Filed under: Newsworthy | Tags: Boston, Boston University, pandemic, pig flu, swine flu
My latest pet peeve: people who think they’ve caught the Swine Flu because someone sitting across from them blew his nose on the T and then grabbed the railing. Please do not hesitate to get over yourself.
Animals Suffer in Pandemics–and no one seems to care.
Click on the above link to read a comprehensive but to-the-point post on the Green Muze blog.
Also, I kind of didn’t realize how obscenely cute little pigs are until I searched Google Images for this post’s photo. They’ve actually sent me into permanent use of the puppy/baby/animal talk voice whenever I profess how adorable they are.
It’s really getting to be quite a problem.
Filed under: Marketing & PR, Newsworthy | Tags: Boston, Boston college student, boston marriot, Boston University, Boston University Medical School, Craigslist, Craigslist apology, Craigslist CEO, Craigslist personal safety tips, craigslist.com, Facebook, Jim Buckmaster, Julissa Brisman, philip markoff, PR, Public Relations, Twitter, westin, westin robbery
I’ve been getting comments! On the evening I posted about Craigslist’s poor decision to remain essentially inactive about its role in Philip Markoff’s crimes, a reader fed the conversation! (I had voiced my disappointment and shock with the site’s lack of an “apology”) The contributor asserted:
“An apology, from a legal standpoint, implies at least some degree of responsibility, which is why you won’t see one from anyone at Craigslist. Their position, which they repeat anytime they come under fire for enabling prostitution, is that they are not and cannot be responsible for the content posted by the individuals who use the site.”
-Comment by fjgallagher April 22, 2009 @ 3:58 pm
While I will say that “from a legal standpoint,” Craigslist may not owe anyone an apology (especially since law certainly is not my professed area of professional development), we’re talking about PR–which, in many cases, covers everything OUTSIDE and BEYOND the law. Step 1: Get permission to exist. Step 2: Get people’ta want us.
When it comes down to it, though, it’s really my fault for phrasing that preferential response as an “apology.” Forgive me, I meant it in quite a general sense.
More specifically, I believe Craigslist needs to join the dialogue–especially since its execs are far too late to start it, as they absolutely should have. But even though it might seem like a huge possibility, this isn’t just about breaking the law. At least, it doesn’t have to be. Rather, it’s about going that extra mile for the good of the company.
Even as a person who posts to Craigslist and browses the job postings, I know the company obviously does not have to pay any special attention to this matter. But I do think Jim Buckmaster would be a complete idiot from a PR perspective not to address the issue with simpathetic, humbled rhetoric.
To clarify, Craigslist should AT THE VERY LEAST:
-Give its condolences and express its outrage as a part of its position on the issue
Buckmaster has done this for the media, but what about on the site? It still lacks some humanistic voice to reassure hesitant users.
-Update its Personal Safety Tips page appropriately.
…I’m still waiting…
-Give related info referring to all of the above on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Wow, so, like, Craigslist users would, like, ah, be on those networks??
…
-Most importantly, EMAIL ALL USERS!!!!!
Come on, people. It takes like 10 minutes. You’re obviously not spending any of your precious time reviewing people’s submissions. There is virtually no design on the site. What are you doing with your time?
Sorry, I digress.
My point is that Craigslist isn’t there for its users to the extent that it needs to be. Craigslist’s failure to be proactive has forced it to succeed in assuming the defensive.
The company has officially lost my business; I would not recommend its services to anyone who’s safety I care about.
Filed under: Marketing & PR, Newsworthy | Tags: Boston college student, boston marriot, Boston University, Boston University Medical School, BU, Craigslist, Craigslist CEO, craigslist.com, Jim Buckmaster, Julissa Brisman, killer, online classified, philip markoff, post, PR, Public Relations, Quincy, sublet, westin robbery
Two things about the Craigslist killer situation are hard for me to wrap my head around:
1) Right now, it seems the killer is a BU med student w/no previous criminal record, a fiance, and the physical appearance of normalcy. He looks like someone my friends and I would chat with at a local bar. HOW ODD. Feeling a little uneasy about my post looking for a summer subletter on the classifieds site.
That being said, please rent from me. Please. Pretty please??
2) How come Craigslist has no apology on the site? A Monday CNN article included a quote from the site’s CEO saying they were all “horrified”.. Alright, at least that’s something. But what about something else? How about
- an email to all posters!
- an email to all current users!
- an apology on twitter!
- an apology on facebook!
- some details about the increased security the company is developing for those who post to the site!
- an updated, detailed warning to be safe when posting–for good measure!
The site’s Personal Safety Tips page was “last updated on September 15, 2008.” Nice.
But wait, a CNN article that was posted a little over three hours ago features an interview with CEO of Craiglist Jim Buckmaster.
FINALLY. Good thing this came six days after the initial finding that the thread between both women was Craigslist. Tisk, Tisk.
I wonder how many people will stop using the site now. I certainly will be more careful before giving anyone any personal info if email contact ensues about a posting. Not sure how safe I feel about it now. Think they’ll lose any business?
That being said, again, please peruse my post for a summer sublet in BU’s South Campus.
Filed under: Newsworthy, SmartyPants | Tags: American Morning, CNN, college, Gender, Obama, PR, Public Relations
Sooooo I witnessed the following early this morning on CNN before work, but didn’t get a chance to post about it until tonight.
The channel’s American Morning segment allowed (it seems to do this almost every. morning. with some MINOR detail altered) viewers to submit videos voicing their expectations of Mr. President on the site.
I wish they had posted the clip of it–it’s nowhere to be found on the web.
CNN showed a few, followed by a group interview with previously employed Americans who have been laid off during the downturn. Their former occupations ranged from t-shirt folding to tech specs.
The part that struck me had nothing to do with elephants or donkeys.
The female news anchor asked each of the ?five? desperadoes how they would like Obama to act–would they change anything about his demeanor?
Most of the women reported that they would prefer it if Obama were to continue speaking “realistically,” walking hand-in-hand with citizens while revealing everything each step of the way–whether it’s down the yellow brick road or…well you get the picture. The females didn’t seem to have that many complaints.
Conversely, most if not all of the men interviewed asserted their wish for a more gently-phrased, optimistic tone from Obama. One even went so far as to say that the president should not tell the American public so many painful details of the crisis.
It seemed as if “Nobody likes a Debbie Downer!” was coming any minute. “I need him to give me hope!” he shouted, prompting one of the women to butt into his camera time to demand what he actually meant.
The news anchor proceeded to make light of the parallel between gender and opinion. But why did this occur? It’s late…I’m a little stumped.
My rugged-individual-of-a-man Dad thinks it happened “simply because of the differences between the natures of men and women.” Accordingly, women “usually” desire as much detail as is humanly possible while men prefer the 30,000 ft. perspective. “They’d rather just look at the bigger picture.”
But then he admitted to being a fan of the details.
Interessante.
Filed under: Newsworthy, Pop Culture | Tags: blog comment, blogs, cell phone, chihuahua, E!, Friends, New York Times, New York Times Dining, New York Times Style, NYC government, plus-size, puppy, R subway, reruns, Starbucks, Starbucks wi-fi, Twitter, Vh1, weight-loss, wi-fi
Over the past…month, I suppose…these things have been BUGGING ME:
1. I have had virtually zero internet access in my downtime from work and the daily commute. It has been a century, I do realize. But I’m back–granted, with less frequent posts.
2. Somehow, I keep sitting directly across from the most irritating ad on the R in Manhattan: the NYC government letting us know that if we raise our thermostats to 78°F, we’ll save 3% on our bills. I need them to tell me to put my air on like eighty. And in a Manhattan apartment? Perhaps I’ll just hang my head out the window.
3. That Starbucks has a wi-fi charge. Seriously? I mean, seriously? It’s not enough that I buy coffee from you almost every day, despite your lack of originality, pleasing decor, and profit gains? Everyone from luxury hotel lines to Panera offers it for free. I had to sign up for access at $10/month…and that’s because my cell provider has a cooperative offer. What about those that don’t? Starbucks, you’re really not that special. And your sugar-free syrups are starting to bore me.
4. People giving me “the eyes” for talking on my cell phone in a public place. Yes, I am that person–sorry if I need to complete a mandatory verbal exchange. I have things to do–just lump me in with the eight million other people who need to do it, too, grandpa. Last time I checked, that sidewalk bench was not your bedroom. I’m sure you’ll survive SOMEHOW–especially since it was you who got the glare from someone else ten minutes ago. No need to pay it forward. Grazie.
5. Gyms closing at 9pm on the weekdays. Gosh, isn’t it justso unfortunate when one must work during the day in order to actually pay the Billionaire Boys price tag.
6. Stupid TV shows. I could actually not own a television set and be fine, except that I would miss Friends reruns, the news, and The Office. And the E! and VH1 trash to provide the perfect background noise and imagery while girlfriends are over. You know what I mean. That fake Robin Leech voice? Nothing may compare.
7. People hating on me for wanting a puppy. I didn’t say I want a chihuahua, for heaven’s sake. Goodness.
8. The palpable awkwardness that arises when you talk about your plans to adopt said puppy in front of someone, and those plans don’t include the breed that someone sought out and continues to rave about, as if it were a car model or top-of-the-line hair-styling product.
9. That The New York Times thought we’d want to read about the latest of-the-moment restaurant Rye (propelling the current repeat of the hideaway trend) almost two weeks in a row in the Wednesday Dining section. Why? Hint: new material is ideal.
10. Speaking of The New York Times, how about the Thursday Style section (last week, not yesterday) featuring both an article about the need for more stylish plus-size clothing for young women and an article about scented, flavored crystals that, if sprinkled on whatever a person eats, can help that freak lose a significant amount of weight. It’s a pretty disturbing article, mainly because it features snippets of positive feedback from a success story: “I just sprinkle it on everything I eat.” Wow, we know America is healthy when two such opposite danger zones can be discussed in the same section of a newspaper on the same day. Bravo.