Yep — it’s true.
Strumpette and presumably its “Web master” Brian Connolly have sent a letter to the executive director of the PRSA claiming the following:
I am being harassed by an accredited member of your organization … Who on a national level could give me further information regarding the organizations position on this type of situation?
How do I know about the letter? Because Strumpette cc’ed me on it, of course.
This is not a new tactic. Strumpette enjoys attacking people, but prefers opponents who are unable to defend themselves. Strumpette and/or Brian have approached the employers of several bloggers who have criticized the Strumpette blog, trying to shut them up. In general, Strumpette’s intimidation tactics have worked like a charm.
Because my wife and I have our own small agency, Strumpette can’t use that tactic. So it decides its next best recourse is to go after my accreditation.
What a great iconoclast you really are, Strumpette — working to bring down needless institutions like the First Amendment.
If the New York Times does write about this failed PR person — this demonstrated opponent of discussion and debate — and chooses the same cutesy approach that Howard Kurtz chose, I’m going to absolutely lose it.
Update:
Since this post, I’ve received the following two e-mails from Strumpette. It’s worth noting that I don’t think I’ve ever initiated an e-mail conversation with Strumpette; the e-mails always come from Strumpette.
From: Amanda Chapel [mailto:chapel@strumpette.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2006 10:24 AM
To: ‘Scott Baradell (Idea Grove)’
Subject: RE: PRSA, APR and EthicsI understand from my contacts there that you could lose your accreditation.
That would make a good story. I imagine that as faux journalism is a hot topic presently, others would pick the story up… broadly.
You shit where you eat my little friend.
—–Original Message—–
From: Amanda Chapel [mailto:chapel@strumpette.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2006 10:55 AM
To: ‘Scott Baradell (Idea Grove)’
Subject: RE: PRSA, APR and EthicsJust got off the phone with NY. $100 says you lose it. Bet?
Technorati tags: Strumpette
Is there some kind of online petition we can sign to have the stick removed from the Strumpette’s ass?
Wow… news travels fast! Does it make me an A-lister now that I’ve pissed off a high profile blogger? I’m feelin’ the love here… are you? Got this in my email a second ago…
Tim,
Got a problem friend?
Regards,
Amanda Chapel
Managing Editor
Strumpette
Welcome to the list of the stalked, Tim. Tread carefully unless you want it to turn vicious.
You may join Mike Krempasky, Shel Holtz, Greg Kos, David Henderson and others on the Strumpette intimidation list.
Brian Connolly, Strumpette’s “Web master”, has a history of this. Just ask Howard Solomon, his former boss at Ruder Finn.
This is news to me — I never thought that having PRSA accreditation actually meant anything
Back from vacation, checking back in on my favorite cartoon strip. Anyway, I’m with Gary on this. Would also like to pose a related question…can a fictional character make a substantive claim of being stalked and can that same character then see to it that action is taken by the PRSA (again with Gary, does that even matter?)?
Well, Scott, you were looking for a nemesis
I agree with Usher on the more substantive question though — it seems unlikely that a fictional character written by anonymous authors can substantiate its claim that it is being stalked.
I did want a nemesis– but this would be like Jodie Foster wanting a friendly rivalry with John Hinckley.
“Hello, Ahab? Great White Whale on line two…”
Define stalking, please AC/BC.
Think what AC/BC has done with Rubel (deadpool), Phil (“munchkin launching” — my term), plus the consistently critical critiques of Rubel, Edelman Inc., Edelman the man, et al. Might all that action be considered stalking of Edelman Inc. and its employees?
Plus, you could throw in the consistent critical comments (I love aliteration!) of BC before the strumpette launch.
Oh, and sorry for the belated comment. I’m on vacation.
Mike
Um, I second Gary. I think that being accredited – with $2 – gets you a cup of coffee.
Eh.. sounds like much of Strumpette.. sound and fury signifying nothing.
Is anyone really paying attention to him anymore?
Considering Strumpette’s barrage of harassing e-mails, I’m worried that he won’t stop with PRSA.
To be honest, Cathy’s worried about him finding out our home address.
So… while it kills me to allow his bullying and intimidation tactics to work, I have to ask myself if it’s worth exposing Strumpette for the sham it is.
Frankly, Howard Kurtz should be ashamed of himself for writing that Washington Post piece without doing any real reporting to discover the ugly person behind the stock-photo mask.
scott… sooner or later someone will sue.. and as they say in the legal profession, discovery’s a bitch.
Is Strumpette sincerely angry, or is this humor in the vein of Andy Kaufman a la Tony Clifton?
Jeremy/Gary; I have to disagree with both of you. Studying for and passing the APR (which is no small feat) is good for our profession. Why? Those who go through it actually understand that there is a process to the profession, AND they learn, and agree to abide by, a code of ethics. It makes for better practioners.
As far as getting a job out of it, you don’t directly (unless you live in DC where many of the jobs are APR preferred). On the other hand, you can get a jobs out of it indirectly, because it helps you have better skills – skills that yield results: Research, Planning, Implementation and Evaluation.
Does this mean you need APR to acquire these skills? The answer is obviously “no.” However, if you do have the APR, I know you have some clue. That means a lot to me, as an employer and as a colleague.
As for Scott losing his APR over excercising his right to free speech: I believe that falls under the free flow of information in the PRSA Code of Ethics. In other words, “No chance.”
What a schmuck. I’ve offered several times to provide the mailing address for the cease and desist I was promised.
Some of our blogger brothers and sisters actually accept AC/BC “Strumpette” comments… and respond to them thoughtfully.
I’ve been needing to cull my feed list and am seriously considering chopping that group. If it were “Homer Simpson” or “Captain Morgan” weighing in, we would howl at a colleague taking it seriously.
Over at Desirable Roasted Coffee, I just delete anything from BC/AC. I do, however, invite comments from Bugs Bunny, one of the most erudite and funny cartoon characters of all time. But not Strumpette.
Yup, meets my experience. I think he’s/she’s a yutz.
The Amanda Chapel Experience is attacking mean old Vaspers the Grate.
I’ve already accused “her” of slander, libel, and criminal intent.
Let her attack me or my employer. I will squash that miserable team of mediocre “look at me”s.
The strumpette wafers are promoting the lousy booklet “The Cult of the Amateur”.
LOL what dorks these “amanda chapels” are to attack vaspers on Twitter.
I don’t work in PR. I am an artist and blogger. My experience with Amanda I will never forget. She is in one word just a plain !@#$*. She is definitely everything that is wrong with the media and the people behind it. She has real issues with freedom of speech. I tried commenting nicely on her blog and it is like dealing with the “Borg” Queen. I almost don’t want to make this comment because it might give her more exposure. I am getting so used to censorship because of her and my experience on facebook that I am afraid to use a word to describe her. I saw that Amanda Chapel used TWITTER, except when she uses the site the “I” becomes an “A”