NationStates Jolt Archive

No, I didn't get called by a prank-caller or a psycho killer (at least, so far as I know). I recieved a phone call from the Navy.

Now, to be fair, they send me mailings on a monthly basis (most of which my mother disposes of before I even see them, the last one I saw was a college letter from Annapolis), so I suppose I shouldn't be suprised. Let alone disturbed. At this point, I take it as a compliment that they are willing to waste so much money on me. It wasn't so much that they called me that disturbed me, although it strikes me as a very agressive recruiting tactic (in comparison, only one of my colleges even called me at all, and that was after I expressed explicit interest in the college). I certainly don't have anything against the armed services. I just don't feel that I could serve this President or any President at all like him with any loyalty at all, because I feel no loyalty to them.

No, what bothered me was how clever the recruiters are. Their caller was clearly picked to be a charismatic person who was close to my age, and who used very colloquial and friendly language ("thanks man" etc.). When I expressed my disinterest (rather more firmly than was perhaps polite), they tried to collect information on me (so what are your plans after High School?), and then tried to get me to give names of other interested students. Given my distaste for recruiters, I was rather suprised (both caught off balance, given that I had just finished dinner, and sympathetic to the character the recruiter used) to find myself feeling sorry for the poor recruiter.

Why does it disturb me? It shows just how good the military has gotten at manipulating people. I'm disturbed because kids my age really aren't that good at detecting manipulation and deception, and this takes advantage of their relative naiveté. So whaddaya think: am I overreacting? Being too suspicious? Being a stupid lefty?

That or the draft.

I say you did the right thing.

Of course, I'd just hang up on a recruiter (preferably near the end of the "greeting") if I got such a call. I'm a cold bastard that way.

No, what bothered me was how clever the recruiters are. Their caller was clearly picked to be a charismatic person who was close to my age, and who used very colloquial and friendly language ("thanks man" etc.).

So they're despicably clever for using recruiters that can relate to those they're trying to recruit? What? You expected him to use words like "groovy" or call you a "hep cat" or something?

You're overreacting -- bordering on insane, frankly. Get yourself a tinfoil hat.

I think you're over reacting a bit, they're recruiters, that's their job. Every college recruiter I've known (and since I was one for a while, I've met a number of them) do the exact same thing.

The military ones tend to be a bit more pushy, but they have to meet quotas and deal with a highly compedative market, whereas colleges usually just have to wait for the kids to come to them.

So they're despicably clever for using recruiters that can relate to those they're trying to recruit? What? You expected him to use words like "groovy" or call you a "hep cat" or something?

You're overreacting -- bordering on insane, frankly. Get yourself a tinfoil hat.

I expect that someone attempting to recruit me to a job will use formal language and protocal. Although I have to admit that I might enjoy a recruiter using "groovy".

I expect that someone attempting to recruit me to a job will use formal language and protocal.

Why? Someone attempting to recruit you to a job will likely try to create an atmosphere that they believe comfortable to you.

I'm confused.. did you expect him to be rude? Sound like R Lee Emrey?

Recruiting is simply sales, and the first rule of sales is establish a connection with the potential client. So, yeah, recruiters tend to be younger NCOs, and are taught that conversational style to keep you talking. The goal is to get you into the office to look at materials and talk some more.

The sailor in questioned like he was good at his job, and all you really need to do to stop him is to say "I'm sorry, but I've decided that military service isn't right for me."

Why? Someone attempting to recruit you to a job will likely try to create an atmosphere that they believe comfortable to you.

I may be out of date, but I tend to believe that in the professional world, formal language should be used with strangers. Would you adress a client with informal language?

I'm confused.. did you expect him to be rude? Sound like R Lee Emrey?

I have to admit that I expected more formality, but I may just be old-fashioned.

Recruiting is simply sales, and the first rule of sales is establish a connection with the potential client. So, yeah, recruiters tend to be younger NCOs, and are taught that conversational style to keep you talking. The goal is to get you into the office to look at materials and talk some more.

What bothers me is not so much that they are attempting to sell me on the concept of serving, but rather that they are significantly more manipulative and agressive than colleges (I'd also love to know how they got my number, but I try not to ask too much).

The sailor in questioned like he was good at his job, and all you really need to do to stop him is to say "I'm sorry, but I've decided that military service isn't right for me."

Really? Because after I informed him that I was uninterested in the Navy, he continued to push for information. I didn't mind too much, since I figure they won't call back, but that was fairly rude.

I certainly don't blame the sailor in question; he was just doing his job. I am simply bothered by the agressiveness and heavy marketing that the military uses.

I say you did the right thing.

No, he did the left thing.
Of course, I'd just hang up on a recruiter (preferably near the end of the "greeting") if I got such a call. I'm a cold bastard that way.

I'd stay on the phone, moan a lil, ask the person what he's wearing, tell him to talk dirty to me, then start singing You Are My Sunshine.

I'm weird like that.

I'd stay on the phone, moan a lil, ask the person what he's wearing, tell him to talk dirty to me, then start singing You Are My Sunshine.

I'm weird like that.

Well, at the very least, the recruiter would have an interesting story to tell his buddies at the end of the day.

i wouldn't have given him the time of day. i'm usually instantly suspicious of anyone i don't know being chummy with me, particularly over the phone. there's absolutely no way i'd give them any names of my peers.

i'm quite glad that the military recruiters over here are just very matter-of-fact and they pretty much explain that joining the military is going to lead you into places you don't want to be right from the off. or at least they did when i was at school, they might have changed now that they really need cannon fodder. recent advertising campaigns have been a bit gung-ho though.

No, I didn't get called by a prank-caller or a psycho killer (at least, so far as I know). I recieved a phone call from the Navy.

Now, to be fair, they send me mailings on a monthly basis (most of which my mother disposes of before I even see them, the last one I saw was a college letter from Annapolis), so I suppose I shouldn't be suprised. Let alone disturbed. At this point, I take it as a compliment that they are willing to waste so much money on me. It wasn't so much that they called me that disturbed me, although it strikes me as a very agressive recruiting tactic (in comparison, only one of my colleges even called me at all, and that was after I expressed explicit interest in the college). I certainly don't have anything against the armed services. I just don't feel that I could serve this President or any President at all like him with any loyalty at all, because I feel no loyalty to them.

No, what bothered me was how clever the recruiters are. Their caller was clearly picked to be a charismatic person who was close to my age, and who used very colloquial and friendly language ("thanks man" etc.). When I expressed my disinterest (rather more firmly than was perhaps polite), they tried to collect information on me (so what are your plans after High School?), and then tried to get me to give names of other interested students. Given my distaste for recruiters, I was rather suprised (both caught off balance, given that I had just finished dinner, and sympathetic to the character the recruiter used) to find myself feeling sorry for the poor recruiter.

Why does it disturb me? It shows just how good the military has gotten at manipulating people. I'm disturbed because kids my age really aren't that good at detecting manipulation and deception, and this takes advantage of their relative naiveté. So whaddaya think: am I overreacting? Being too suspicious? Being a stupid lefty?

Well I read an article that said and I quote "The military is growing desperate to find worthy recruits, the students found in schools and colleges these days are not what the military sees as useful". They're desperate for people. And the brainwashing kids part is despicable, if Bush was more sensible in this war they wouldn't need to sink so low in the name of defense.

they wouldn't need to sink so low in the name of defense.

I don't think I've ever heard the invasion and occupation of a country referred to as "defence" before.

I don't think I've ever heard the invasion and occupation of a country referred to as "defence" before.

We were simply defending our oil. It isn't our fault it was under someone else's sand! :p

I don't think I've ever heard the invasion and occupation of a country referred to as "defence" before.

Well this is a situation where they hit us, we hit them back hard, and now they're out to get us when we let our gaurd down. we are only staying there to prevent them from invading.

Hey, you think you've got problems i have two voicemail messages from someone or someones living in Auckland or the Auckland region and i don't know who they are.:eek:

Well, at the very least, the recruiter would have an interesting story to tell his buddies at the end of the day.

True, but I think screaming really loudly in the middle of a sentence and then pounding on the walls (again with repeated screaming) would be a hell of a lot funnier.

For the person doing it, anyway.

Join the War on Terror Americans! (http://home.att.net/~jvbond0007/grp203.jpg)

Yeah, Deutfchland is the fhiznit.

I may be out of date, but I tend to believe that in the professional world, formal language should be used with strangers. Would you adress a client with informal language?


You assume that you are in the professional world in this situation? That's your problem.

You were, for lack of a better term, a sales call. They were trying to sell you something, and the best way to sell someone something is to relate to them as you best think they want to be related to. I am formal with my client because they expect formality.

Your average teenager does not. You may not be average, fine. Recruitment calls aren't about you. They don't care about you. They're about volume. Thy're about having as high a sucess rate as possible. They're about maximizing every moment they spend on the phone. In short, they're about getting as many teenagers to come into the office as possible. And they will do what gives them the greatest level of success overall. The goal isn't o get EVERYONE. That's impossible. The goal is to get as many as possible.

And how do you do that? you look at the demographic, and you tailor your style appropriatly. I am a professional because the demographic I do busness with responds best to professionals. They are relaxed, jovial and informal, because the demographic they deal with responds best to relaxed, informal attitudes.

I work in a certain way because the people I work with, in general, expect that. If I meet with a new client for the first time I will be a professional. Why? Because in general the peope I deal with, on average, want professionals. I don't work with teenagers. They do. So they will in a mannor that makes the people THEY work with, on average, more comfortable.

They care about bulk, they care about volume. They'd rather converse the way most people in that demographic are comfortable with, and lose you, than deal with the way you feel comfortable with and lose even more people. They don't know you, they don't know how you respond, they don't know a thing about you. So they are going to make an assumption. That assumption will be based on averages. Averages don't hold true for everyone. They didn't hold true for you. That's fine. But again, they don't care about you.

No, he did the left thing.
Terrible. Just ... terrible.



I'm weird like that.
Truer words were never said. :D

How about saying you'd join only if you could work with dolphins - and you'd only do it on a double bill, with one you want to bring yourself?

You assume that you are in the professional world in this situation? That's your problem.

Well, I read it as recruiting for a job, and a job certainly deals with the professional world. I therefore assumed that they would reflect that in their recruiting. That was almost certainly a stupid assumption, but it still suprised me at the time.

However, I understand what you are saying and conceed the point.