An email sent by Microsoft is enough to make one wonder if the company restarted its ill-fated (racist/pot-head) tween Twitter-bot Tay and then gave it a recruiting job. In an attempt to woo potential interns to a Microsoft after-party following a San Francisco event known as "Internapalooza," the recruiter manifested practically every stereotype of a tech company too busy hyping excessive weeknight alcohol consumption in a culture already prone to poor judgement to realize just how out of touch it sounds. Microsoft, Gizmodo reports, is already backpedaling.
The email first came to light via a tweet from the roommate of the intended recipient. "My roommate received this email from a Microsoft recruiter today," explained Patrick Burtchaell when he posted the screengrab of the email.
My roommate received this email from a Microsoft recruiter today. pic.twitter.com/90Qwr78eGO
— Patrick Burtchaell (@pburtchaell) July 6, 2016
"HEY BAE INTERN! <3," begins the email, before proceeding to explain that the recruiter would be at the aforementioned Palooza. We are then treated to what reads like the ramblings of a methed-out Community Manager, desperate to increase that tween click-through rate.
"We're throwing an exclusive after party the night of the event at our San Francisco office and you're invited! There will be hella noms, lots of dranks, the best beats and just like last year, we're breaking out the Yammer beer pong tables!
"HELL YES TO GETTING LIT ON A MONDAY NIGHT," the email concludes in all caps.
Hella noms. Lots of dranks. Yammer beer pong.
Putting aside the fact that it's just lame, this email seems to exists in a world where tech companies don't already face criticism for perceived cultures of excessive alcohol consumption (not to mention pervasive sexual harassment).
"The email was poorly worded and not in keeping with our values as a company," a spokesperson, confirming the email's authenticity, told Gizmodo. "We are looking into how this occurred and will take appropriate steps to address it."
Sure you will.
Related: Microsoft Reminds Us What Most Gamers Really Think Of Women At GDC