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Burger King Posts A Sign Asking Parents Of 14 And 15 Year Olds To Let Them Apply For Jobs And People Are Outraged
A fast-food restaurant in the United States has caused outrage after people saw that it was advertising work to teenagers. Normally, this wouldn’t be much of an issue, as there’s nothing wrong with getting a part-time job to learn the importance of money early on or helping out your struggling family. However, the current context—many restaurants not finding the employees they need because they’re not offering good enough conditions and pay—makes it seem like someone’s trying to take advantage of 14 and 15-year-old teens.
Naturally, once people got wind of Burger King’s ‘desperate’ ad in Ohio, they started poking fun at it on social media. Some joked about the fast-food restaurant supposedly conscripting kids into service while others pointed out that they’re now looking for teen workers because the adults aren’t biting.
Keep in mind, though, that it’s not illegal for teenagers to work in Ohio. But before we get into that, have a scroll down and check out some of the best responses to the BK ad. Upvote the tweets that you agree with and share your opinion about the situation in the comment section at the bottom of this list.
This post may include affiliate links.
In Ohio, the state’s child labor laws don’t allow children who are 13 or younger to work, except in some very limited situations. Meanwhile, 14 and 15-year-old teens are allowed to work in a variety of jobs, but there’s a limit to how many hours per day and per week they’re allowed to do that. Especially when school’s still in session.
Meanwhile, 16 and 17-year-olds living in Ohio can work a far broader range of jobs. However, the work cannot be deemed “too hazardous.”
True, let’s see the outcome of this down the road, hopefully a good one
The regulations limiting work hours are necessary to prevent children from being exploited in the work industry. What’s more, the regulations put an emphasis on just how important their education is: it’s a priority and cannot be sacrificed for the sake of making a living.
I agree, but we need universal healthcare. Having healthcare dependent on your job is just stupid. How many people are staying in a crap job they hate just because they need healthcare insurance?
So while school is in session, 14 and 15-year-olds can’t work more than 3 hours on a school day while the maximum work hours for non-school days is capped at 8 hours. Furthermore, their maximum hours are also capped at 18 hours per week.
It’s disgusting that they are specifically targeting 14 and 15 year olds. In Ohio, employers can pay people under the age of 16 only the Federal Minimum Wage of $7.25 per hour, which is less than Ohio’s Minimum Wage of $8.70. This is the point of BK going after the younger kids.
Mine asked me if I could still work my shift after I accidently stuck the first two fingers of my right hand in the fry vat chasing after a hashbrown that fell out of the rack. Most McDonald's suck.
This essentially means that teens who are 14 and 15 can have a part-time job if they want. However, they shouldn’t expect to be earning a living wage like many grownup professionals. There is an exception, though, and that’s if they’ve enrolled in work-oriented programs or are doing vocational cooperative training. In that case, the cap is raised to 40 hours per week.
Jrizzy Jay, you are a truly toxic and hateful person and i hope with all of my being that you don't have children.
Meanwhile, by the time that Ohio’s teens reach 16 and 17 years of age, they have no restrictions on how many hours a day and per week they can be at their jobs. The only thing is that they cannot be working during those hours when they should be at school. What’s more, they can’t start work super early if they’ve been working very late, as they’re still growing and developing, so sleep is essential for them.
Answer: a capitalist society. Just look at early industrial American history. Children working in factories so the rich people could make bank.
Taking into consideration the current pandemic context and Ohio’s labor laws, what’s your opinion about Burger King’s ad? Do you think that people’s criticism of it online is justified or do you think that it went a tad overboard? Share your thoughts and feelings below.
I wonder if that's the point. Too tired to work at making the world a better place so it stays good for the Uber rich.
I actually worked at Burger King when I was a senior in High School. Our school district was different from the kids local to the Burger King location. Their school district went on strike. Mine did not. So fast forward a few weeks and our Burger King was notorious for being slow in the middle of the week making the manager release people early from their shift. He would always let the other kids go and keep me on. When I asked why I couldn't go, he referenced seniority. I said, "Do any of them have a chemistry or AP test in the morning? Because I do." When he said my education didn't matter...I quit on the spot.
Because rosie wouldn't take that crud. ( Thinking dearly of Rosie the Riveter!)
I was an assistant manager at a Casey's (petrol station chain for those outside the states) and everyone from the regular customers to new employees knew me as Momma Jess. Why is that? Because if you mess with one of my employees/coworkers momma bear's claws will come out. I will NOT stand for people treating service employees like garbage just because they can. I have one rule, come in peace or leave in pieces.
Why would fast food work be a must??? I agree that a customer service job is a must. But there are other ways to get the experience without resorting to this kind of abuse. You can get experience being abused by corporations, management, and the public as a server in a sit-down restaurant too. But (yes, yes, we know, the US tipping thing is terrible and makes us a horrible country), with tips, most decent restauarants pay a wage a college student could live with (maybe not independent adults, although the server job I had was very lucrative).
Also it seems to be pushing that "when I was your age" button. I wanted my kids to have a better idea of what a career was than what I HAD to resort to doing. It's almost like it's punishment. But hey that's what it would be I guess.
Ahh, i remember 3.75$ back in late 80’s as a cashier at waldbaums(14yo)
I don't know, kids these days seem to be pretty knowledgeable about what's up.
Or telling the first Karen's to kiss it. Cause today's kids got some sass 😅. And I love it!!
I remember when it was only kids in fast food. It is a minimal skilled job after all
Agreed. If a 14-15 year old wants to work, they can look around for lawns to mow or kids to babysit. Fast food is soul-sucking.
Except it's not boomer parents who'd have 14 or 15 year old kids. It's people my age - I'm 42. And I'd never push my kids to put up with this sort of s**t.
Consider this: Most of the adults that work at low paying jobs and have children are on some type of government assistance. Whatever your child earns counts against your household and will be extracted dollar for dollar from your subsidy. There is absolutely no incentive for anyone on assistance to have themselves or their children, for that matter, work.
I've worked enough fast food that I would never subject a teenager to that. I'd rather let them mow lawns or shovel driveways. They are their own boss and they can choose when to work. They will eventually become adults working on someone else's schedule. But for now...let them be kids.
Jeez, economics is complicated. When prices go up on products businesses say it's supply and demand, basic capitalism and keep the government out of my business. When there's a labor shortage it's socialism and the government has to do something. Apparently capitalism just works one way.
Pay a living wage? It's literally a job so easy kids have done it for years. Fast food it's ment to get you started in life not be a careeryou get rich from. If you think they should make more then by all means tip them when you order
Load More Replies...I think that everybody here who's saying "oh my gosh, kids work!! It's a part of life!!" are missing the point. Kids can work, sure, but they should be paid fair wages and treated well. This is a bit predatory that they're now specifically targeting children here when they have a worker shortage due to adults realizing what crappy conditions they work in.
Per INC magazine this month: If minimum wages only rise 10%? Costs will go up.... 1.4% for, say, a Big M*c.... (Princeton niversity Study). While there is a short-term squeeze, it evens out. The founder of FTerry's Burger Stand raised wages to $15 from $12, and only raised prices 2% to cover HALF that. The company absorbed the rest, but found happier workers earning $5K more a year, and their business *increased*. The founder even remarked he was "embarrassed by how easy it was". (Also INC magazine May/June 2021)
Politicians cite inflation as the reason for not increasing minimum wage. It's the BS lies they tell people to prevent minimum wage from increasing. Many of these fast food chains would survive just fine giving their employees a living wage if they did a redistribution of wages within the company. There is no viable reason why a CEO is earning 1,025% higher wages than an employee flipping burgers. And I'd also like to ask those same politicians why they are able to give themselves raises year after year...especially when they pay no taxes into social security.
Load More Replies...Maybe some corporate executives could flip some burgers and see what it's like to do actual work that brings in money. They may just have a change of heart like Scrooge did.
Or they could send their own kids and nephews and nieces and grandkids after school and at weekends.
Load More Replies...As a 15-year-old myself, there is no way in hell I'm taking that job. There are many more jobs where I get paid properly and don't require me to give up my sanity.
Funny thing is...I said the same thing earlier in this post and I'm getting down voted for it. Huh?
Load More Replies...I made it a day at BK as a 15-year-old. You're surrounded by adults who got the job as part of their drug rehab program, just got out of jail for violent felonies, anyone who'll work for shi* in shi**y conditions. THEY ARE KIDS.
here ima lay this out right now, I have NEVER wanted to work at a fast-food restaurant unless times were too tough for me or my family, and this just confirmed that for me. for one thing, they are HUMAN BEINGS with feelings, a life, and needs! you can't just make them work however u want them to! second, there are laws on child labor and they just broke about 800 of them and need to pay $250,000. it makes me sad that ADULTS are trying to take advantage of kids and teens
TIMEOUT!! ACTUAL 14-15 year old here. I personally have been striving to get a job and save up for a truck and college and all that. I am about to start working as a dog walker and a FREAKING DEER PROCESSOR. You realize how nasty and awesome that will be. I personally would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have a job at Burger King. So can y'all just shut it and let us pick if we want to work or not. I personally need to if I want the vehicle I do and if working off less than minimum wage is what I want to do to earn it then it should be MY DECISION!
You're to young to know the kind of damage this could do. I've been working since I was 13 and am dang glad I didn't work at a fast food place until my older teen years. Even then, I certainly didn't know how to handle all the ugly coming at me. You are just too young to know how young you are. Be glad of that.
Load More Replies...So is there no insurance hike for having a child on the deep fryer? That is so many disasters waiting to happen.
Essentially no. If they're at least 16 they can work. There may be some exclusions about a fry machine, like having to be 18, but i doubt its followed. S**t, we had 16yr hostesses serving drinks to help us with tables during busy rushes. They weren't supposed to (law states no making or serving of alcohol until 18yrs of age) but it was done. Unless someone calls them out on their BS, its done however the boss wants it to be done. When your 16 & its your 1st job, you're not gonna call it out. And when you're 28, hustling your ass off, need help, & need that $5.25 per hr plus tips to feed your family, you're definitely not calling it out...hence us still having issues like this in food service
Load More Replies...This is what happens when a corrupted capitalist system loses its hold over its workforce. Those who have been acting as the oppressing force, desperate to hold onto their wrongful gains, try to find new avenues of exploitation. That worked much better back in the day before it became so easy to spread information so fast, and especially before visual and audio evidence became easy to provide.
I started in food service at 17. I dont recommend it. It'll suck you in for life!!!!!
I worked as a cashier during high school and all through college. I had to ask for a raise every year and the raise was only be a quarter every time. So in my 4 years with this company I went from $5.20 to $5.95. I quit when I started college as I thought it was a waste to commute if I was just paying my own gas anyway. (This was early 2000’s when minimum wages was $5.15)
This is such an American problem. Burger King, McDonald's, etc all employ a s**t load of teens in my country I don't see the problem with them learning how to function in a work environment etc.
A 14/15 year old having to deal with a screaming, angry, entitled customer would get shook and possibly piss their pants. I'm 32f and when I have to deal with entitled, screaming assholes in my salon from time to time, my anxiety goes through the rough and my whole body is shaky in the aftermath as I'm trying to finish a haircut. It's a really shitty feeling. I've dealt with people like this for many years but I still get shaky afterwards. A client of mine had said that McDonald's and such weren't meant for living wages. He said they were meant for after school/summer jobs for kids. Idk how accurate that is but if it was true, the times are definitely changing and so should the pay from these companies.
At 16 I worked at Pizza Hut to pay my car insurance, gas and have money for things I wanted. It's a job that requires very minimal skills that basically anyone can do. So what makes anyone think it should provide a livable wage as it's referred to ? Pay attention in school and get a decent job that requires some skill or thought. No I don't think the idiot that can't read the "no pickels" on my order should make $15 an hour. That's ridiculous.
big deal,they make their own pocket money,learn responsibility, thats not child labor!!!! child labor are the kids making Nike shoes for eg. my first job at 13 mind you was at a supermarket & pancake parlor!
I see nothing wrong with 14-15 trying to get a job. I got my first job at 15, my kid got her first job at 15. It is healthy for the kids to start learning some adult stuff. As long as the job is only a few hours a week, does not interfere with school and other activities and is in a healthy environment, I think it is fine for 15 y.o. to try things out. However, fast food places with horrible working conditions and unreasonable hours are not the places to work when you are 14.
Let's see. We have pure fantasy. A somewhat slippery grasp of economics, and the utter shameful attempt at trying to sell the storyline of "a childhood well spent" where in reality, children actually do more adult activities between age 12-17 than they will after age 18. Sounds like a side plot of a video game story in some, and some suspect education in others. Great submission. I learned a lot.
For sure I wouldn't want my kid to work in such a job. Let them do something which brings them experience in fields more relevant than burger flipping.
I started working before 14. Yes, it taught me a lot of how the world and people work. It is invaluable experience. But it also felt like punishment. In hindsight, I do think it's too much too early.
I started working at 14 because my mom couldn't afford to hand me a car or, really, even a chocolate bar. It taught me A LOT about work ethic and dealing with jerks
I am honestly curious here. In Australia, when I was a teen, just about everywhere was staffed by teenagers. It felt like 80%+ of all grocery store and fast food staff were teens. I worked for Coles(Grocery store) from 15 to almost 18, and we had some 14 year olds working there. It was the norm, it was seen as giving a chance to young people to earn money. I was grateful for having a job. Why is it seen as so opposite now?
To get into college in the US requires a whole lot of extracurriculars, and the homework at night can be 6-8 hours worth. Essentially, if you work fast food in high school you're damaging your chance at a better life anymore. Then there is the extremely unhealthy environment for kids still developing. They will be groped/hit on, they will work with someone dealing drugs, and on and on and on. There are almost no safeguards. They say there are, but there aren't. That is why it is usually older teens and poorer teens that end up working fast food. They have no other choice.
Load More Replies...Capitalism is beyond broke and if this doesn't prove it, we're all as stupid and disgusting as Burger King.
Realizing this is a single franchise choice. On their own website, they state you have to be 16... 🤷🏽♀️ https://careers.bk.com/job-opportunities
My first job was at Burger King when I was 14. All of my friends had jobs. That was 25 years ago. Are kids so fragile now they can't work??
It's about the wages and exploitation, not the willingness to work. Google some info on how much 100usd got you 25 years ago and how much it gets you now. The world has changed a lot since. Edit: by how much i meant buying power.
Load More Replies...I do not understand so many complains about Burguer King (or McDonalds or...), while Amazon (and most other similar platforms) are doing the same, and others the same in Asian countries? Why is J. Bezos (and so many other "touched" businessmen) excluded from the same criticism.
They've been criticized for a while now. not paying attention?
Load More Replies...Why are people outraged that they will hire teens to work? My first job was A&W at the age of 13, I made $4.10 an hour. More kids need to get off their asses and get a job, get some of that entitlement worked off this generation.
And previous generations would've though you were lazy because you weren't up milking cows and plowing fields and had a cushy job. Time marches on
Load More Replies...I don’t see it as child labor, but I don’t disagree with this post either. If the adults think it’s horrible, I’m not letting my kid go through that job either.
Yes, I will encourage my kids find jobs in fast food restaurants and other 'unpleasant' working environments, just like I did at thier age. I will also encourage them to value thier time, effort and work by seeking out employment that treats them respectfully and pays them appropriately for that time, effort and work, and does not try and exploit, bully and coerce them into accepting innapropriate remuneration.
Load More Replies...I've worked enough fast food that I would never subject a teenager to that. I'd rather let them mow lawns or shovel driveways. They are their own boss and they can choose when to work. They will eventually become adults working on someone else's schedule. But for now...let them be kids.
Jeez, economics is complicated. When prices go up on products businesses say it's supply and demand, basic capitalism and keep the government out of my business. When there's a labor shortage it's socialism and the government has to do something. Apparently capitalism just works one way.
Pay a living wage? It's literally a job so easy kids have done it for years. Fast food it's ment to get you started in life not be a careeryou get rich from. If you think they should make more then by all means tip them when you order
Load More Replies...I think that everybody here who's saying "oh my gosh, kids work!! It's a part of life!!" are missing the point. Kids can work, sure, but they should be paid fair wages and treated well. This is a bit predatory that they're now specifically targeting children here when they have a worker shortage due to adults realizing what crappy conditions they work in.
Per INC magazine this month: If minimum wages only rise 10%? Costs will go up.... 1.4% for, say, a Big M*c.... (Princeton niversity Study). While there is a short-term squeeze, it evens out. The founder of FTerry's Burger Stand raised wages to $15 from $12, and only raised prices 2% to cover HALF that. The company absorbed the rest, but found happier workers earning $5K more a year, and their business *increased*. The founder even remarked he was "embarrassed by how easy it was". (Also INC magazine May/June 2021)
Politicians cite inflation as the reason for not increasing minimum wage. It's the BS lies they tell people to prevent minimum wage from increasing. Many of these fast food chains would survive just fine giving their employees a living wage if they did a redistribution of wages within the company. There is no viable reason why a CEO is earning 1,025% higher wages than an employee flipping burgers. And I'd also like to ask those same politicians why they are able to give themselves raises year after year...especially when they pay no taxes into social security.
Load More Replies...Maybe some corporate executives could flip some burgers and see what it's like to do actual work that brings in money. They may just have a change of heart like Scrooge did.
Or they could send their own kids and nephews and nieces and grandkids after school and at weekends.
Load More Replies...As a 15-year-old myself, there is no way in hell I'm taking that job. There are many more jobs where I get paid properly and don't require me to give up my sanity.
Funny thing is...I said the same thing earlier in this post and I'm getting down voted for it. Huh?
Load More Replies...I made it a day at BK as a 15-year-old. You're surrounded by adults who got the job as part of their drug rehab program, just got out of jail for violent felonies, anyone who'll work for shi* in shi**y conditions. THEY ARE KIDS.
here ima lay this out right now, I have NEVER wanted to work at a fast-food restaurant unless times were too tough for me or my family, and this just confirmed that for me. for one thing, they are HUMAN BEINGS with feelings, a life, and needs! you can't just make them work however u want them to! second, there are laws on child labor and they just broke about 800 of them and need to pay $250,000. it makes me sad that ADULTS are trying to take advantage of kids and teens
TIMEOUT!! ACTUAL 14-15 year old here. I personally have been striving to get a job and save up for a truck and college and all that. I am about to start working as a dog walker and a FREAKING DEER PROCESSOR. You realize how nasty and awesome that will be. I personally would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have a job at Burger King. So can y'all just shut it and let us pick if we want to work or not. I personally need to if I want the vehicle I do and if working off less than minimum wage is what I want to do to earn it then it should be MY DECISION!
You're to young to know the kind of damage this could do. I've been working since I was 13 and am dang glad I didn't work at a fast food place until my older teen years. Even then, I certainly didn't know how to handle all the ugly coming at me. You are just too young to know how young you are. Be glad of that.
Load More Replies...So is there no insurance hike for having a child on the deep fryer? That is so many disasters waiting to happen.
Essentially no. If they're at least 16 they can work. There may be some exclusions about a fry machine, like having to be 18, but i doubt its followed. S**t, we had 16yr hostesses serving drinks to help us with tables during busy rushes. They weren't supposed to (law states no making or serving of alcohol until 18yrs of age) but it was done. Unless someone calls them out on their BS, its done however the boss wants it to be done. When your 16 & its your 1st job, you're not gonna call it out. And when you're 28, hustling your ass off, need help, & need that $5.25 per hr plus tips to feed your family, you're definitely not calling it out...hence us still having issues like this in food service
Load More Replies...This is what happens when a corrupted capitalist system loses its hold over its workforce. Those who have been acting as the oppressing force, desperate to hold onto their wrongful gains, try to find new avenues of exploitation. That worked much better back in the day before it became so easy to spread information so fast, and especially before visual and audio evidence became easy to provide.
I started in food service at 17. I dont recommend it. It'll suck you in for life!!!!!
I worked as a cashier during high school and all through college. I had to ask for a raise every year and the raise was only be a quarter every time. So in my 4 years with this company I went from $5.20 to $5.95. I quit when I started college as I thought it was a waste to commute if I was just paying my own gas anyway. (This was early 2000’s when minimum wages was $5.15)
This is such an American problem. Burger King, McDonald's, etc all employ a s**t load of teens in my country I don't see the problem with them learning how to function in a work environment etc.
A 14/15 year old having to deal with a screaming, angry, entitled customer would get shook and possibly piss their pants. I'm 32f and when I have to deal with entitled, screaming assholes in my salon from time to time, my anxiety goes through the rough and my whole body is shaky in the aftermath as I'm trying to finish a haircut. It's a really shitty feeling. I've dealt with people like this for many years but I still get shaky afterwards. A client of mine had said that McDonald's and such weren't meant for living wages. He said they were meant for after school/summer jobs for kids. Idk how accurate that is but if it was true, the times are definitely changing and so should the pay from these companies.
At 16 I worked at Pizza Hut to pay my car insurance, gas and have money for things I wanted. It's a job that requires very minimal skills that basically anyone can do. So what makes anyone think it should provide a livable wage as it's referred to ? Pay attention in school and get a decent job that requires some skill or thought. No I don't think the idiot that can't read the "no pickels" on my order should make $15 an hour. That's ridiculous.
big deal,they make their own pocket money,learn responsibility, thats not child labor!!!! child labor are the kids making Nike shoes for eg. my first job at 13 mind you was at a supermarket & pancake parlor!
I see nothing wrong with 14-15 trying to get a job. I got my first job at 15, my kid got her first job at 15. It is healthy for the kids to start learning some adult stuff. As long as the job is only a few hours a week, does not interfere with school and other activities and is in a healthy environment, I think it is fine for 15 y.o. to try things out. However, fast food places with horrible working conditions and unreasonable hours are not the places to work when you are 14.
Let's see. We have pure fantasy. A somewhat slippery grasp of economics, and the utter shameful attempt at trying to sell the storyline of "a childhood well spent" where in reality, children actually do more adult activities between age 12-17 than they will after age 18. Sounds like a side plot of a video game story in some, and some suspect education in others. Great submission. I learned a lot.
For sure I wouldn't want my kid to work in such a job. Let them do something which brings them experience in fields more relevant than burger flipping.
I started working before 14. Yes, it taught me a lot of how the world and people work. It is invaluable experience. But it also felt like punishment. In hindsight, I do think it's too much too early.
I started working at 14 because my mom couldn't afford to hand me a car or, really, even a chocolate bar. It taught me A LOT about work ethic and dealing with jerks
I am honestly curious here. In Australia, when I was a teen, just about everywhere was staffed by teenagers. It felt like 80%+ of all grocery store and fast food staff were teens. I worked for Coles(Grocery store) from 15 to almost 18, and we had some 14 year olds working there. It was the norm, it was seen as giving a chance to young people to earn money. I was grateful for having a job. Why is it seen as so opposite now?
To get into college in the US requires a whole lot of extracurriculars, and the homework at night can be 6-8 hours worth. Essentially, if you work fast food in high school you're damaging your chance at a better life anymore. Then there is the extremely unhealthy environment for kids still developing. They will be groped/hit on, they will work with someone dealing drugs, and on and on and on. There are almost no safeguards. They say there are, but there aren't. That is why it is usually older teens and poorer teens that end up working fast food. They have no other choice.
Load More Replies...Capitalism is beyond broke and if this doesn't prove it, we're all as stupid and disgusting as Burger King.
Realizing this is a single franchise choice. On their own website, they state you have to be 16... 🤷🏽♀️ https://careers.bk.com/job-opportunities
My first job was at Burger King when I was 14. All of my friends had jobs. That was 25 years ago. Are kids so fragile now they can't work??
It's about the wages and exploitation, not the willingness to work. Google some info on how much 100usd got you 25 years ago and how much it gets you now. The world has changed a lot since. Edit: by how much i meant buying power.
Load More Replies...I do not understand so many complains about Burguer King (or McDonalds or...), while Amazon (and most other similar platforms) are doing the same, and others the same in Asian countries? Why is J. Bezos (and so many other "touched" businessmen) excluded from the same criticism.
They've been criticized for a while now. not paying attention?
Load More Replies...Why are people outraged that they will hire teens to work? My first job was A&W at the age of 13, I made $4.10 an hour. More kids need to get off their asses and get a job, get some of that entitlement worked off this generation.
And previous generations would've though you were lazy because you weren't up milking cows and plowing fields and had a cushy job. Time marches on
Load More Replies...I don’t see it as child labor, but I don’t disagree with this post either. If the adults think it’s horrible, I’m not letting my kid go through that job either.
Yes, I will encourage my kids find jobs in fast food restaurants and other 'unpleasant' working environments, just like I did at thier age. I will also encourage them to value thier time, effort and work by seeking out employment that treats them respectfully and pays them appropriately for that time, effort and work, and does not try and exploit, bully and coerce them into accepting innapropriate remuneration.
Load More Replies...