he was a coach on the bench, his voice filled the arena, it's not the same now. 

In the final seconds of the game, Jay checks a kid on the other team very hard and the kid falls to the ice hurt. As the game ends, I walk over to chat with Jay and also make sure this kid is okay. I pass the man, stop and shake hands, "It's good to see you." I tell him. "Your son played a great game tonight." 

I talk with Jay, and suggest he go back on the ice to make sure the kid he levelled is okay. Coaches are attending to the kid who is still laying flat on the ice. I'm concerned this kid is really hurt. Jay skates over and the kid is okay. 

A short time later, the coach limps over to the locker room. He explains that a tumor the size of a golf ball was taken out of his brain, and that it is a miracle that he's alive. Most of the kids have left, it's just Jay and this man's son, me and the head coach. Jay zips his bag up and then sits next to this man. 

"Hi Coach." Jay says to the man. 

The man puts his arm around Jay and says to the other coach, "This kid plays like an animal!" with an approving smile. Jay just grins. 


Postscript - Three weeks later, I'm skiing in Utah when my wife calls me. The man has passed away. She takes our boys to the funeral while I'm skiing.

Punk Rock Girl

Originally written in November, 2004 about taking my then 12 year old son to his first concert -

I kept procrastinating about taking my son to see the Dead Milkmen concert. Then last week, a friend at work, Dave, from the Band F.O.D. emails me that he can put me and one other person on the guest list. Great! Procrastination pays off.

Jay and I show up at the Trocadero, our name is on the list, so the woman gives us each a wristband and we enter the hall. After standing around for about thirty minutes waiting for the first band, I realize nobody else has wristbands.

"Jay," I say, "I think we can get backstage with these!" I've gone to concerts for over 20 years, and this is the first time I've ever had a chance to go backstage.

We show the bouncer our wristbands and sure enough he waves us through the backstage door. Dead Milkmen Lead Singer Rodney Anonymous is standing there, 15 years older than he should be. "Rodney," I said. "I'm so excited you guys reunited. I used to come see you all the time, and I'm excited my son's going to get a chance to see you." Rodney shakes Jay's hand, then says "Don't listen to that man onstage! Whatever you do, don't listen to that man you'll see up on stage!" He laughs and then walks away.

We meet Milkmen guitarist Joe Jack Talcum. I really do say, "Jay, meet Mr. Talcum." Joey look at me like I'm an asshole, but he shakes Jay's hand and says "Nice to meet you." Rodney walks by and says "That kid's going to see my fall flat on my face tonight!"

Dave from F.O.D. comes down the steps backstage with a big grin. He's got a a quart of Yuengling in his hand. I introduce Jay and thank him for the tickets.

Jay and I watch Nixon's Head, then F.O.D. comes out and ROCKS. Jay says they are the quickest band he's ever seen. Electric Love Muffin comes out next and I realize how much I loved their music years ago.

This hot punk rock girl comes over and stands next to Jay. At one point, she hands Jay a folded piece of paper that had been posted at the entrance. The paper reads No Moshing. No Crowd Surfing. No Stagediving. She tells Jay, "Hang this up in your room."

The Dead Milkmen come out and open with, believe it or not, Punk Rock Girl. Rodney makes his usual wise cracks throughout the night. He belts out the classic Stuart (Do you know what the queers are doing to the soil?) and Joey croons Methodist Coloring Book (..don't color outside the lines or God will send you to hell...)

Seeing the Dead Milkmen is like participating in a group sing-along. Everyone is chanting the words and laughing as Rodney paces the stage like a madman.

After a long night, we leave exhausted and don't get home until 12:30. Late night for Jay, especially on a school night. The next day, Jay is the coolest kid in his class, no doubt about it.