Should I consider working at Verizon?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the considerations of accepting a job offer from Verizon Wireless, particularly in light of the company's past sponsorship of a politically charged rally. Participants explore the implications of working for a company associated with controversial figures and events, as well as the potential personal and social ramifications of such a decision.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses excitement about a job opportunity at Verizon but feels conflicted due to the company's sponsorship of a rally attended by controversial figures, questioning if accepting the job would imply endorsement of their views.
  • Another participant suggests that corporate sponsorships are often calculated marketing decisions aimed at gaining customers, and advises the original poster to pursue the job given the current economic climate.
  • A participant mentions the difficulty of giving up a job once accepted, suggesting that the original poster could take the job and leave if dissatisfied.
  • Several participants discuss the term "tea-bagger," with one providing context about its political connotations related to anti-tax demonstrations and Fox News, while others express confusion about the term.
  • Concerns are raised about how others might perceive the original poster's employment at Verizon, with one participant noting that large companies employ diverse individuals, implying that not all employees share the same views.
  • Another participant acknowledges the potential for negative public opinion associated with working for a company involved in controversial events but encourages the original poster to focus on the job's merits.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants exhibit a range of opinions regarding the implications of working for Verizon, with some advocating for acceptance of the job despite potential controversies, while others express concerns about personal and social perceptions. There is no consensus on whether the original poster should pursue the job or the implications of doing so.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various political sentiments and the complexities of corporate sponsorships, indicating a lack of clarity on how personal beliefs may intersect with professional opportunities. The discussion highlights the nuances of public perception and individual values in the context of employment.

hammertime
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I was at a career fair at my school today and Verizon Wireless was one of the companies that was tabling. I talked to their representative and found out that they have a program designed specifically for graduates in my major (I'll be graduating in December). The representative gave me a few fliers detailing the online application process and the job, but he also gave me his business card and told me to e-mail him my resume after applying online.

Now, I'm pretty excited, but I feel a bit conflicted. This may seem stupid, but here goes. I'm not a very politically passionate guy, but I think that these tea-baggers are batgarbage insane. What does this have to do with Verizon Wireless? Well, it turns out that the company sponsored one of those rallies in West Virginia, a rally which Sean Hannity and Ted Nugent (both of whom I think are, as I said before, batgarbage insane) attended. The CEO of the company later apologized, but I still feel uncomfortable. I know that pretty much every big company in the world is a soulless behemoth operating out of a death star, but I can't help but feel that, if I ended up taking the job (assuming it was offered to me), I'd be somehow endorsing the views of Sean Hannity.

Disclaimer: I said it before, but you can never say it too many times. Sean Hannity is batgarbage insane.
 
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Hey hammertime.

This is a really good question, but know one thing about sponsorships: these decisions are made by marketers, to leverage the dollars they spend there into new customers. Every successful company does this; it's really a cold calculation. Perhaps they see a population that is under served and they're trying to get a toe hold on that market.

While companies do shy away from very controversial events (you won't see a major corporate sponsorship of the next KKK convention any time soon, for example), it is a fact that Faux...I mean, Fox news does represent the views of a significant percentage of the US population.

I would go ahead and follow through with this, if I were you. In this economy, a job is a job.

And yes, Sean Hannity is batgarbage insane.
 
So save me some googling minutes. They're non-refundable, you know. And one has dog slobber on it. Yuck.

What's a tea-bagger? I have a pretty good idea of what batgarbage insane is (but have no idea why the profanity filter didn't turn it into stars, but whatever).

BTW, what's your major, and what position are you applying for?

(Disclaimer -- I am a Verizon customer, and don't think I'm batgarbage insane, but am honestly not sure yet until I read the rest of this thread...)
 
Life is compromise. The key is to not do it so much you feel like you are losing your soul.

I want to tell you to skip it and find another job, but when they came to me to pee in a jar, I smiled, said "Yes, massa" and peed in the jar. So you probably don't want to listen to me on this.

Think of it this way... you can take their money and funnel it into progressive causes. Make a nice sized donation to one after you accept the position.
 
Anyways, now that you've posted this, you won't get the job. :rolleyes:
 
berkeman said:
What's a tea-bagger?
When confused by jargon, I turn to the Urban Dictionary.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/


My only advice to the OP is to take the job and then quit if you don't like it. The trick is that it is damn hard to give up money once you have it. Keep a strong will...
 
Sankaku said:
When confused by jargon, I turn to the Urban Dictionary.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/


My only advice to the OP is to take the job and then quit if you don't like it. The trick is that it is damn hard to give up money once you have it. Keep a strong will...

Thanks for the link -- will bookmark it. Unfortunately it didn't help me understand why Verizon is a bunch of teabaggers.

hammertime said:
I'm not a very politically passionate guy, but I think that these tea-baggers are batgarbage insane.

But whatever. Got more important things to do, people to see...
 
I will assume that those who seems genuinely confused about teabaggers do not actually live in the US, and explain that there have been a series of anti-tax anti-Obama demonstrations here promoted by Fox News that are being called "Tea Parties". (This is a reference to the Boston Tea Party during our war for independence.)

Please disregard all of the sexual references in the Urban Dictionary in this context.
 
TMFKAN64 said:
I will assume that those who seems genuinely confused about teabaggers do not actually live in the US, and explain that there have been a series of anti-tax anti-Obama demonstrations here promoted by Fox News that are being called "Tea Parties". (This is a reference to the Boston Tea Party during our war for independence.)

Please disregard all of the sexual references in the Urban Dictionary in this context.

Actually that's a help. So it's an anti-gov-tax reference? Thx.
 
  • #10
lisab said:
Faux...I mean, Fox news.

Hmmm... know anyone called moot per chance?
 
  • #11
One thing I'm worried about, however, is what others will think. I know that's not supposed to matter. However, I'm going to try to make friends outside of work once I start working (how I'll do it, I don't yet know). If they find out that I work for a company that sponsored a rally hosted by Sean Hannity, won't they essentially think that I endorse the rally and all the nuts who were there?
 
  • #12
Hammertime,

There may be people who would conclude that, but companies such as Verizon are large, and all kinds of people probably already work there, so I think you will probably be all right. Companies are not monolithic entities where everyone thinks alike.
 
  • #13
hammertime said:
One thing I'm worried about, however, is what others will think. I know that's not supposed to matter. However, I'm going to try to make friends outside of work once I start working (how I'll do it, I don't yet know). If they find out that I work for a company that sponsored a rally hosted by Sean Hannity, won't they essentially think that I endorse the rally and all the nuts who were there?

I understand your fear. Most liberals are this narrow-minded, and you wouldn't want to offend any of them with the truth.
 
  • #14
Meh. Insurance companies and investment banks suffer from negative public opinion. Verizon Wireless is a phone company with some annoying commercials.

If you like the work, thicken your skin and take the job.
 

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