I feel for the PR operatives at Boeing and United, I really do. Their firms are currently reduced to punchlines for late night comedians and are the subject of editorial cartoons and memes. One reads, “United passengers are now allowed to bring wrenches, screwdrivers and hammers on board to help with maintenance issues”. Obviously, these are self-inflicted corporate wounds, but I’ve been in their Gucci loafers and its not comfortable to have ones firm mocked and pilloried on the regular when there’s fuck all you can do about it. At one point, GE Capital made the richly misguided decision to charge a $25 monthly fee for our millions of credit and store cards whether you used ‘em or not. Outrage from the global press and public was immense; Congress didn’t think much of it either. The word from senior company leaders was, “Why aren’t the media relations people handling this shit?” Why indeed. In corporations, a funny thing happens in times like that. Here’s what I mean.
© 2024 John Oliver
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