Associate shitposting on LinkedIn

One of our associates added me on LinkedIn the other day. I naturally accepted and while bored and on the train I opted to look through his activity. Unfortunately he is extremely active in commenting on rather divisive topics, such as politics and COVID-19.

He is evidently very pro-Trump and also a COVID-19 anti-vaxxer. I can disagree with him but can't really blame him for the first point, but the second point really makes my skin crawl.

Now the question is what should I do?

  1. Do nothing and let him dig his own grave
  2. Call him into a one on one and try and offer him some advice
  3. Push it to HR and let them deal with it
  4. Torch him infront of everyone (jk)

He is a very mediocre worker so if he got canned I wouldn't really miss him, but at the same time I think most people deserve a warning before being axed and I genuinely don't like firing people.

Thoughts? What other situations have you seen staff doing stupid things on social media?

 

He either does not know what he is doing is unprofessional and reflects poorly on your firm, or he does, and he is doing it anyway.

Have a one-on-one with him and read his reaction to figure out which it is.

If the former, it is a coachable moment. We all make mistakes, whether big or small, and can grow from them with guidance.

If the latter... well, up to you - but I think you would have had an easier time figuring out what to do if you had known it was the latter.

 

I don't understand how this isn't obvious to people yet, but LinkedIn is not Facebook or Twitter, it should really be seen as an extension of your work experience. Anything you post can be seen as somehow representative of the firm you work at, I typically don't like it when companies would approach someone about stuff they posted on their personal accounts (as long as it's all legal, etc.) but if you post it on LinkedIn that's fair game. 

 

You don’t make controversial statements with an account for a business site that is directly tied to your firms name. Just common sense.  

His comments are best saved for the mental toilet that is Facebook. 

 

No, I got tired of bitch pe associates throwing monkey shit on me. Go ahead, attach a screenshot if it makes you feel better. 

Any normal man would ignore the posts and move on with their lives, not post on a finance forum on it. 

The only reason I even commented on this thread is that I find it strange that someone making 7 figures + in PE would write a topic on this. Guess a high income doesn't correlate to common sense. 

FWIW, I employ a large team of people in my own business. I couldn't care less what happens outside of work as long as they get the job done.

 

Wait please do I'm sad I missed out on this haha

 

I gotta admit, when it comes to staffing deals going forward it will be hard to not have this impact my judgement of him, even if I try and divorce his personal beliefs from his output at work.

Some of our staff have lost people from this virus. Not only does it show a complete lack of EQ to post his views in such a public fashion but it also shows a lack of reason, common sense, and empathy. If anything, I don't know how his actions can't potentially impact his quality of work if he is going to do/believe things like this.

For what it is worth, the vast majority of firms make employees sign a "morality clause". Effectively it's a "don't shitpost publicly" clause which makes stuff like this a fireable offense.

 

You can post all you want if you're black and on some POC scholarship to your garbage shop, I am 100% positive. Especially if on the other side of the Isle. Either way, only dumb shits post comments on LinkdIn. 

 

Yep. But part of self awareness is reading the room and knowing what shit flies and what doesnt. Sadly there is an 'acceptable' public opinion and an 'unacceptable' one, despite the majority of the population probably falling in the latter. 

It's ok to have those viewpoints just know there might be pushback for it. Dont like it then become self employed 

 
Most Helpful

Hot take here, and I'll probably get downvoted into oblivion for it, but I would go with 1) and rephrase that option as "mind your own fucking business". When confronted with these types of uncomfortable, morally vague situations where you have to choose whether to act on something irksome or ignore it, I've found it helpful to the weigh risks and rewards of each decision separately. You essentially have nothing to gain professionally by outing him to others or confronting him in private. Conversely, you have much to lose if the associate is unexpectedly cunning and manages to spin this situation in his favor and document what could potentially be viewed as confrontational or harassing behavior.

Do you know the private political and social leanings of the Partners, and how strong is your relationship with them? Because if they are privately Trump supporters or their views align more closely with the associate's than with yours, your trump card (no pun intended) could quickly become your undoing and hurt you politically at your firm. Do you know about the potential for, albeit highly unlikely, legal consequences against your firm if this person ends up losing his job and sues? I'm not a lawyer and it's probably a remote possibility, but that's why HR departments exist to very carefully manage employee issues that may be compromising for the firm. 

As an exercise, ask yourself if you would feel as comfortable being the aggressor in this situation if you were his equal in seniority, or even junior to him? Probably not. Separately, and let's be honest, it seems like you are approaching this situation less out of genuine concern for the consequences of having your LPs find out about his "controversial" views, and more out of personal annoyance together with a sense of power, that outing him could appease. While it is clear that this person is tactless if he doesn't realize his commentary on LinkedIn is public, it's not your responsibility to encroach here for the reasons mentioned above.

 

You are on a whole other level of depth, thoroughness and foresight. Dear God OP, follow what this man is saying and fuck right off.

 

You are going to do a mix of 1 and taking political power / important work from this Associate. As much any youngn says on here “mind your own business…or dont do xyz.” That is the reality. As someone explained #2 is too dangerous and no upside for you and as much as that would be nice solution, real world dont work like that.

Let it be a lesson for the juniors on here dont connect with your boss if you think social meida is a sounding board. You want free speech go work for a tech startup.

 

You should have a one on one or find some way to let him know "you know we can see what you post and comment on linkedin in our feeds, right?" Benefit of the doubt, he didn't know it got blasted to his connects. Worst case, he doesn't care how he's perceived in public and he might be better off working in an industry like O&G, the trades, or other professions where the owners shitpost about Trump on LinkedIn all day long and nobody cares. Would be just as bad if he went full San Francisco environmental terrorist, militant BLM vegan G BLT crowd on LinkedIn. Bad optics to touch anything political.

 

Imagine one of your LPs seeing your retard associate post about anti-vax bullshit on LinkedIn during their DD and they themselves lost family to COVID. That's millions, if not billions, at stakes. Tell your fucking retard associate to cut that shit out, especially on LinkedIn where your firm name is at the forefront.

 

I'm torn, I want to say stay away because if he's that fucking dumb he'll come after you for his FrEe SpEeCh! But, by the same token, this is reflecting poorly on your firm.

Is there someone senior that you're close with that you can bounce this off of? Maybe get another opinion without naming names?

I'm inclined to push you to HR, but in this climate they may fire him as soon as is practical, when it could just be junior-level stupidity and he could be saved.

 

Larger firms, such as mine, have specific social media (mostly linkedin) policies that we consent to that basically says you acknowledge what you're posting can reflect on the firm and there are potential consequences for unsavory usages. 

I can see the point of minding your own business but to those that are defending the associate you're off base. Its not facebook its linkedin. This kid can put light up his butt and take horse tranquilizers all he wants on FB but keep it off LinkedIn. I say if you have a realistic concern that it could actually have negative implications, vs more of chicken little long tail risk, then I would bring it up. 

I do think its a reason not to promote someone when the time comes...not due to his specific views, and equal left bozo would be the same...more for having such a such a lack of emotional IQ and self awareness to not realize that such actions can reflect poorly on the firm. You can't really unlearn this just a character flaw that shouldn't be reserved for the upper echelon of a reputable firm with so much on the line. 

 

Thats good. While you may already be doing this - to not tigger him into some stupid discrimination bullshit - I'd focus on the fact that it isn't his specific views, just putting any political/controversial view online, liberal/conservative/whatever, is what is at issue and it shows a lack of maturity, professionalism, and casts doubt about his judgement.  

 

As I wrote above, many firms have social media (linkedin) consents/agreements employees sign. Personally, I don't like firing people without warnings so that wouldn't be my first course of action...but its certainly within firms rights to do so especially if he violated terms of such an agreement. Not to mention, if he already sucks, I'm sure the exit would be framed differently. 

 

Conservatives: gut workers power for the past 30 years to the point where you can be fired for anything due to at-will employment

Also Conservatives: nuh uh that's no fair :(

 

Honestly ... going through the thread, there's a strong flex vibe on your side ... it's almost like you're enjoying this opportunity where you can put another person in their place just because you can.

Just a word of advice from a stranger ... tone down that urge cause it will lead you down some unsavory path one day... it's really easy to get power drunk in this career.

“Self-control is strength. Right thought is mastery. Calmness is power. ” - James Allen
 

Talk to him one on one. That's what I would do. Don't escalate elsewhere unless he posts stuff that would legitimately make the firm lose money. Also, if you do escalate, many of the partners may actually be Trump supporters. Since it is PE..

 

The real irony here is that praising BLM riots/lawlessness and regurgitating flat out misinformation about Trump (e.g. RuSsIaN cOlLuSiOn - objectively untrue, even if you hate the guy or MUH INSURRECTION) ARE socially acceptable, and I'd guess probably wouldn't even irritate you as much. I'd be really curious to see what you (and others in your shoes) define as an anti-vaxxer because nowadays, simply asking basic questions and expressing just a little tiny bit of skepticism/hesitancy about the vaccine (even if you get it??) makes you some crazy conspiracy theorist lol... are Draymond Green and Jonathan Isaac also crazy anti vaxxers (if youre a basketball fan)?? 

Maybe I'm wrong and you're actually reasonable / this guy is crazy - but just making generalizations here based on how the current political narrative/scope is in reality

 

Completely agree with this. My advice is twofold.

Firstly, you should instigate a company wide policy that no political or quasi-political opinions are to be shared on LinkedIn. It's inconceivable that you would be this pissed off he is was pro-dem and pro-vax and was saying these things publicly. This could rub other people the wrong way just as much as being republican/a Trump supporter and anti-vax has evidently rubbed you up the wrong way.

Tangentially, labelling someone as anti-vax when they don't want to be a guinea pig by getting an experimental technology injected into them and being forced to sign away their right to sue in the process is a bit of a stretch. This is particularly so for someone healthy and young where the risk/reward is extremely questionable. This is simply not the same situation as with proven vaccines and more harmful viruses.

Secondly, you should get out of your echo chamber. It's very clear that your main issue is the nature of the political views he is sharing rather than the fact he is sharing political views regardless of leaning. It feels like you've surrounded yourself exclusively with like minded people. Are you based in San Francisco or something? As someone who is left learning, I imagine you're a champion of diversity, so why not diversity of thought?

 

The guy who has 16 bananas and wrote the really well done post regarding upper politics is absolutely on the balll... my opinion is:

It seems like you've already done it but the smartest play is to just message HR that you found something potentially divisive, document and attach the screenshots, and then ask for what next steps should be. Presumably HR will just do whatever you want to do, and then you de-escalate the situation, ask to remain anonymous, and have HR deal with it so no negative consequences can be levied at you. Don't bother giving the associate the satisfaction of knowing who to stab the opportunity arises. This warning shit that you're thinking of doing is such a shit idea. Why would you give him time and an angle to make a play on you? 

Use HR as your mouthpiece to let him know that while his views are his own, he is a representative of the company on LinkedIn and that this is a no-tolerance policy - one more strike and he's out. 

Then wait in the shadows and monitor the situation. You submitted screenshots/proof so it's all there. 

 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

I mean, to be fair, you're supposedly a Principal at a PE firm and you've taken to a forum of mostly college kids to get advice on how to handle a workplace dynamic.

 

A few years ago, I would have said the Associate is being an idiot and should keep his thoughts to himself. I would have agreed with the comments on here that the Associate shouldn't shitpost because it "reflects poorly on the firm."

I don't believe this anymore. Why? Because companies today make political statements all the time. Just look at the Texas abortion bill incident from a few months ago. We saw tech giants like Lyft and Uber publicly lashing out against the bill because it's their "social responsibility." We saw behemoths like Google, Amazon, and Facebook criticizing voting legislation in Republican states in order to "take a stand." And mind you, these aren't ordinary, tame political statements like "racism is bad." These are statements regarding abortion and voting laws, which are highly contentious issues today.

So these companies are allowed to regularly make controversial political statements, but for some reason their workers can't? They can criticize pro-life laws when half the country supports them, but their workers can get fired for being outspokenly pro-Trump? These corporations are hypocritical piles of shit. If you want me to keep politics out of the workplace or LinkedIn, I'm perfectly willing to do it. But they have to get the fuck out of politics and "social activism" as well. Otherwise, mind your own business and let me say what I want.

 

This is a great comment and changed my opinion on the matter a bit. There is definitely a double standard.

To me though, what crosses the border is this vile notion (you're seeing this in the NBA as well with Kyrie Irving and formerly Andrew Wiggins) - it's not a fucking personal decision. Stop calling the vaccine that. Not getting it endangers those around you. It's the same exact euphemism that "pro-lifers" call themselves regarding abortion. It's really anti-choice.

At the end of the day they're both somewhat equivalent from a morality standpoint but they're not equivalent from a utilitarian standpoint. Forcing women to not get abortions doesn't impact the life/health of anyone other than her - but there is the "added gain" that results from a life being created. You could argue actually that from a numbers perspective, if a baby being born is =1 and a woman dying through childbirth is -1, the average pregnancy results in life values >0. And forcing one woman to get an abortion doesn't cause other women around her to suddenly get pregnant and have to get an abortion. On the other hand, COVID is not a positive game or even a zero-sum game. It's contagious and strictly results in lives lost or severely harmed. Not getting vaccinated is a marginal push of the curve back to normalcy. 

So at the end of the day - to be honest, from a consistency standpoint, either companies/users should be able to shitpost together, or none at all. This guy shouldn't be fired for his shitposting. But it's still okay for me or OP to have a negative view of him - my opinion is that most, if not all, anti-vaxxers severely lack empathy and/or basic humanity. In my books, it's a sin/crime. No different than how I would view my co-worker's character if I saw him beating up a hobo, sexually harassing a woman, pissing on an orphan or stealing a disabled kid's wheelchair. You could do any of these things and still have a job at the end of the day. Think of how many shit people there are in finance. Frankly, the more I think about it, the more I would be grateful to know if someone was publicly anti-vax vs. not - would much rather prefer knowing vs socializing around the closeted/pretend vaxxers. With the former I know to at least stay the fuck away

 

This is my favorite take in the thread, along with harveyspankster's post.  OP's comments come off as wanting to "punish" this Associate not just for sharing political views on LinkedIn, but the "wrong" ones.  Would this thread exist if he were posting things like "Texas is a third world country"  or "Trump is a Russian spy," etc.?  It's impossible to know, of course, but I suspect not.  Social media has contributed to a huge loss of civility among folks. We live in such a "gotcha" culture where people are *eager* to harm someone's life over a social media post, or record them having an emotional reaction and post it without context on YouTube.  Did our enemies win?  They have as at each others' throats, waiting to pounce. 

My personal opinion is that LinkedIn is not a place for petty partisan bickering, regardless of if you support blue or red team - that should be reserved for intellectual dumpster fires like reddit.  I do think it's unprofessional and the Associate should discontinue the behavior.  I'm sure the firm has a social media policy that governs this.  

 

Yes you dunce. No matter which way your political leaning is you shouldn't be posting that. I would definitely be considered a stupid liberal to most of demographic on this forum but I would cringe if one of my teammates was posting about how Trump is a Russian spy on LinkedIn. Keep that shit to yourself or talk about it amongst your friends not over a professional website. 

I know the lot of you are trying to play the victim that this whole thing is a problem because the associate is voicing the "wrong" political views but its way more than that. Theres a time and a place for this stuff and its not on LinkedIn with your firms name posted everywhere.

 

I am actually surprised this post got so much love as while it might seems on the surface to have so truth to it it’s off base for several reasons. To start, it implies that because some companies are political all are political. Is the fund in question putting views on blast or not. I’m guessing not. Therefore you should mirror your organization. You can’t have a firm with a keep it clean policy and then be like well I’m gonna speak my views because this other company does. Secondly, he who has the gold makes the rules. For starters company that are more outwardly political there is likely more room for discourse among employees. Even if there isn’t that’s the company’s call and Similar to losing a job for doing dumb shit, a company loses isolating talent, customers, vendors, etc. therefore it’s not as though there is zero consequence.
 

In short it’s an impressive hot take initially but once you think about it there isn’t much teeth to this argument, at least on a broad stoke basis and certainly in the specific case of the fund. 

 

Fair enough. I don't know enough about the fund this Associate works at.

company that are more outwardly political there is likely more room for discourse among employees

I disagree here. FAANG companies  (and many others) do in fact fire people for making controversial statements, even when these people have the best intentions in mind. James Damore is the most prominent example of this. There are probably countless more examples that don't make the front page news.

Even if there isn't that's the company's call and Similar to losing a job for doing dumb shit, a company loses isolating talent, customers, vendors, etc

Ok, but these same companies will also risk alienating talent and customers by making statements on abortion. So it's hypocritical for them to fire employees for "harming the image of their firm" when they regularly put out controversial statements that will alienate half the country. If they are willing to do this, they should also tolerate the same behavior from their employees. Again, this may not apply to OP's particular case, but it definitely applies to many mega-corporations out there.

 

If I were in his shoes, I would prefer that you approach me about it as a Senior giving advice to a young professional. We are not born aware of everything and we need people to genuinely and kindly point out our mistakes to improve. Most importantly, I would also prefer if the Senior doesn't spread the word about what happened across the firm.

 

I agree that this associate is not being professional with his personal life.  That said, maybe someone needs to have a one-on-one with you or fire you for discrimination of his/her political views.

Just let people believe what they want and judge their work product for what it is. This is the worst sort of 1984 type shit to go firing people for their political views.

To add, maybe he is making your firm look a little bad.  But you know what makes your firm look even worse in my view? Firing associates for their political views which ~50% of the population agree with!

 

OP, you’re not in any sort of position to call people morons when you are here posting easily identifiable information about an action that may violate state law regarding protected political activity. 

 

LMAO please state these state laws. He's not getting fired for these retarded views, he would be getting fired for having the balls to post it on a social media forum where the firm is at the forefront. Same as getting black out drunk with a company shirt on and making a fool of yourself.

 


No employer shall coerce or influence or attempt to coerce or influence his employees through or by means of threat of discharge or loss of employment to adopt or follow or refrain from adopting or following any particular course or line of political action or political activity.

 

Why is this so difficult. Just pull him aside and let him know you don’t care what he thinks, but he has to be more careful with what he posts on social media especially when it can be (even mistakenly) associated with the firm’s name/reputation. Give him the benefit of the doubt, maybe he just isn’t aware and use it as a teaching moment. Let him know how you aren’t only looking out after the firm but him as a professional. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but often it is best to keep quiet so as not to offend others who may potentially work with you or employ you. Sure it sucks, but it’s part of being a professional—keep things strictly business. If he doesn’t understand this, give him another talk and let him know that you are explicitly asking him to stop (because firm rep) or he can find another company to put next his name.

Firing him immediate is just too aggressive and very petty. Also consult with HR first to see if you are entering any legal grey areas.

 

I love all of the WSO lawyers crying about "discrimination." You know that being a right-wing asshole isn't a protected class, right? Republicans are the dumbest people on the planet

 
 

Confidently incorrect. There is no law in any state saying that you are allowed to publicly embarrass your firm with impunity because of your dumbass political beliefs. Learn to read

 
 

More people need to watch The Social Dilemma and stop providing Lord Zucc, the Laser-Eyed Lizard Goblin and the Supreme Chancellor William, Lord of Lake Washington all of their yummy metadata.  

 

You seem a bit slow, so I'll guide you through it. All of the right wingers on that thread are in favor of ruining a kid's career because of something as silly as having pronouns in their profile, but in this thread, they are against any repercussions for someone embarrassing their firm. Get it?

 
 

Quibusdam dolores provident blanditiis possimus. Eligendi aperiam illo illo ut placeat.

Vitae nam maxime pariatur velit repellat. Id voluptas quia repellendus repellat. Dignissimos magnam minima quo voluptatibus eum non impedit molestias. Aut delectus ut ipsa est.

Sit enim recusandae repellendus accusamus. Pariatur eaque quis aut odio aut illum. Ut ipsam repellendus iste hic.

Facere cum soluta ut. Impedit distinctio pariatur nam est saepe consequatur autem. Maxime et nam in voluptas sit illo eum. Asperiores qui saepe est excepturi. Nulla et incidunt vel sit ut eos ut.

 

Quo qui distinctio dignissimos ab quo iste. Excepturi doloribus animi atque minus adipisci alias dolores. Natus reiciendis libero harum eum odit est dolores nam. Aut iusto sapiente velit culpa voluptas omnis.

Illo quo nam consequuntur esse et nobis occaecati cum. Quia quasi reiciendis alias. Omnis deleniti nesciunt excepturi maiores.

Aut dolores eos sequi dolorum. Minus dolorem provident et quam ut illo. Quia illo fugiat incidunt. Cum rerum et aut voluptatem blanditiis rerum eligendi aut. Et porro quo fugit quae. Aut in enim delectus laudantium est. Harum ratione et temporibus ipsum.

 

Non qui officia occaecati excepturi quae commodi. Consequuntur ab eveniet animi dolor ipsa sed dolorum. Sunt eos sunt vel delectus debitis dolor eos.

Quia molestias id eaque neque. Dolor exercitationem voluptatem et quia. Excepturi delectus commodi sunt culpa. Iure facere dolor expedita. Officiis cupiditate nesciunt necessitatibus minus maxime quos.

Illo vero quas delectus necessitatibus a dolorem. Delectus omnis molestiae iure debitis est qui expedita. Aut earum et maiores repellendus odio earum. Error illo provident quos voluptatem occaecati illo dolores molestias.

Velit asperiores molestias nam at consequuntur assumenda id. Nihil molestiae sit ipsum at velit. Provident expedita quis est eligendi enim quam vitae. Et omnis officia vel eveniet. Quis accusamus et est deleniti. Vel fugit voluptas alias vel qui adipisci expedita.

 

Voluptate eos sequi perspiciatis delectus commodi quasi. Dolores corrupti ut rem maiores. Officia sint ullam aut et necessitatibus nam qui. Expedita est quasi molestias quas enim.

Aperiam doloribus id voluptatum ut minima perferendis tempore. Incidunt autem non enim a sunt omnis. Perspiciatis consectetur non voluptas optio.

Ullam eaque iusto modi adipisci. Fugit dolores fugiat earum blanditiis sint necessitatibus rerum sed. Repellat quas provident nihil aut autem ut necessitatibus.

Corrupti deleniti asperiores praesentium quis dignissimos facilis. Minima sint cupiditate optio exercitationem illo quis.

 

Sed et enim iste molestiae dolorem blanditiis dignissimos. Consequatur quia voluptatem voluptatem minus magni ut. Quod ea ad aliquam. Soluta esse vitae ipsam.

Nihil quibusdam libero ab et quisquam doloribus sit blanditiis. Non at odit repudiandae. In rerum eos esse aut et expedita exercitationem a.

Iusto harum voluptatum a neque quibusdam deleniti. Veniam temporibus cum eius. Est culpa voluptatum eligendi maxime ex. Voluptates et accusamus in non vel vitae fugiat.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Blackstone Group 99.0%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.4%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 97.9%
  • Bain Capital 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.4%
  • Ardian 97.9%
  • Bain Capital 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Bain Capital 99.0%
  • Blackstone Group 98.4%
  • Warburg Pincus 97.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (22) $569
  • Vice President (92) $362
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (90) $280
  • 2nd Year Associate (205) $268
  • 1st Year Associate (387) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (29) $154
  • 2nd Year Analyst (83) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (246) $122
  • Intern/Summer Associate (32) $82
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (314) $59
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Kenny_Powers_CFA's picture
Kenny_Powers_CFA
98.8
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”