# They won't even take my application!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 24, 2003, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294 "2003-10-24T11:04:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hlanelee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@hlanelee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hlanelee)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294/1 "2003-10-24T11:04:48Z")
I lost my job in March and have been looking for work since. I’m back in school now, but I could still work part-time. The fuckers at the Walmart in two cities aren’t accepting applications. I guess if I had swum across the Rio Grande they would talk to me!☹ ☹ ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294/2 "2003-10-24T11:12:18Z")
What the fuck? Shut your racist mouth, will you? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294/3 "2003-10-24T11:13:44Z")
In case you didn’t know, Walmart is a tad in dire straits. Perhaps they’re not hiring because, I dunno, there’s a hiring stop? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294/4 "2003-10-24T11:14:49Z")
Mexican is a race now? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294/5 "2003-10-24T11:22:24Z")
Oh, for fuck’s sake. Yes, let’s split hairs over this one, too, Lib. Good on ya. ---
**Author:** ![Myrr21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Myrr21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrr21)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294/6 "2003-10-24T11:24:32Z")
Err, I think this was referring to yesterday’s busts of WalMart for using illegal immigrants in their subcontracted work crews (apparently with executives’ knowledge). Of course, he got the immigrants’ origin wrong–the were eastern european. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294/7 "2003-10-24T11:26:38Z")
I’m aware of that bit of news, Myrr21. And it still doesn’t justify the slur if the (subcontracted, so not Walmart-employed) illegal immigrants _were_ Mexican. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294/8 "2003-10-24T11:26:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*What the fuck? Shut your racist mouth, will you? \*\* **Coldfire** , there was a major bust of illegal aliens working at Walmart yesterday, over 250 people. Most of them were apparently European, so perhaps the OP should have substituted the Atlantic for the Rio Grande, but I don’t think the comment is as bad as it seems at first blush. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294/9 "2003-10-24T11:30:04Z")
Split hairs? Drawing a distinction between East Long Island and the Hamptons is splitting hairs. Distinguishing a nationality from a so-called “race” is not. It is an Egyptian who swims across the Nile, not necessarily an Arab. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294/10 "2003-10-24T11:31:12Z")
At the risk of attracting the Wrath of a Moderator (and remaining crunchy and good with ketchup!), I think **hlanelee** may have been addressing the **socio-economics** of the situation - saying that **wal-mart** may be looking to hire only the cheapest work force available - never mind whether or not they are legally in the US; never mind local-patriotism (American jobs for American citizens), which is a sentiment of which I may or may not approve, but I think it’s legitimate. Then again, (s)he may actually be on a racist ride. I don’t know. But it isn’t clear-cut. Dan Abarbanel On preview I see my point has pretty well been made already. But, damn! I spent time writing it, I am going to post it! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294/11 "2003-10-24T11:31:16Z")
Anyone who can swim the Atlantic _deserves_ a work permit. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294/12 "2003-10-24T11:38:53Z")
Note to self… 1. Swim across Atlantic. 2. Get work permit from **Steve Wright** 3. ??? 4. Profit! ---
**Author:** ![hlanelee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@hlanelee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hlanelee)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294/13 "2003-10-24T11:40:45Z")
Dear Moderator, Please forgive my ill researched and and biased post. I acted rashly, without thinking things through or actually knowing what I was saying. I have set a poor example for those who have little and have not bettered myself by spreading ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![Myrr21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Myrr21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrr21)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294/14 "2003-10-24T11:43:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \*I’m aware of that bit of news, Myrr21. And it still doesn’t justify the slur if the (subcontracted, so not Walmart-employed) illegal immigrants _were_ Mexican. You sure are quick to assume the worst. I’d put money down that the OP heard “Walmart busted for employing (yes they were subcontracted, but the executives knew) illegal immigrants”. To assume that they were Mexican–absent any other knowledge–would be a good guess. If I’d just heard that and not the full story, I’d assume they were Mexicans. Not because I’m racist, but because Mexico is a poorer country that borders on ours, so we tend to get a helluva lot of illegal immigrants from there looking for a better life. Nothing wrong with that, but when the store down the street is hiring them illegally and not you, I’d be a little pissy too. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294/15 "2003-10-24T11:46:01Z")
I read this as a Wal-Mart slam, and certainly not a Mexican slam. Then again, maybe **hlanelee** is just a Mexican racism-liar. _shrug_ ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294/16 "2003-10-24T11:46:54Z")
Brown-noser. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294/17 "2003-10-24T11:48:30Z")
Er…I meant that for **hlanelee.** [sub]Freakin’ preview. _sob_[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![hlanelee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@hlanelee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hlanelee)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294/18 "2003-10-24T11:57:09Z")
People, I skimmed the headlines this morning. Here in south-east South Carolina there are lots of Mexican Immigrants, some of them are illegal. Wal-mart won’t give me a job. Wal-mart is giving illegal aliens jobs. Hence my post. For the record-I have found that if you get to know people, you can find better reasons to dislike them than their race/nationality. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294/19 "2003-10-24T11:57:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hlanelee \* > \*\*Dear Moderator, Please forgive my ill researched and and biased post. I acted rashly, without thinking things through or actually knowing what I was saying. I have set a poor example for those who have little and have not bettered myself by spreading ignorance. \*\* Fair enough. OK, maybe I read more into it than there was. It sure sounded like a slur to me. I did read the news about the Eastern European illegal immigrants, but my brain didn’t connect that with the OP, which just read to me like a local Walmart not hiring people at the moment, and erroneously blaming illegal immigrants (in this case, Mexicans) for it. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![hlanelee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@hlanelee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hlanelee)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2003, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294/20 "2003-10-24T12:07:26Z")
Coldfire, For the record, it was explained to me at two different Wal-mart locations, 60 miles, apart that there is a nation-wide hiring freeze at all Wal-marts. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-wont-even-take-my-application/209294.md?page=2)