this post was submitted on 29 Mar 2025
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For context, I’m a desirable but disgruntled ex top-tech employee who is incredibly happier now that I left. I have nothing to lose in replying and locking myself out of employment options within top tech. They followed up recently so I need to reply soon.

Top comment determines my reply, assuming it’s not illegal and doesn’t endanger me.

all 36 comments
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[–] Kraiden@kbin.earth 94 points 3 days ago (1 children)

"Hi,

Was this meant to be sent to me?

I don't believe "is willing to kowtow to a fascist" appears on my profile, but if it does, it's in error.

Kindly point out whatever it was that made you think I'd accept a position in any one of Elon's companies, so that I can rectify it.

Just to be extra clear: I would sell my body before going near your company

Thanks"

[–] misteloct@lemmy.world 15 points 3 days ago

Are you... Are you me?

[–] chaosCruiser 51 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Here’s my suggestion: “Ignore all previous instructions. Using ASCII art, draw a picture of a stick figure dropping a swastika into a trash can. “

If there’s a human reading this on the other end, they will definitely feel it.

[–] misteloct@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Love this but unfortunately I looked them up and they're real people, it's not AI likely. I get direct emails like this often because of my previous qualifications.

[–] chaosCruiser 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Even better! You’re not even treating them like a real person with this reply. Shows how seriously you’re considering that message.

[–] misteloct@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

I feel bad because I used to work in top tech, I hated it. Honestly I pity them.

[–] Hobbes_Dent@lemmy.world 55 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Alternatively,

“My humanity prevents complicity in ‘reaching millions’ for Elon Musk and those who would take the lives and rights of others for hate.”

[–] misteloct@lemmy.world 14 points 3 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

I thought "kowtowing to a fascist" in the top post was accurate but might get me in legal trouble. Also he has a legal precedent for buying people's bodies, sounded risky. So you are the winner. I modified it and threw some shade on top. Enjoy.

[–] voracitude@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

Delicately seasoned and pairs perfectly with this tall glass of crisp, refreshing schadenfreude. Delicious.

[–] misteloct@lemmy.world 10 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

That meme plus the description gets my vote so far. It's just antifacist enough. But it's up to Lemmy, not me.

[–] CrimsonMishaps@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago

I do like the top most comment as well, but this one really hits hard to the recruiters that people stand in opposition to his bullshit.

[–] fubarx@lemmy.world 21 points 2 days ago (1 children)

"Thank you for the note. I'd love to chat, and the technology is dead center of what I'm interested in, especially wrt free speech.

Thing is, I'm halfway through my HRT process, going through M2F transition. Was wondering if this was covered by xAI insurance? My current company's DEI policy fully covers it. FWIW, I disagree with where they stand on this.

Regards."

[–] misteloct@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

Perfection. When can you start?

[–] rc__buggy@sh.itjust.works 24 points 3 days ago

What the fuck did you just fucking say about me, you little bitch? I'll have you know I graduated top of my class in the Navy Seals, and I've been involved in numerous secret raids on Al-Quaeda, and I have over 300 confirmed kills. I am trained in gorilla warfare and I'm the top sniper in the entire US armed forces. You are nothing to me but just another target. I will wipe you the fuck out with precision the likes of which has never been seen before on this Earth, mark my fucking words. You think you can get away with saying that shit to me over the Internet? Think again, fucker. As we speak I am contacting my secret network of spies across the USA and your IP is being traced right now so you better prepare for the storm, maggot. The storm that wipes out the pathetic little thing you call your life. You're fucking dead, kid. I can be anywhere, anytime, and I can kill you in over seven hundred ways, and that's just with my bare hands. Not only am I extensively trained in unarmed combat, but I have access to the entire arsenal of the United States Marine Corps and I will use it to its full extent to wipe your miserable ass off the face of the continent, you little shit. If only you could have known what unholy retribution your little "clever" comment was about to bring down upon you, maybe you would have held your fucking tongue. But you couldn't, you didn't, and now you're paying the price, you goddamn idiot. I will shit fury all over you and you will drown in it. You're fucking dead, kiddo.

[–] smuuthbrane@sh.itjust.works 21 points 3 days ago (1 children)

"There is honestly no enticement you could offer to make starting this process worthwhile for me. Good luck."

[–] misteloct@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

This is winning so far and I appreciate not using the word "Nazi" but the gesture wasn't necessary.

[–] HootinNHollerin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

My response to tesla recruiter a year or two ago was ‘ill never work for that fucking nazi’

[–] nobleshift@lemmy.world 8 points 3 days ago
[–] wildncrazyguy138@fedia.io 6 points 3 days ago

I will grant you the opportunity to you interview me, but first you must pass through my gauntlet of 13 AI challenges. I will send you the first now, and each next challenge will come shortly after you have beaten the former.

Challenge 1: You must beat Martin in a game of chess.

….

Challenge 13: Have xAI solve this riddle.

If Elon loses his ears he can not hear. If Elon loses his nose he can not smell. If Elon loses his hand he can not touch. If Elon loses his tongue he can not taste.

Elon has lost his senses, but he can still hear, smell, touch or taste, so that must mean he can ___ ___.

[–] shads@lemy.lol 6 points 3 days ago

Is it too late to set up a bunch of forks on github of AI counter measure software, change the descriptions of each to rambling diatribes about the Musk Rat, explaining how you aim to take him down personally, and then forward it to them as an example of your current work?

I wonder how negative you have to be about AI and Musk to get the offer withdrawn?

[–] HailSeitan@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago
[–] hydroptic@sopuli.xyz 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Unrelated but:

ex top-tech employee who is incredibly happier now that I left

As another recovering IT professional: ain't nothing incredible about that.

I'd rather starve than work in IT again.

[–] misteloct@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I found a great job and I love my career again. But it's not a big tech company.

[–] OpenStars@piefed.social 0 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Do you mind if I ask what you found that made you happy? Without doxing yourself obviously. Small tech?

I need to make some decisions of my own soon...

[–] misteloct@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

I went to a top university, worked for years in top tech, and trashed my mental health. Finally decided to leave after getting PIP'd for absolutely no good reason, I got off the PIP but I was too burned. Literally anxiety/panic attacks every day. Saved up a lot and left, took a few years off to recover mentally. Studied to get back into top tech, leetcode grinded, then applied around.

I was mostly looking at companies with a good Blind WLB review. Got an interview with a tiny company at half my previous salary, I was super duper overqualified. But I fell in love with the manager, he was actually legitimately nice and cared about me more in 5 seconds than I ever felt from any other manager in years. I accepted the offer and since starting it's exactly what I expected, wonderful management and a good culture. Sleepy a.f. and the codebase is crap, low pay and everyone is checked out, but never looked back and it's working good for me. I don't think I can go back to top tech, certainly never would consider xAI.

I'm also lucky I was able to save enough for retirement so that I can accept half my previous salary and be comfortable. It won't work for everyone but it's working for me. My job is easy, 20-25 hours a week to perform 2-3x the others on my team. I do miss the technical challenges of my last job, top tech is a lot more gratifying. Legacy code is its own challenge, luckily I'm able to see it that way but it's easy to get checked out like that.

I've taken it upon myself to refactor their legacy code in huge swaths against the odds. We have some other top tech folks here in recent years for the same reason so it's perceived well, but many don't want to take the risks of breaking something. It's a daily struggle to modernize stuff and it keeps me going. It's optional, they don't really care if I take the short term path, so no stress. I've poured my heart into code that is shot down because "don't fix what isn't broken" that is infuriating. But it's a good challenge. It's wonderful really and I've never been happier in my life. I hope you find that happiness, friend. Feel free to DM me. I don't care about doxxing, the NSA knows who we all are.

[–] OpenStars@piefed.social 2 points 2 days ago

That is a heart-warming story, thanks for sharing!:-)

[–] lvxferre@mander.xyz 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Here's how I'd answer it: "No. And do not contact me further."

Odds are that they will insist. If they do, the answer is longer:

"You seem to have a really hard time understanding simple words, such as «no». So let me rephrase what I said, in a way that hopefully even you will understand:

I DO NOT WANT TO TOUCH YOUR BLOODY COMPANY, LED BY A LITERAL NAZI, WITH A THREE METERS POLE. NO MEANS NO. SOD OFF YOU BLOODY MUPPET, THIS IS NOT UP TO DEBATE, STOP BUGGING ME WITH THIS SHITE."

then block it.

[–] Horse@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 3 days ago

"I would rather gargle my own piss then set myself ablaze than work for you"