SE Hoya Containment Thread (aka Politics) - Page 543 - Sporting Events and Fantasy Sports

I've never once denied my outrageous privilege in virtually all things, or that it is rooted in previous generations. Of course I benefited from my parents' relative wealth. I've been lucky, and it meant that compared to many of my peers I didn't have to scratch and claw to get where I've managed to get, which is to become a middling attorney (but climbing!). I do not take it for granted that I've never known discrimination and never known legitimate family challenges, etc. I've had other problems in my life which I don't ever talk about on the internet, like anyone, but I mean - how could I complain when nothing ever really went wrong in the traditional "privilege" regards?

On the other hand, here's a completely standard tale about boomer business:

My legal career started with > $100k in student debt and my being laid off less than a year into my career because the white shoe firm that hired me out of law school made a weeeeeeeeee little mistake when it forecasted infinite growth over an infinite timeline. As a result of that stereotypically shortsighted and moronic boomer forecasting, it hired an entire class of associates (this is like 25 people at $160k each) that it couldn't afford to pay. This was a problem in need of a solution.

First, the firm fabricated reasons to fire a couple dozen Gen X associates that it didn't really need because it wasn't generating enough work to justify their existence at the firm. That is to say, they fired associates because the boomer partners who pay themselves large amounts of equity for being awesome attorneys were actually tanking the firm by not generating enough business / work to pay their exorbitant draws. I wasn't in that group.

That wasn't enough cost control, so the next thing they did 3 weeks later was lay off over a dozen more associates that everyone liked, by offering them 2 months' severance and the option of remaining with the firm for those 2 months to look for another job while maintaining the semblance of ongoing employment. That wasn't enough to maintain the "profitability" of the firm, either, so they also fired like a third of the staff (including a third of the secretarial staff). I wasn't in that group, either.

Then the firm held a firm-wide meeting where the head of the entire firm informed every remaining associate that the firm was cash rich and healthy, that it had planned well in advance of the business downturn, and that everyone in the room should be confident of their career with the firm.

The next week I and all other first year associates were laid off with the same 2 month severance package. The reason: the new first year associates who were hired during the business downturn needed a place to go, and the firm couldn't / wouldn't pay both us and the 1-year-younger associates it had more recently hired. It was worse PR to not give them jobs, so the firm got rid of us.

I then went without employment as a lawyer for almost a year because what that firm did is what all firms did in 2008-2009.

That was a cool experience. That is a story providing windows for assault on the boomer business ethos so numerous that the entire facade is built of glass and dusty breeze.

So in summary, LOL at the concept of some benefits mitigating the validity of criticism of America's worst and most damaging generation. We will spend our lives trying to cure the ills of racism, inequality, trickle-down policy, trade deficit, spending deficit and entitlement bankruptcy before we ever get the chance to hand our children a better shot than we got. This is policy. It's not random chance that the boomers get it all to waste it all, and that we pay for it. That's design. Careless design, mostly, rather than nefarious design - which is more of an indictment in a way; to be evil is one thing, abjectly stupid another - but no less pernicious in our lives.

All firms certainly did not do that in 2008-2009.

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08-05-2016 , 03:37 PM

#13552

pwnsall

CFBBPC

Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 65,694

a poorly run business had to make decisions to lay off people, sounds fine

should have happened to the banks and cars

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08-05-2016 , 03:43 PM

#13553

Pwn_Master

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 8,766

Hoya, sounds to me like your beef is more with HUMANS than BOOMERS specifically, abject stupidity and selfishness can be found in all generations.

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08-05-2016 , 03:47 PM

#13554

CPHoya

Warden of Taipan Island

Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 73,265

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bdidd

All firms certainly did not do that in 2008-2009.

You're right, not all. Most major law firms. Functionally, it was enough that lateraling was not possible - the firms you would lateral to could pick from infinite desirable associates they couldn't touch 12 months prior, or they were in the process of firing people just like that. Some major firms just outright failed due to their terrible planning (Heller Ehrman LLP, Thelen LLP).

It's what the majority of comparable firms did in 2008 - 2009, either publicly or through "stealth" layoffs. That was the defining story for 2 years in the industry. There's no way to deny this.

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08-05-2016 , 03:48 PM

#13555

CPHoya

Warden of Taipan Island

Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 73,265

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwnsall

a poorly run business had to make decisions to lay off people, sounds fine

should have happened to the banks and cars

Nah, it's with the BOOMERS because they are the dumbest and worst of the HUMANS in America.

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08-05-2016 , 03:50 PM

#13556

diskoteque

Joey Local

Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 30,420

Quote:

Originally Posted by CPHoya

You're right, not all. Most major law firms. Functionally, it was enough that lateraling was not possible - the firms you would lateral to could pick from infinite desitable associates they couldn't touch 12 months prior, or they were in the process of firing people just like that. Some major firms just outright failed due to their terrible planning (Heller Ehrman LLP, Thelen LLP).

It's what the majority of comparable firms did in 2008 - 2009, either publicly or through "stealth" layoffs. That was the defining story for 2 years in the industry. There's no way to deny this.

And the few that didn't fire everyone just drastically reduced their incoming summer associate classes going forward which c/o 2010 and 2011 kids reasonably relied on

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08-05-2016 , 04:11 PM

#13557

THAY3R

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 36,550

Without a hint of irony Hoya was glued to the GOP convention and is going to vote for a neocon warmongerer

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08-05-2016 , 04:13 PM

#13558

PocketChads

guaranteed 42-10 finish

Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 22,451

TBH it would be worse if he voted ironically

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08-05-2016 , 04:18 PM

#13559

Holliday

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 22,226

Quote:

Originally Posted by THAY3R

Without a hint of irony Hoya was glued to the GOP convention and is going to vote for a neocon warmongerer

Kind of like when you insinuate other people are dumb.

On a completely unrelated note; "warmonger"

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08-05-2016 , 04:23 PM

#13560

Palo

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 10,563

Anything that reduces the number of working lawyers sounds like God's work to me.

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08-05-2016 , 04:24 PM

#13561

heh

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 10,270

hashtagbombthe****outofthem

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08-05-2016 , 04:28 PM

#13562

suzzer99

Save the Cheerleader, Save the World

Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 99,986

Quote:

Originally Posted by cannabusto

In a word, yes. I love me some BOSS but Secret Garden is confirmed terrible.

Empty Garden by Elton John far superior

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08-05-2016 , 04:38 PM

#13563

Lee C

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4,152

As a non-American, I generally do not have a huge vested interest in the US election (although, I definitely have had choices I've cheered for in my adult life) but this year is very different. I simply cannot believe that a guy like Donald Trump is a legit candidate for president. The man has absolutely 0 platform that he's running other than building a giant wall that Mexico will somehow pay for(?!?!), making America great again (who gives a **** about the details right?) and making better trade deals for the US (How? Who knows?).

I was legitimately getting scared of the outcome of this election because the US still has a major influence on the rest of the world and particularly Canada (where I live). I was so happy to see that it looks like an American muslim that immigrated is the one who is majorly contributing to his demise.

I understand Trump supporters wanting to clamp down on illegal immigration... but what about other things? Healthcare, education, the economy. I have 0 idea what Trump's stance is on any of that and I'm pretty sure most Trump supporters do either.

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08-05-2016 , 04:42 PM

#13564

SenorKeeed

mew mew mew

Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 37,478

Believe me, it's going to be terrific. Education, healthcare, economy. The best.

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08-05-2016 , 04:42 PM

#13565

SenorKeeed

mew mew mew

Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 37,478

No problem there at all, believe me.

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08-05-2016 , 04:43 PM

#13566

gregorio

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 39,313

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee C

I understand Trump supporters wanting to clamp down on illegal immigration... but what about other things? Healthcare, education, the economy. I have 0 idea what Trump's stance is on any of that and I'm pretty sure most Trump supporters do either.

Trump's stance is that all of these are broken and he's going to fix them and make America great again. What else do you need to know in order to vote for him?

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08-05-2016 , 04:43 PM

#13567

Bdidd

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 11,104

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee C

To be fair, the one thing he says about education is to get rid of common core.

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08-05-2016 , 04:43 PM

#13568

Holliday

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 22,226

Healthcare: "I am very healthy"
Education: "I created Trump University"
Economy: "I will create many, many jobs. The best jobs"

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08-05-2016 , 04:47 PM

#13569

Lee C

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4,152

Quote:

Originally Posted by SenorKeeed

Believe me, it's going to be terrific. Education, healthcare, economy. The best.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SenorKeeed

No problem there at all, believe me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregorio

Trump's stance is that all of these are broken and he's going to fix them and make America great again. What else do you need to know in order to vote for him?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holliday

Healthcare: "I am very healthy"
Education: "I created Trump University"
Economy: "I will create many, many jobs. The best jobs"

Alright, I stand corrected.

Thanks guys.

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08-05-2016 , 04:48 PM

#13570

Palo

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 10,563

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee C

I was so happy to see that it looks like an American muslim that immigrated is the one who is majorly contributing to his demise.

What has Obama got to do with Trump?

Ikes stays banned even if Trump drops out and someone else becomes the GOP nominee, right?

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08-05-2016 , 04:49 PM

#13571

CPHoya

Warden of Taipan Island

Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 73,265

Quote:

Originally Posted by THAY3R

Without a hint of irony Hoya was glued to the GOP convention and is going to vote for a neocon warmongerer

As is your poasting norm, you are misusing the word irony - another word you do not understand - while simultaneously making a hash of the accusation you're trying to play off of in the first place. In any case, I was equally or more glued to the DNC.

But more importantly, I take your post to be intended to mean that by voting for Clinton I am supporting BOOMERS and all they stand for, and that if I wanted to not support them I would need only to vote for Trump, Johnson, Stein or . . . nobody. Or perhaps it is ironic, in your opinion, that I would vote for a person of the boomer generation over . . . other people of the boomer generation? Every candidate is of that generation.

I have colored all of the parts of your intended joke / criticism that are asinine. I hope it is instructive.

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08-05-2016 , 04:51 PM

#13572

Lee C

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4,152

Wow, the color of your font is tough to read.

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08-05-2016 , 04:52 PM

#13573

Bdidd

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 11,104

Quote:

Originally Posted by diskoteque

And the few that didn't fire everyone just drastically reduced their incoming summer associate classes going forward which c/o 2010 and 2011 kids reasonably relied on

Mid size regional firms were/are where it's at IMO. Sure, you aren't going to make 6 figures right out of the gate (at least in the late 90s when I started out), but often you are more than an employee number billing bot to the management because they actually get to know you. And you can actually have a life on the weekends most of the time.