[markmall]

I just got a spam email this morning for the Priv from Blackberry. It includes the following grammatically incorrect sentence: "We designed the PRIV with the goal of making function more stunning than ever before."

I would bet that John Chen wrote this. No advertising person with a full grasp of idiomatic English would write this. First, why is "PRIV" in all-caps. Secondly, you don't make "function" more "stunning." I think what Chen meant when he wrote this spam email was "with the goal of making its functioning more elegant than before."

At least Chen should hire a native English-speaker to write their spam emails. Is that too much money to spend?

[Dunt Dunt Dunt]

I unsubscribed last month... still getting them.

They do let you know that if you are using BlackBerry Products or Services... you can't unsubscribed. But I've moved on and I'm using a Droid now.. unless BlackBerry is using data "farmed" from the use of BlackBerry Services and the HUB, from Cobalt's PRIV apps. I don't have BBM installed....

[baarn]

I would bet that John Chen wrote this. No advertising person with a full grasp of idiomatic English would write this. First, why is "PRIV" in all-caps. Secondly, you don't make "function" more "stunning." I think what Chen meant when he wrote this spam email was "with the goal of making its functioning more elegant than before."

The device is named "PRIV by BlackBerry", so caps are correct by definition.
Whilst "function more stunning" is not a common expression, I get that they are implying that the device is not just functional, but also good looking. Just a bit of poetic licence.
No need to be constantly biting at BlackBerry's heels.

[thurask]

It might as well be Chen, they laid off everyone else.

[app_Developer]

It might as well be Chen, they laid off everyone else.

I'm picturing Chen with his Photoshop for Dummies book in one hand tracing out the clever blue gradient rectangles on BlackBerry.com.

[tryfe]

[markmall]

I laud Chen for being able to execute those gradient rectangles, but they don't fit the aesthetic of the front page of the website. It used to look pretty classy.

[Ronindan]

I thought Blackberry does not market their product at all.

It is also amusing seeing the racist undertones of the op implying that since John Chen is not a native English speaker that he cannot communicate fluently in English.

But then again this crackberry.

[nuff_said]

I thought Blackberry does not market their product at all.

It is also amusing seeing the racist undertones of the op implying that since John Chen is not a native English speaker that he cannot communicate fluently in English.

But then again this crackberry.

In my experiences individuals who can only communicate in one language - in this example English - express frustration with others who speak English as a second or third language.
It's quite amusing to hear someone become upset at another who can speak several languages and expect perfection, when they themselves aren't able to understand the challenges.

[Ronindan]

In my experiences individuals who can only communicate in one language - in this example English - express frustration with others who speak English as a second or third language.
It's quite amusing to hear someone become upset at another who can speak several languages and expect perfection, when they themselves aren't able to understand the challenges.

true. the thing with that bb ad email. is that it could have been written by a writer with a master in English and who can trace their lineage back to the Mayflower.

[jojon2se]

Yeah, I, too, keep getting these, although I can't complain that much, because I haven't bothered to unsubscribe.

They do come across as really tacky, though; Both in how they are being pushed unsolicited, and in execution. Hardly conveying an air of professional dignity and confidence.

[markmall]

I thought Blackberry does not market their product at all.

It is also amusing seeing the racist undertones of the op implying that since John Chen is not a native English speaker that he cannot communicate fluently in English.

But then again this crackberry.

"Racist undertones"? Did I commit a microaggression? You must be one of our young, fascist college students I read amusing articles about.

It is not too much to expect a written advertisement to use proper English. Nor is it "racist" to poke fun at a CEO of a once great company in English-speaking North America for not being able to speak the local language.

If you live in the U.S. where we are still free to say whatever we want, I suggest you undergo de-sensitivity training at your local college.

[markmall]

In my experiences individuals who can only communicate in one language - in this example English - express frustration with others who speak English as a second or third language.
It's quite amusing to hear someone become upset at another who can speak several languages and expect perfection, when they themselves aren't able to understand the challenges.

It's fine if you are learning English but don't write ad copy if you are. And if you are the CEO of a major Canadian or U.S. corporation, you should be able to speak grammatically correct English. Chen is not running a laundry mat.

[Ronindan]

"Racist undertones"? Did I commit a microaggression? You must be one of our young, fascist college students I read amusing articles about.

It is not too much to expect a written advertisement to use proper English. Nor is it "racist" to poke fun at a CEO of a once great company in English-speaking North America for not being able to speak the local language.

If you live in the U.S. where we are still free to say whatever we want, I suggest you undergo de-sensitivity training at your local college.

Keep it up.

Can you even prove that Chen wrote the content of that email or even reviews this low level marketing initiatives. I guess you have the perception that being a ceo means it his his job to read through the content of their mass email campaigns.

And since you are convinced that bb needs to have a native English speaker as a ceo. Then you better have a couple of billion dollars to give Prem Wetsa. But you might have some "difficulty" communicating with him since he is not a native English speaker.

[crackberry_geek]

I thought Blackberry does not market their product at all.

It is also amusing seeing the racist undertones of the op implying that since John Chen is not a native English speaker that he cannot communicate fluently in English.

But then again this crackberry.

Chen is unable to communicate because he has no vision to communicate. Has nothing to do with race.

[ohaiguise]

I thought Blackberry does not market their product at all.

It is also amusing seeing the racist undertones of the op implying that since John Chen is not a native English speaker that he cannot communicate fluently in English.

But then again this crackberry.

Me no understand, who racialist?

[Thud Hardsmack]

[info] Closed for review. [/info]