Hand-carved, locally produced spam
Check this out. A few days ago I got a strange comment on my blog. The content of which had nothing to do with the subject of my post. It was simply promoting an organization which had nothing to do with me or my blog entry. Spam, right? Right.
But here’s where it gets weird. The spam comment was placed there manually, by a local person promoting a local organization–the Waukesha County Museum, of all things. After some thought, however, I decided that even hand-carved, locally produced spam is still spam.
Having nothing against the museum, I have no problem linking to them. Not liking spam, however, compels me to expose this ill-conceived tactic.
The museum should look into establishing it’s own blog. Have a real museum employee write it in his or her own voice. Let people comment. Let the author comment on the blogs of patrons who write about their visits. Let links develop back and forth, organically.
You know what? The Waukesha County Museum is less than a mile from my house, but I’ve never been inside it. I should go–and blog it.
December 17th, 2008
EARN $5000/WEEK WORKING AT HOME!!
(couldn’t resist)
December 17th, 2008
When I saw the hand-carved part, I thought y’all maybe had your own version of Spam-o-rama, a local celebration of all things Spam (the potted meat, not the unwanted messages) we have here in Austin. People carve it into odd shapes, make their own offbeat recipes (spamikopita, anyone?), sing songs about it, re-enact the Monty Python skit, you get the idea.
I know, we’re weird. One of our biggest parties of the year here is when we celebrate Eeyore’s birthday.
December 17th, 2008
Is that why I saw a bumper sticker recently (in San Diego) that reads: “Keep Austin Weird” ?
December 17th, 2008
Well, as the author of the “spam” who has apologized for the unwanted announcement and expressed my total understanding for deleting it, I guess I have to weigh in a little on these comments.
I didn’t view it as spam. I saw it as one local group sharing with a local audience a cool activity we have going on — especially when the result is a $1000 prize which many in these “tough times” might appreciate.
That said, I agree with most other points here: we in fact are about to launch our own blog (in fact the link is already on our homepage), it will be and my post was written by “real museum employees” and both do allow comments. Many of the local blogs I posted the same info to 1. posted it, 2. one thanked me for sharing the news with his audience, 3. have comments moderated and therefore chose not to post it for whatever reason they choose (I think that’s just fine.), and 4. One added his own link and comment in his main blog section further promoting the contest.
Ultimately, I do not feel the act of sharing local news is “ill-conceived.” Having worked for non-profits for over 15 years — the saddest thing we each experience far too frequently is hearing a resident say “I didn’t know you were there,” “I’m so sorry I missed that show/exhibit,” “I wish I had known – I could have really used the money,” etc…. In my role, I see any method for minimizing such regrets as worth a try. And again, I completely respect that this blogger disagrees, which is why I was thrilled to reply to his inquiry the same day and explain my thoughts and my total understanding that he might choose to delete the entry for whatever reason he dern well chooses.
So to be totally self-serving, let me just say that the blogger is getting two free passes to the museum on me — so now there is no excuse, come see me!
Jim Hahn, staff
WAUKESHA COUNTY MUSEUM
December 17th, 2008
Jim, I appreciate you weighing in. I didn’t want to drag you into it by writing about our correspondence over the issue. I was pleased to get your response, but you have it wrong: comments designed to hijack my audience (such as it is) for the purpose of advancing your organization, rather than contributing to a genuine conversation with me and my readers, is spam. In English, you weren’t responding to my blog post nor to the other commenters; you were advertising the museum.
As far as the museum goes, I wish it well. To that end I am making recommendations.
1. You could have just emailed me and asked if I would post the information. I almost certainly would have.
2. You could start a museum blog and enter the big internet conversation more honestly.
I’m very glad to hear that you are already planning something along the lines of item 2. I’ll be glad to link to that blog if it’s updated regularly enough to warrant regular reading.
Jim, we have a disagreement on whether your methods were wrong, whether they constituted spam or not. But I wish you and the museum well. And I certainly meant it when I said I’d come visit and blog about the experience.
December 18th, 2008
I too received the same comment on my blog, and also deleted it.
December 19th, 2008
Yes, David, that’s right, and it only begins to scratch the surface of our weirdness.
December 22nd, 2008
[...] Scott Feldstein contends that hand-carved locally produced spam is still spam, even when it’s for a good [...]