New Adventures in Jackassery

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It's always interesting hearing the traditional marketer (meaning traditional in MDS (media-dependency syndrome) and traditional in marketing values) who has begun learning some new technology.  It's kind of cute, really.  And it's obvious when their only intention is to take all their traditional model dogma and implant it into the new technology.  It's advertising 1.0 in a 2.0 world.

You'll know when you see these people because they may say any one of the following phrases:
    "I heard some guy talking about podcasting.  We should try that!!"
    "Can't we just play our regular TV spot on the internet?" 
    "I don't need to use it to market with it."

You get the point.  They get caught up with the fact that things are changing, but point the fingers straight at new technology, without realizing that it's not just the technology, it's what it allows the consumer to do.  It's how it changes our culture, and ultimately how we have to change the fundamental strategy behind the work we do.

Anyway, today, I asked a potential co-worker (this guy probably in his late 40's-ish) if he had a blog, which I thought was a fairly innocuous question, especially for someone trying to tout his new-media savvy.  His appalling answer, "Uhh, No, No I don't, and I don't have a myspace account, either, huh, huh, chuckle, chuckle."  He said it in this condescending way like blogs are just a bunch of teenagers, tech-geeks and creepy old women talking about their doll collections. 

What an ass.  First, Friggin' take a look around, man.  Blogs are changing the way journalists and media conglomerates do business.  It's changing the way we get our news and information.  It's completely leveling the playing field, and this ass thinks it's about MySpace?

And my second problem...Why the hell is he talking shit about MySpace?  MySpace is the fourth most popular site on the web and is on the forefront of the social media revolution. 

Point:  If you think blogs and online social communities are just for kids, then you better not work in marketing.  If you do, QUIT YOUR FUCKING JOB NOW!  And, if you think you don't need to become a part of it to understand and use it, I say again, QUIT YOUR FUCKING JOB NOW!

Businessman_1 Well, there's my rant for the day.  I'm all in knots over the Mavericks, and I'm taking it out on this guy, I know, but damnit...

If you want some more thoughts on the subject, Mack, over at Viral Garden, is all about joining the community.