It all seemed so promising once.
An embittered curmudgeon who thinks he’s smarter than everyone else pretends to be a sexually promiscuous PR “strumpette” who hates Steve Rubel and all things Edelman.
Well, actually, we’re not sure why anyone would think that was a promising blog premise … but it did work like a charm on Day 1, when the initial post by “Amanda Chapel” netted 49 comments and 12 trackbacks.
Unfortunately, as this chart by crack researcher (as opposed to “researcher on crack”) Gregory Kohs demonstrates, things have not gone so well for Amanda since then:
Concludes Mr. Kohs:
I think intelligent readers want objective commentary from real-life people who aren’t hiding behind a fake persona.
But the bad news doesn’t stop there for Strumpette.
If anyone thought that Amanda’s commentary in O’Dwyer’s on Wednesday may have represented the character’s elevation to legitimacy, think again. Like the Strumpette concept itself, the commentary was a one-shot deal.
We e-mailed O’Dwyer’s to ask them about the decision to publish the article. Editor Kevin McCauley sent us this response:
I am responsible for what goes on the O’Dwyer site and in the newsletter and magazine so it was my decision to post the commentary.
O’Dwyer’s has never posted an anonymous commentary in the past, and quite frankly is unlikely to do so again. An anonymous commentary is usually a cheap shot to settle a score.
An exception was made for the Chapel piece because it tied in with the high-profile Dowie trial that has just opened in Los Angeles. No PR agency executive is willing to go “on the record” about overbilling. That would be a career killer. PR people, however, are more than willing to say they would never dream about bilking a client. How do we know?
I decided it was okay to use the anonymous commentary because Chapel did not write about any specific case in which he or she overbilled a client. The piece dealt with generalities.
We asked ourselves today why we feel compelled to continue posting about Strumpette. We decided it was because it represents the perfect storm of things we dislike in blogs:
1. It is pompous and condescending.
2. It is dishonest.
3. It is purposely hurtful to others.
We don’t like the Strumpette blog or what it stands for. So we’re going to keep writing about it until it goes away.
We don’t think it will take that long — but we’re patient. We’ll be here when the URL has been bought up by some porn site, where it belongs.
Technorati tags: PR, Public Relations, Marketing
Tags: dallas pr, dallas public relations, pr blogs
I really like MO, I read every post. But I have to tell you, this Strumpette thing was interesting for about 45 whole seconds.
I now find myself skipping any post you write about whatsitsname.
I’m sorry, Jim — it is an unhealthy obsession. I will try to “just say no to Strumpette” more often
Scott,
move on…
I hope Strumpy never becomes a NOBODY!
The thing is, Strumpette is obviously a PR person who is more talented than most of the PR bloggers.
‘She’ has invented a new style. It’s entertaining and if it gains attention at the expense of uptight industry self-congratulators, who cares?
Strumpette is better at getting the attention she wants than the rest of us have been.
She has exposed how anal and fatuous most of the industry is.
She has exposed how over-sensitive most are to some factors we know are going on in the industry: Over-billing; the fact that nine out of ten PR people don’t add any value at all; The irrelvance of most PR strategists to company strategy; And that virtually every self-described expert on new media PR doesn’t know Jack. Strumpette proved that the skill level in New Media PR is no higher tha it is among teens on MySpace.
The only ones who have come up with a good way of dealing with her are those who have a sense of humour, proportion and calmness. That isn’t many in the industry.
If you’re not capable of working out a really simple strategy like that for your own industry, and your own blog, then what makes you think you have any strategic advice at all to offer others?
Well, dammit?
Strumpette’s called you all out.
Whining and name calling (‘condescending’? Hullo Pot. Meet Kettle) is no substitute, rebuttal nor refutation of Strumpette.
And if you think a dodgy hits graph cuts the mustard, put your own stats up along side it.
First, anon’s comment of:
“Over-billing; the fact that nine out of ten PR people don’t add any value at all;”
Sounds very much like Strumpette/Connolly. HHmmm???
Second, like I’m sure others had, I had noticed the photo credit to Ophelia Cherry on her blog, and follwed
http://www.krempasky.com/?p=1300#comment-5211
I saw a few on Ophelia’s site (she’s in Italy) but no that looked exactly like our beloved Strumpette. Glad Ophelia has spoken up.
Brian Connolly should simply be flogged.
Mike
“Strumpette is better at getting the attention she wants than the rest of us have been.”
Uh, no. A cheap stunt is always available to any blogger to increase hits – most just choose a higher road.
For example, I have a great technique for getting money really fast. It involves a firearm and a bank. I just choose not to.
Did McAuley *ask* any PR executives to go on the record about overbilling?
His column was the reason why I stopped reading O’Dwyer’s sometime around 2001.
HEIII!!!!
HERE IS THE REAL OPHELIA CHERRY , the photographer !
Amanda never steals from my website, she’s giving me credit for that photo! A shame that someone writes here pretending to be me.
>____<
This is becoming like an episode of “Lost.”
I guess if first we practice to deceive…
OK, gang, in addition to the above comment, I’ve also just received this e-mail from Ophelia, sent from ophelia@netshael.com:
“Dear Scott,
“thanks for this email.
I don’t write that comment, would you please leave it and tell to your users do not use my name?
“Amanda never steals from my website, she’s giving me credit for that photo! Amanda IS Amanda!
It’s wonderfull how so many men are interented in chitchatgossip about a great PR-woman. >:o”
OK — so until further notice, please disregard the first “Ophelia Cherry” comment.
Meanwhile, I’m going to have an early martini.
it would be nice if you change the fake comment in “anonymus” and remove my name
thank you Scott
OK, will do…
Time for my second martini. Is is only 3 pm?
Well, I’m pretty confused, but my best guess at this point is that someone pretending to be Ophelia Cherry, the photographer who took the picture used on the Strumpette site, posted an earlier comment. I emailed Ophelia about this comment, and she emailed me back and told me it was a fake comment.
So the comments posted know, as best I can tell, are really from Ophelia. I’ve taken down the fake comment.
Here’s the pic that Ophelia took:
Amanda
Some of you may be happy to know that Strumpette fatigue is finally setting in.
You should be ashamed of yourself Scott (and friends). Seriously. It’s called harassment. It’s called stalking. Doing it online is still against the law!
STOP IT!
- Amanda Chapel
I’m am becoming ashamed very rapidly…
And you?
We should all thank Strumpette, she boosted traffic on my blog as well as comments and no doubt on your own as well. But crossing the chasm remains hard. Even so, a slash in the pan can leave a last impression, like the song stuck in your head (HEY Macarena!…just try getting it out of your head now.)
Scott- the notion of a nom de plume fictious person filing a legal action is sure one for the books. Funny though…there’s this guy in Chicago that keeps sending out the same kind of notes. Hmm…