I’ve had my run-ins with Scoble’s minions over the years. He’s not directing them, of course, but by being close to their Sith Lord of New Media they feel empowered to come out and defend him.

Lord knows he’s busy enough to defend himself.

Yes, he’s quite capable of the gasbaggery. So is Kawasaki. So is Jaffee. So is Rubel.

Man… just thinking about how many names I could add to that list gives me a headache.

And now I suppose I am a New Media Douchebag for saying so.

——————————————
And Phil…

If you think that truth and rigor in a debate of facts ought to REALLY be a matter of public opinion, AND ought to be governed by who is “nicer,” then you are a degree of Stupid that not only can’t be fixed, but ought to be flushed.

Phil… YOU are what is wrong with the internet. YOU (and your ilk) are going to suck the quality out of any technology that MIGHT have a positive application. Go rattle your head for a moment, and let the blood flow to where you can think. This is about reason and divining truth, this isn’t a freakin’ American Idol vote.

Thanks for your profound thoughts. Let me make sure that I understand your position. Scoble insulting a bunch of people by saying:

- “The way that PR is practiced is just..lame.”
- “Most of PR has ’sucked.’ If you think it’s not, just be a blogger for a little while. And watched the thousands of stupid-ass pitches flow through your screen.”
- “Anybody who pitches you on email is stupid. The chance that I am going to listen to anyone who pitches me email on frikkin’ email is one percent.”

is cool.

And I am an “asshat” (which made me laugh out loud, by the way) for pointing out that I think Scoble is a gas bag and by using his own words?

Scoble = nice guy
Me = “asshat”

What did you parents do to you? Must have been something pretty bad.

Mark

Mr Scoble comes across as a nice guy. You come across as an asshat. That’s why more people are on “his side”.

Thoughful commentary, as usual and you are being a lot more kind than I am. I guess that I am so tired of listening to people like him and Joseph Jaffee pontificate and bitch that I lose sight of the fact that we (meaning public relations professionals who stumbled into the whole social media thing and have tried to do it right) are most likely in the minority – when it comes to pitching.

The Scobelizer talks about “magic,” and at the firms at which I worked for the better part of 15 years, we *did* use the Internet to create some magical experiences. We were completely innovative? Probably not. But everywhere where I have worked, we have done good work in one area or another of social media before we even called it that.

Your point is well taken that we need to own the responsibility of fixing our industry. Totally with you on that. But last night, in my class, I asked my students (not all of whom work for agencies) what prevents them from innovating. Maybe this will be another post, but what I heard was:

- clients
- supervisors
- pressure to bill and develop new business
- less time to keep up on industry happenings.

Yeah, some social media pitches are “lame,” but I don’t think it is intentional as much as a byproduct of the way that many public relations agencies are set up.

Thanks again for commenting.