Comments on: The Best Job in the World

The Best Job in the World

schroedinger — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 06:33:53 -0800

The Best Job in the World. Would you like to be paid AUD$150,0000 to live for free in a three-bedroom villa on an island in the Great Barrier Reef for six months, simply in exchange for blogging about your experience? Yeah, so would I. Submit your application before February 22nd, and see if you make it through the other millions of people who are sure to apply. And no--it's not a joke.

By: MuffinMan

MuffinMan — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 06:42:55 -0800

No, actually I wouldn't. I'm far more interested in braving the London bus network and peak time tubes as a test of my mettle. And working 8-7pm each day keeps me vital and engaged. Yeah baby. And that job sounds like a recipe for skin cancer and high call roaming charges and all sorts of Johnny Foreigner tropical diseases. And besides, if you drink more than two lots of coconut milk in one sitting you get the shits. And nobody on Hamilton Island delivers that really nice, Italian style thin base pizza that the wife and I like so much. And did I mention the jellyfish?

By: verisimilitude

verisimilitude — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 06:50:57 -0800

I wonder if Tourism Australia have got their $150,0000 worth of free advertising yet?

By: emhutchinson

emhutchinson — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 06:56:19 -0800

The deadline was January 9 . . . unless I am misreading.

By: filthy light thief

filthy light thief — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 06:59:13 -0800

I like the Rate My Application element of the site. I really wonder how many people will rank highly? While I, a lover of sun and photography, would love this, my wife doesn't understand the draw to the tropics. To be honest, I'm not overly swayed by tropical settings either, but being paid to be an observer sounds pleasant. With that much money, I could buy suitable clothing and skincare products. Heck, I could get creative and make an umbrella from natural elements.

By: nosila

nosila — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:00:18 -0800

They close Feb. 22. The, er, position lasts until Jan. 1 2010.

By: knile

knile — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:00:26 -0800

A mere AUD$150,000 not AUD$1,500,000.

By: nosila

nosila — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:00:42 -0800

close applications, that is

By: JaredSeth

JaredSeth — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:03:57 -0800

If I only ask for half that salary, could I convince them to make it a permanent position?

By: knile

knile — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:04:04 -0800

And, emhutchinson, "Applications close 22 February 2009" according to the Key Dates page

By: DU

DU — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:15:10 -0800

dear gr8 breer reef i should be the guy that blag that stuffs b/c i no hte internet inside and sout pick me or die

By: Rhaomi

Rhaomi — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:17:42 -0800

It's all fun and games until the snapping turtles attack. Also, is it just me or does this whole thing sound like the set-up for an old Scooby Doo episode? "Gee, Daphne, we sure are lucky your dear Uncle Walter invited us to stay on his island resort for six months. If it weren't for all the rumors about that spooky Witch Doctor, this would be just perfect!" "Rooky ritch roctor?" *whimper* "Like, don't worry, Scoob, there's nothing to those silly old stories." "Right! They're just a load of superstitious island mumbo-jumbo. Now let's to take a look at that abandoned fishing village!" Little do they know that someone is watching them through the eyeholes of a nearby portrait! *SCARY STOCK MUSIC*

By: The Straightener

The Straightener — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:23:58 -0800

Yeah, but does that include weed?

By: stavrogin

stavrogin — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:28:54 -0800

Application: I think I would be a perfect for this job, what with my background in photojournalism and harry potter slash fanfiction. If I have one fault, I think it's that I'm too dedicated to work. Three months later: We must kill them. We must incinerate them. Pig after pig, cow after cow, village after village, army after army. And they call me an assasin. What do you call it when the assasins accuse the assasin? They lie. They lie and we have to be merciful for those who lie. Those nabobs. I hate them. How I hate them.

By: delmoi

delmoi — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:35:20 -0800

Does this job involve smiting your enemies, seeing them driven before you, and hearing the lamentation of their women? Then frankly, it can't be all that great.

By: gman

gman — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:39:13 -0800

Ummm... do you know how well Metafilter mods are paid?

By: mary8nne

mary8nne — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:40:35 -0800

cruisy

By: inigo2

inigo2 — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:45:18 -0800

all work and no play makes jack a dull boy all work and no play makes jack a dull boy all work and no play makes jack a dull boy all work and no play makes jack a dull boy all work and no play makes jack a dull boy all work and no play makes jack a dull boy all work and no play makes jack a dull boy all work and no play makes jack a dull boyall work and no play makes jack a dull boy all work and no play makes jack a dull boy

By: schroedinger

schroedinger — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:46:32 -0800

And did I mention the jellyfish? posted by MuffinMan at 9:42 AM on January 12 [+] [!] sonuvaBITCH

By: robocop is bleeding

robocop is bleeding — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:47:31 -0800

But will I have to bring my mopey wife and creepy kid?

By: nickyskye

nickyskye — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:52:14 -0800

Want. Really, really want. I'd go there for free. Just room and board would be fine and be delighted to feed the fish, caretake and communicate.

By: beelzbubba

beelzbubba — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:53:49 -0800

Sailing along great until I got to the part about good swimming skills. I float OK, and I love snorkeling, but not what anyone would call a good swimmer. And I imagine they're looking for someone who enjoys sea food. Nope. Not me. But hey, if YOU win, and want somebody to spell you for a week or two, gimme a call.

By: atrazine

atrazine — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:02:23 -0800

I wonder if Tourism Australia have got their $150,0000 worth of free advertising yet? Easily.

By: mandal

mandal — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:03:28 -0800

If I win, do I get to take Amanda Donohoe?

By: terranova

terranova — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:05:58 -0800

Applicants are already applying for the job on YouTube.

By: misha

misha — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:09:55 -0800

Yeah, I'll cast my vote for any Mefi'er who applies. I'd love this job, but you have to not only be available to work the six months there, but for a personal interview on-site during the interview process (at your own expense, looks like).

By: Greg Nog

Greg Nog — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:21:47 -0800

I'm not a tremendous fan of the tropics, but I definitely excel at slacking about for a six-figure income. This is just the kind of nouveau-aristocratic position I've been looking for!

By: cashman

cashman — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:27:14 -0800

Eff dat.

By: chococat

chococat — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:39:33 -0800

I'd love this job, but you have to not only be available to work the six months there, but for a personal interview on-site during the interview process (at your own expense, looks like). "Travel costs and accommodation for candidates selected for an interview will be covered by Tourism Queensland. However, personal and incidental expenses will be the responsibility of the candidate."

By: phylum sinter

phylum sinter — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:47:31 -0800

Aussie Blue.

By: MildlyDisturbed

MildlyDisturbed — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:49:45 -0800

an email from a friend of mine insists they're luring people there to kill them.

By: robocop is bleeding

robocop is bleeding — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:11:10 -0800

an email from a friend of mine insists they're luring people there to kill them. Bloggers: The Most Dangerous Game If anyone FTFY, I will hunt you down with an elephant gun. Not a gun designed for shooting at elephants, mind you, but a GUN THAT SHOOTS ELEPHANTS AS ITS MAIN AMMUNITION.

By: delmoi

delmoi — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:20:18 -0800

If anyone FTFY, I will hunt you down with an elephant gun. Not a gun designed for shooting at elephants, mind you, but a GUN THAT SHOOTS ELEPHANTS AS ITS MAIN AMMUNITION. It's main ammunition? Does that implies there is a secondary (or perhaps even tertiary) ammunition as well. What would that be? Rhinos?

By: mandal

mandal — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:20:50 -0800

Bloggers: The Most Dangerous Game I'm calling dibbs on anyone who works for Gawker.

By: PROD_TPSL

PROD_TPSL — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:27:01 -0800

The distance from Jacksonville, FL to Hamilton Island, Queensland Australia is 9,224 miles. I believe that is sufficiently far away enough from my problems...

By: zippy

zippy — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:34:15 -0800

Does that implies there is a secondary (or perhaps even tertiary) ammunition ... The elephant gun's secondary ammunition is laser cats. It doesn't shoot lasers, it launches cats that shoot lasers.

By: ornate insect

ornate insect — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:40:06 -0800

metafilter: it launches cats that shoot lasers

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:41:50 -0800

Isn't this the sort of thing that ends up with people from all over the world on an island run by some seemingly benevolent but shadowy organization that has to be investigated by U.N.C.L.E or something?

By: cloeburner

cloeburner — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:46:12 -0800

The only drawback is you have to live within 100 kilometers of the gigantic frat house that is Australia.

By: swift

swift — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:47:51 -0800

Your chances might be better at Disney.

By: Potomac Avenue

Potomac Avenue — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:48:38 -0800

And I would have gotten away with it if not for you meddling kids and your Internets!

By: robocop is bleeding

robocop is bleeding — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:06:44 -0800

The elephant gun's secondary ammunition is laser cats. It doesn't shoot lasers, it launches cats that shoot lasers. The cats are also dressed like Neo from The Matrix. There is an optional bayonet attachment. It is made out of the color yellow and reeks of sunshine.

By: rmless

rmless — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:11:19 -0800

This job belongs to me and I will elbow all other applicants in the throat.

By: Rhaomi

Rhaomi — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:23:27 -0800

Rhaomi: "Also, is it just me or does this whole thing sound like the set-up for an old Scooby Doo episode?" Oh, wait, it's been done. Spooky abandoned village and all!

By: Flashman

Flashman — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:24:52 -0800

I would've just loved to see David Foster Wallace land this gig.

By: naju

naju — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:35:40 -0800

See, all this tells me is that the reality show producers are getting clever. Mark my words, the fine print on the contract will have plenty of curious stuff about rights to your likeness and personality. Also, every week will have a whole bunch of manufactured "problems" that you'll have to deal with. And the entire world will see you naked on TV. NOT WORTH IT FOLKS.

By: robtf3

robtf3 — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:38:18 -0800

$102,000 US and a chance for the whole world to be scared by my nakedess on TV? Totally worth it.

By: gompa

gompa — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:57:45 -0800

The only drawback is you have to live within 100 kilometers of the gigantic frat house that is Australia. Actually, you'd be living in a kind of annex of it. Hamilton Island's far, far, far from some quiet, sea-breezy tropical idyll - it's easily the most heavily developed island in the Whitsunday chain, which is to say it's pretty much the most heavily touristed island on the Great Barrier Reef. Also, it's about an hour minimum by high-speed catamaran from the nearest world-class diving spot. Hamilton Island has its own marina stuffed with fifty-foot pleasure cruisers and an airport served by multiple daily flights from Brisbane and Sydney, high-rise package tourist hotels, a theme-parkish strip of restaurants and cafes, and a road system dense with golf-cart traffic (hence the "golf buggy" mentioned in the "Office" part of the job description). As I recall there's even a shooting range, and when I was there back in June they were busily bulldozing the island directly across from the marina to turn it into an 18-hole golf course. Plus one end of the island is a no-go zone unless you're a resident or guest of the gated resort/condo community of qualia (invariably rendered without caps to underscore its low-key uniqueness). The qualia people navigate the isle in special sleek black golf carts to further distinguish themselves from the great unwashed. The whole schmeer is owned by the Oatley clan, who built their fortune on Rosemount wines before converting it into a yachting fetish. It's got the general feel of one man's (or family's) private passions and quirks (driving big boats, firing guns, a koala petting zoo) writ large. All that said, I generally love the hell out of the Aussie "frat house" (a bullshit designation I'd have agreed with back before I'd actually spent any time there, when I could carelessly generalize based on the behaviour of the young Aussies I'd met traveling), and in any case I'm pretty sure I'd set up house in the laundry room of a genuine frat house if it meant I could live on the Barrier Reef free of cost for six months. (And in the interest of full disclosure, here's the style of whoring I did to earn my free week's stay.)

By: The Bellman

The Bellman — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:58:09 -0800

Sure, there's jellyfish, but there's lots of cuddly stuff too.

By: filthy light thief

filthy light thief — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:31:29 -0800

The Beeb has 10 tips for this application, and they seem to think you should be knowledgeable about the local wildlife. The job is to "help Tourism Queensland promote the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef," and I think it'd be a lot more fun to see a daily vlog of "holy shit, look what I found! It's huge and gooey!" Also, why would they only allow you to bring a friend or relative, yet provide you a 3 bedroom house? I smell a hidden camera show in the making. Drop in wacky celebrity visitors when the blogging becomes boring.

By: Spatch

Spatch — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:41:25 -0800

Please note: If you do happen to get stung by one of these "stingers", do not by any means rub the sting area. Aw, hell. While reading the page on jellyfish I imagined being stung on my leg, and immediately went to scratch the phantom pain before reading the disclaimer. I'm out!

By: krautland

krautland — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:48:28 -0800

A mere AUD$150,000 not AUD$1,500,000. thanks, I was about to ask. the site seems down from where I am but the compensation at least seems somewhat fair. I wonder what the limitations will be - paid writing gigs do tend to come with strings attached - as I think this could be far more interesting if executed properly. here is one improved proposition: you pay me upfront and I will arrive with equipment and a technical crew. we will set up sixteen live-streaming high-def cameras assembled around a glass cube. I will move into that glass cube for a week. I will be completely naked and without any food or water, toilet paper or a bucket. users will get to decide via online polling whether I get blinds drawn to shade me from the sun or slowly cooked to a boil, whether I deserve aircon, food, drink or whether bright lights and loud music go on or off. there will be absolutely no privacy. I'll call it a comment on the ever-increasing magnification glass humans live under in modern society. food and water may serve as symbols for my credit worthiness, clothes to symbolize the thousands of security cameras that monitor my every movement on a daily basis, etc. if the tourism authority or any other sponsoring or governing body pulls the plug before the week is over they'll owe me another 150k. if I give up before my time is up I'll give any funds left to the most immoral cause I can find. I'll gladly write about rehab until the full six months are over. see? this could be so much more interesting.

By: nola

nola — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:34:31 -0800

I shouldn't be allowed to post here, let alone be paid to write, let alone be paid better than Salman Rushdie to write stupid shit. See the last part of that sentence above, I know what I meant to say but on preview it could be read a couple of different ways. Unintentional ambiguity isn't much of a writing style. Maybe someone will higher me to watch their cats while they're away.

By: Spatch

Spatch — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:31:00 -0800

see? this could be so much more interesting. David Blaine? Is that you?!

By: dilettante

dilettante — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:17:36 -0800

I'm a vegetarian misanthrope, I hate parties and socializing, I get migraines too often, I break out in a horrible weeping rash if I'm in strong sunlight, and it's not that I can swim, I just drown a little more slowly. So how much will they pay me to stay away and not ever, ever write about their islands?

By: krautland

krautland — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:29:10 -0800

David Blaine? Is that you?! blaine ain't gots no shits on mah ash.

By: Fuzzy Monster

Fuzzy Monster — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:29:58 -0800

I wonder if Tourism Australia have got their $150,000 worth of free advertising yet? Is advertising free if it costs $150,000?

By: Effigy2000

Effigy2000 — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:01:53 -0800

Yeah, this is clearly not a job, it's a paid vacation with the only real work you'll be expected to do being to act as a shill for Queensland as a vacation spot via the intertubes. And it's only open to Brits, from what I can tell, which makes sense as no doubt they want to attract more British tourists, but it has ruffled the feathers of a few Australian bloggers on the major news websites here, I can tell you.

By: riane

riane — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:05:26 -0800

My mom and aunt always go to this crazy tea leaf reading fortune teller lady, who insisted to my mother that I'll be making my way to Australia sometime soon. Given that I'm a poor student who is just about to graduate, it's not gonna happen by the power of my own bank account. I'm totally whoring myself out to this thing, just as soon as I can come up with a good video idea. Hidden cameras, celebrity drop-ins, giant jellyfish, whatevs.

By: turgid dahlia

turgid dahlia — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:56:44 -0800

People interested in this ought to read Andrew McGahan's excellent book 1988, which details a similar situation. Islands, isolation, and lots and lots of drugs.

By: Jimbob

Jimbob — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:52:16 -0800

but it has ruffled the feathers of a few Australian bloggers on the major news websites here, I can tell you. Why? I make it a point never to read Australian bloggers on the major news websites. Do they want a job shilling for Queensland?

By: jacalata

jacalata — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:22:50 -0800

And it's only open to Brits, from what I can tell, What makes you think that? Not from what I've seen - it simply says that if you are not an Australian citizen, you must be eligible for a visa. I tried to convince my little brother to appy, but he has commitments in July. Pity, I think he'd be great.

By: Mitheral

Mitheral — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:33:59 -0800

robocop is bleeding writes "a GUN THAT SHOOTS ELEPHANTS AS ITS MAIN AMMUNITION" Sounds like an ork weapon from 2e 40K.

By: Ghidorah

Ghidorah — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:31:25 -0800

It's definitely open to other nationalities. There was an ad in Japanese in the Japan Times this morning. I think this is one of those "wacky college essay" type of applications. There's simply no way a well written, earnest application would fly. You'd need to write something about how you've been kidnapped by pirates, and forced to do unspeakable things, but yet were able to convince the pirates of the error of their ways, and they became anti-pirates/force for good types, and you and your anti-pirate brigade wander the world, like Cane in Kung-fu. That's not such a bad idea...

By: CitizenD

CitizenD — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:45:46 -0800

what you mean, you gonna walk the earth?

By: stavrosthewonderchicken

stavrosthewonderchicken — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:05:14 -0800

You have to be media-friendly? I was a freakin' shoe-in for this gig, but now: well, that's me out. I HAET TEH MEDIAS.

By: sycophant

sycophant — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:55:55 -0800

Yeah, that looks like a great job, but fuck the application process.

By: JaredSeth

JaredSeth — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:08:13 -0800

I hope they're not paying for bandwidth.

By: terranova

terranova — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:27:32 -0800

Local media said technicians had to restore the website (www.islandreefjob.com) after it could not cope with the volume of interest and crashed for several hours. Some sections are still not up and running. Thanks. I'd been wondering where the JournalSpace admins were working these days.

By: Chuffy

Chuffy — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:48:16 -0800

I wonder what they're gonna do with all that information about where people have worked, and what their hobbies are, and how to contact them via all sorts of ways...? Probably gonna just throw all that data away, but you never know...they might use it for something.

By: UbuRoivas

UbuRoivas — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:24:25 -0800

In a staggering display of ham-fistedness (How Not to do Viral Marketing 101) it has been revealed that a video of a woman who supposedly tattoed herself to win the job was a fake produced by the advertising agency.