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314 Mizuko Itoto him, SnafuDave had recently launched merchandising ventures such asT-shirts, prints, and buttons to sell at conventions. Now his site hosts a webstore where fans can order these items. At the time of our interview, he wasnot making a living off web comics. “I would really like it to be paying forall of our lifestyles someday. And definitely, right now, I believe it could.” Iasked if his family and local friends were supportive of these aspirations.Well, my mom actually thinks I’m a complete waste to society, no matter what. She’sall, “Get a real job.” Even though, I . . . yeah. Whatever. My dad thinks it’s pretty cool.About a third of my friends are really supportive of it. I’d say about two thirds . . . actually,about one third doesn’t care at all. And then another third actually despises me forit. Like they hate that I get all this attention online when I’m just a kid from a smalltown.I am curious about whether there is a stigma attached to being so involvedin comics and anime, and SnafuDave explained that the issue is more personal.“I design websites once or twice a month for clients and then I play onlineall day. And it drives people crazy. It really does. . . . But I don’t think it’s thatenvious. I’m sure it is a really cool job, but I’m just a nerd. It’s not like I’m arock star or anything.” In a follow-up email, almost two years after the initialinterview in 2006, he gave me an update. His merchandising business hadstarted paying off enough that he quit his day job to devote himself full timeto web comics. He may not be a rock star, but he is one of a handful of artistswho have parlayed their web comics hobby into a professional career.FreelancingAnother category of paid work that young people can gain access tothrough new media is different forms of freelance and contract labor.Technically sophisticated youth recognize that they have marketable skillsthat are in demand from their peers and adults in their vicinity. Most ofthese kids do not try to profit from this and engage in informal help andsharing with family and friends. This is in the vein of chores and childcare, for which youth may receive small financial rewards, but the workalso often is framed as household obligation. Altimit, an eighteen-year-oldFilipino American told Mac Man, a seventeen-year-old Filiipino Americanin Katynka Martínez’s study (High School Computer Club), that his fatheroften asks him to help out fixing his family’s and friend’s computers:Altimit: Yeah, and like my friend’s house, usually my family friend, theywould say, “Oh, something’s broken.” So, rather than him coming, hesends me. So, like, “I’m trying to play World of Warcraft.” “I don’t care.