Comments on: Idiots

By: Andy

Andy — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:04:33 +0000

I get SPAMMED by "orcacommunications' constantly; and I say SPAM in the sense that they don't give you an option to opt out of receiving their plain text emails.

I have been told by them on 2 separate occasions that they will "remove me" from their list, but then the next day... more SPAM.

I just can't believe that companies pay them money to represent them and pay them to SPAM people. I wouldn't think twice about a company or product that knowingly SPAM's me.

By: david Macnamara

david Macnamara — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 02:11:30 +0000

great article, I've been guilty of similar acts.

Hopefully those dark days are behind me.

By: Stop making sh*t products « Shakeout’s Blog

Stop making sh*t products « Shakeout’s Blog — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:26:24 +0000

[...] From the very insightful ideasonideas blog (seriously, read it) [...]

By: ideasonideas - Eric Karjaluoto discusses design, brands and experience » Blog Archive » How to keep bloggers from hating you

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:29:01 +0000

[...] of a thing you have to tell us about. Just move on; it’s okay. Apologize Since writing the “idiots” post, I’ve been flooded by PR agencies–seriously. It seems that many of them took my [...]

By: Sociala Gerillan

Sociala Gerillan — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 20:43:57 +0000

[...] admin - 4 December, 2008 Marybeth from Orca Communications might be an idiot. Iâ€™m not saying she is; however, her behavior is certainly in-line with the kind of idiocy that some PR firms are practicing. I know Iâ€™m going to sound like a dink here, but thereâ€™s a hard truth to face, and itâ€™s that these groups just arenâ€™t â€œgetting itâ€. IdiotsÂ Â» ideasonideas - Eric Karjaluoto discusses design, brands and experience [...]

By: » How NOT to do Public Relations on the Web :: Positive Space Blog

» How NOT to do Public Relations on the Web :: Positive Space Blog — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:39:15 +0000

[...] the last couple of months I have read a few posts on Ideas on Ideas, in which Eric discusses the unprofessional and annoying behavior of some public relations [...]

By: Eric Karjaluoto

Eric Karjaluoto — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:11:38 +0000

Hi Adrian,

I can see where that notion comes from, but I think that itâ€™s likely a bit of an older idea of what business is. In the past businesses had to keep a stiff upper lip, and never show signs of humanity or personality.

In my humble opinion, that was always a rather crappy idea. Itâ€™s why we started to distrust so many companies. As organizations become less human, they tend to â€œgive a shitâ€ less about what they do, and people often mirror this attitude. Part of why I donâ€™t care about GE is that I donâ€™t know any people there, nor can I identify with them. To me theyâ€™re just a machine. (This probably isnâ€™t the case, but it is how I feel.)

Most people want to work with other humans. (I know that I certainly do.) So, we choose to â€œcall them as we see themâ€. Sometimes this comes off as abrupt, and perhaps could be argued to be reckless. The fact is; Iâ€™m no â€œfigureheadâ€. Iâ€™m just a person whoâ€™s a partner in a small company, and this company is largely just an idea. I find that this is a really important distinction: Corporations arenâ€™t somehow special. The corporation is simply a construct that we subscribe to. Thereâ€™s no reason that it needs to be protected or sheltered. At its best, it should be a representation of the people within it.

Our company is tiny, so perhaps thatâ€™s why Iâ€™m less concerned about saying what we think. That being said, if we do ever grow, Iâ€™d hope that our principles arenâ€™t compromised in the process.

Cheers!

Eric

As for Howardâ€¦ I only wish I had that hair. ;-)

By: Adrian

Adrian — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:34:28 +0000

Thanks for the plug. I say fair enough if you're aware of what you're doing--it just struck me that, as a figurehead of a company, it could be percieved as somewhat reckless to risk "ruffling feathers" unneccessarily.
Different of course if you're Howard Stern.

By: Eric Karjaluoto

Eric Karjaluoto — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 03:47:45 +0000

Hi Adrian,

Good to hear from you--itâ€™s a nice surprise to learn that you read the posts. (Iâ€™ve always enjoyed the spirited debate weâ€™ve had over the years, but worried that you found this off-putting.)

Youâ€™re right; my post wasnâ€™t â€œgentlemanlyâ€ but I feel thatâ€™s largely beside the point.

I wasnâ€™t angry with these people for a lack of sensitivity. Instead, I was calling them out for unethical behavior. Doing so in a different fashion may have been nicer, but not nearly as effective. This approach both sent a clear message to the people at Orca while spurring an overdue discussion regarding PR related spam.

You likely know this better than anyone: social graces are largely foreign to me. My interest is in ideas, truth and integrity (even when itâ€™s inconvenient). I may seem uncouth at times, but this doesnâ€™t concern me. In todayâ€™s climate weâ€™re bombarded with disingenuous messages. Iâ€™m interested in cutting through them, even if I ruffle a couple of feathers. ;-)

Thanks for dropping by!

Eric

BTW - For other readers of the blog, Iâ€™d encourage you to visit Adrianâ€™s site and see his work: http://www.adrianlivesley.com. Adrian and I were good friends who chose rather different paths. Iâ€™m always interested to learn what heâ€™s up to.

By: Adrian

Adrian — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 03:00:03 +0000

The original post was amusing, but a gentleman would have omited any references to real people (not just for manner's sake, but to avoid any possibility of litigation), and perhaps the word "idiot" altogether. Here's the rub: you seem to be angry about Orca Communication's lack of "sensitivity" while exhibiting none of your own.