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Man Who Tries Social Networking on Subway Gets Fired
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 4, 2010
Modified Oct 4, 2010
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By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 4, 2010
Modified Oct 4, 2010
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A couple of weeks ago, the Wall Street Journal published a profile on Solomon Lederer, a software developer who tries to turn his subway commute into a social networking opportunity. His mission is to connect with other human beings in the real world, and perhaps turn strangers into friends. Of course, this simply isn't done, and now Lederer's employer has made an example out of him.
Until last week, Lederer supported his "Underground Connection" project (i.e., the UG Connection) by working for Morgan Stanley. But he got canned Wednesday afternoon, and says his participation in the Journal story led to his termination. Morgan Stanley’s employee code of conduct bars workers from representing themselves in a media outlet as an employee without prior permission, but the firm's publicist says Lederer was not fired for talking to a reporter.
Lederer claims his boss told him that he "exhibited poor judgment" and terminated him Wednesday afternoon. "I was trying to do a good thing and it backfired," he tells the Journal. This "good thing" includes making speeches on the subway during rush hour while handing out fliers offering "love, packing/moving help, and help with finding a job," among other things. In exchange he seeks "ideas about how to expand this concept and make it practical for everyone, someone to be my weekly swim partner (I can provide the pool), and love." Laugh if you must, but Lederer's already scored a date and a solicitation to clean a woman’s soiled guinea pig cages. This guy's going to do just fine without Morgan Stanley.
Here's video of Lederer working his magic on the subway:
Tagged
morgan stanley
Solomon Lederer
subway
the underground connection
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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