system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: What exactly is a lobbyist? And why do people dislike them so much?
gpt
A lobbyist is someone who is paid to advocate for a group or an issue to politicians.  

Every day, they will phone up various politician's offices, arrange meetings with them, throw parties and invite them, and so on.  There is a wide variety of tactics involved, most of which cost money or time - money and time which the average person doesn't have.

On the one hand, lobbyists are useful for making sure politicians know how you feel about an issue.  On the other hand, it gives more influence to any special interest or corporation with enough money to hire one (or dozens).  This is why people dislike them!