Subscribe to RSSIf You Don’t Have Something Nice to Say… Don’t Say it at All.
So, it’s been a while since I have last written for AdSaint. I got an email asking me if I planned to add to the enjoyment of AdSaint anymore. The answer: Yes, I do. I have been up to my eyeballs in work, travel and life. And quite frankly, I have remained quiet for quite some time – choosing to fly under the radar and it has been lovely.
But like a fresh coat of lip gloss – it doesn’t last forever. I recently was pointed to another site that speaks on the STL creative scene, The Egotist. While I like the site and appreciate what they are trying to do (offer a place for creative feedback, idea sharing, etc.) I have also noted that the site quickly evolved into a place where locals and non-locals can publicly bash one another and bash businesses. At AdSaint, during the days of Walt’s rule, we occasionally encountered such online goings-on and made it a point to police the unruly.
I had been reading the Egotist site for a few weeks when I saw a thread that bashed two businesses and the employees/owners of those shops. That’s when my mild mannered ways quickly snapped, and I soon found myself being entrenched in writing a public comment defending the shops against this online onslaught.
What followed the next few days was to be expected – emails, and lots of them. Some thanking me for publicly putting my name and support out there and others, which accused me of being a no-talent kiss ass. I found that greatly amusing and tracked the IP address of the emailer. The person that it came from probably does not know I know who they are, since they thought they cleverly “hid” their address, but when there is a will, there is a way.
Turns out, I know this person rather well. And it was a big disappointment to learn they thought of me that way. Oh well. I don’t live to please everyone. Just myself.
All this aside, my gripe with sites such as AdSaint and the Egotist is really nothing to do with the sites themselves – no they are great and needed. My gripe is for the STL ad scene in general, namely, the people who choose to hide behind anonymous comments in forums, taking it upon themselves to sling slander on whomever they please.
How does this make our community look to outsiders? I tell you this: It doesn’t make us look like the most sophisticated bunch on the block. Squabbling amongst ourselves and talking behind each other’s backs like high schoolers – how sad is that? This community is small. Indeed everyone does know everyone within our industry (or just about).
My thinking is this: If you have nothing constructive and useful to say or have nothing nice to add at all, don’t comment. Please don’t make the rest of us and our community look bad just because you’re having a bad day/week/month/life. You are welcome to your opinions and freedom of speech/expression. But here’s an idea: have a point to what you are saying. If you spew negative comments – be prepared to back them up with facts, not just your opinion.
Anyways, that is all I really wanted to say for this post. After sitting idle, I got my feathers ruffled and had to emerge from semi-retirement to pipe up about this ongoing issue. If you don’t have the nerve to say what you “really” want to say about a person or business to their face, then you are contributing to our demise and I kindly ask that you cut it out and be an adult who uses their name to comment. Reap what you sow. It’s only fair.
Best,
The ADgitator
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Author:
I have an intolerance for stupid people and even more of an intolerance for dumb campaigns. You know the ones - they lack in creativity, didn't delve into strategy and ended up costing the client way too much for far too little. Sometimes I give advice and quite often, I'll share my real life stories that make people laugh and be thankful that they don't lead the absurd life that I do. But my life and all of its absurdities is not something I mind. In fact, it's what keep me loving life and what I do for a living which is a lot. Sometimes you can find me serving as a Marketing/Brand Manager, other times you can find me pulling duties as a Sales and Marketing Consultant, Brand Strategist, Digital Sherpa, Copywriter, Product Developer, Author and Discoverer of Correlations where none seem to be. I plan to retire by 45. (Yes, I've figured a way out.) That might seem like a lofty goal, but having a life where I travel, talk and consult seems pretty darn good to me. 15 years and counting... For ADvice: email me at anne_ellegood@yahoo.com For Complaints: Contact Management.
5 Comments
2010-07-16
09:40:29
I couldn't agree more. I often do not comment on newspaper stories as I don't want to get involved with all the idiots who obviously didn't read the entire story or feel it's appropriate to hijack the comments for something completely unrelated.
Earlier this week, I read a story about the Sun Chronicle (MA) which closed down comments on its website earlier this year after discussions in the paper's comment section got out of hand. Now, according to the post, in order to "encourage intelligent and meaningful conversation," all posters on the site will have to register with their full name, address, phone number, email and credit card number. (There will be a $0.99 one-time charge to be sure the info is legit.)
Some say this is a violation of freedom of speech but I say it's just making us accountable for our public opinions. What do you think?
2010-07-20
13:37:52
That's the irony of allowing open discussions / comments, the intent is to nurture interactivity/community to boost interest. But sadly, anonymous computer jockeys ends up turning or chasing all the good people off. Take Yahoo! for example, it's simply astonishing how commentors can make any (and I mean, ANY) news story the fault of their hated political party.
I have to wonder if sites will start moving away from comments (maybe going the way of the guestbook), or at the very least, disable them by default. Engadget has done something like this already.
2010-07-21
12:08:41
Tressa - I agree on your point of making individuals accountable for their public opinions.
If it is written in print and what you say can damage a person's reputation, etc. it's slander/defamation unless it is found to be 100% true.
It should be NO DIFFERENT on the web. If you say it, be prepared to back it up.
The Sun's idea is interesting. It's a way for the newspaper to generate income and help police the comments section. I think we will see more forums/blogs/websites going this way - or at the very least making people register full names, etc.
Thank you for you thoughts!
Best,
The "ADgitator" Anne
2010-07-23
01:18:12
I agree with what you wrote Anne. As a current job seeking within this industry located in St. Louis this type of behavior only adds to what I've read and heard from other places that the St. Louis industry is not somewhere where I should be looking. I've been pointed to DC, Denver, San Francisco, and the usual big 3 of LA, NYC, and Chicago.
I still have hope for St. Louis.
2010-07-27
13:08:18
Anne, thanks for taking charge on this topic. You really do make some great points.
Reminds me how important the “what would your Mother say about your behavior” filter is in life.
I find negative comments relating to the work of a single person or a firm to be very tricky. It is great to share ideas and have an opinion, but these negative discussions (if I am reading the same ones as you) are often in poor taste and they don’t seem to serve an important function. What is the goal or purpose of traveling down a road of negativity? No one wins, as illustrated by your personal experience.
Being an outsider, it is hard to know what someone else was faced with. I think many of us in the industry do the best we can with the cards that we are dealt.