Comments on: Having a Cow

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Mar 2003 15:07:28 +0000

Jodie, of course you see him as a facilitator, in what he does directed at you and THIS blog, he is. I know you were on Cat's segment, but who's picture and name are on the show? Chris's. You can deny all you want, but Chris, and Lockergnome are brands (more than a blog, mailing list, and a TV show) that Chris promotes, and that is exactly what Marketing is. Even your own description of what *you* believe marketing is, describes what Chris does. What do you call it when Chris sends an e-mail out to his list? Promotion is marketing. Those geeks that have embraced marketing have gone on to be very successful. Does it make them any less of a geek if they make money? No. Even ChrisÂ’s Amazon search tool tags his affiliate account. Just saying it goes to defray the costs of the site, doesnÂ’t make it any less a use of marketing. I guess there is no reason for Lockergnome or Gnomedex to exist. Both of those entities are heavily marketed by Chris, and if you don't think he makes money off of the books, websites, TechTV, whatever, than I would question how we all got here to begin with. There is nothing organic about or existence here, and you as the owner of Brownie Points should understand as you have benefited from the marketing of Chris Pirillo. I like Chris (I feed my baby son during CFH, so I can watch), and I am not saying there is anything wrong with what he does, but to separate him from others in the marketing realm is silly. How many of us have our own brand and logo of our face. I know I donÂ’t. I will admit, there are some pretty sleazy people in marketing, and sales (which is different than marketing), but there are also hackers in the geek culture, so there are black hats and white hats in every avocation.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Mar 2003 06:35:14 +0000

word. amen. huzzah.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Mar 2003 05:42:52 +0000

While yes… Chris understands marketing… he's not a “marketer.”
I see him as more of a facilitator.
Marketers go out of their way to find avenues to promote products/services they may or may not have an affinity for. Chris, on the other hand, finds out about (if I say so myself) cool things and use the tools available to him to tell other people – it just so happens that the tools he has available are 1) a blog, 2) a very large email list and 3) a TV show. Besides – I was on Cat's segment ;-p

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Mar 2003 03:13:54 +0000

Vinton Grey Cerf said something very succinct on what blogging really is and it seems hard to call what the commercial side seems to be doing, “blogging” – more of a souped-up “what's new” section:
“BLOGGING
Trinetizen: What do you think of the blogging phenomenon and our insatiable need to record and document everything online? Has the web swung us from couch potatoes to the other extreme of multi-tasking super-interactive beasts of opinion-mongers?
Vint: Since blogs have to be accessed by deliberate decision, at least these endless diaries are not “in your face” in the same way spam is (Oh, Lord, what have I just suggested? Blogspam?).
I think this is merely an indicator that we would collectively and individually like our lives to “count” somehow and if someone finds our blogs of interest, it is confirmation that our lives and opinions are making a difference to someone.”
source:
http://www.star-techcentral.com/exclusives/special/story.asp?file=/2003/3/3/ThefatheroftheInternetspeaks&sec=exclusives

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Mar 2003 03:12:46 +0000

I understand why they are cool now, but they are a form of communications, and have a place in the large scheme of corporate communications. Everything that was once a niche group idea/product, has gone onto larget corporate uses.
I have run over a couple of Amway people in my car, yes, but my point is he IS a marketer. People look to him for a source of information, and companies have lent, given, or otherwise curried his favor for an opinion. Hell, I see things for “Brownie Points” here and on his chest, and then BOOM that person is featured on CFH. That turned me off, big time. He writes and sells books, he is a brand with his own logo, and clothing. How is Gnomedex any different that the corporate blog fest? It isn't, really. The people putting it on are different, the people attending it are different, but the same marketing engine is the same. As for the current coolness of blogs, well hell I remember 1993, when no company had a webpage (at least none that were any good). Corporations are always going to co-op the cool stuff (the web, blackberries, PalmPCs), why would blogs be ANY different? Chris hates marketers, but constantly wanders over to the marketing side to make his life/work better. Pot:Kettle:Black IMO.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Mar 2003 00:05:28 +0000

Robb, I think you totally missed Chris' point.
Weblogs are cool because they are like personal conversations. I often get people to buy things in personal conversations (hey, wanna check out my Tivo?) but where we get bothered is when the conversation gets forced.
Have you ever had a conversation with an Amway freak? I have. It's no fun.
The marketers are coming and they are going to act like Amway salesmen for a while.
No biggie. It's easy to figure out who's been Amwayed and who hasn't.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Mar 2003 19:15:59 +0000

You hate 99% of marketers, are you in the 1% you like? Face it Chris, you are a marketer the second you used the word “promote”. If you feel you are being left out of the corporate blogging trend at the upcomming event, give them a call. Don't blame them, get a better PR person.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Mar 2003 17:53:37 +0000

I don't mind Chris puffing himself up – as long as he keeps renting out his chest. Afterall – a man has got to eat – right?
Meanwhile this Gnomedex thing is sounding a lot more interesting, given it's the middle fucking nowhere IOWA-ville. Well I guess we all can drink corn liqer.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Mar 2003 17:50:58 +0000

Right on. We're seeing the corporate types move into this space. I guess I'm a corporate type too. Most of the newbies don't get it yet. I'm sure they will eventually.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Mar 2003 16:48:34 +0000

That was a great essay on the blogging world vs the corporate world. And, as always it will continue to evolve. I'm a recent newcomer to the blogosphere but I have definately been educated in this area of the net where I havent been before. Thanks for the thoughts…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Mar 2003 15:41:25 +0000

you're quite puffed up with yourself, eh Chris?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Mar 2003 15:26:01 +0000

Wow… That's all my mind can muster after wrapping itself around that entry. Simply, wow.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Mar 2003 11:59:26 +0000

Perfectly said, I don't really think the techie market is really targeted unless its for a tech product. Yet when some companies do market towards techies, u wish they had never done so. Oh and btw, I do have that star wars read along book and record where “u'll know when to turn the page when u hear”…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Mar 2003 08:47:44 +0000

You totally hit the nail on the head. Damn, I wish I read this before I published. You MUST point to this entry in Friday's Daily.
You are so right on. That JupiterMedia conference looks like a cloud of bad gas. Those bloated gas bags kill me. Pioneers of blogging? You named them all… Great post.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Mar 2003 06:37:54 +0000

B-Blogs do exist! And you were giving Cat e-dress grief…