From Our "Things Dennis Might Be Overreacting To" Desk...
Sometimes I can get carried away, I know who and what I am. But sometimes there are certain things that just stick in my craw... whatever a craw is, a thing from this morning got stuck in it.It's well known I HATE marketing and PR people. It's fancy words for advertising; even though everyone keeps telling me they're different, no one can tell me how, because both definitions sound the same. Something else I also hate is lazy content creation, or more importantly, STEALING content. Which is basically the PR/Marketing industry's (can I call them that? I dont' want to, but it does fit) biggest form of "content creation", aka THEFT. Okay, that seems a bit harsh, but it's true. That's exactly what they're doing.In this day of social media, followers/friends/whateryouwanttocallthem is key, especially when it comes to business. Now here's the part that you say,
"But Deadair Dennis, no one makes money from social media except that Michael Cera/Facebook guy!"
Yes, people do. And you're thinking of Jesse Eisenberg, that worst Lex Luther. How? Advertising. Or "brand marketing" as they call it. Basically, one company pays another company (or person) with a lot of followers on social media to mention a product. How they mention it is up to them. That's probably the "strategy" all theses PR Gurus talk about in their email newsletters.Side Note: one PR Guru keeps trying to convince people,
"email newsletters are the new podcasts",
which is just ridiculous because the only people who are effectively using newsletters as a form of promotion are PR Gurus. And they're only marketing to OTHER PR PEOPLE! It's a snake biting it's tail of slimey, aggressive sales tactics, while not actually selling a product.In advertising the product is your eyeballs. In social media advertising, the product is followers. Best way to attract followers? Pictures of pretty things and funny things. Ultimately, your attention is what's being sold. Sometimes it's obvious like TV and radio commercials, sometimes it's sneaky like in social media and on the web. It's not different than what The Fat Jew (that's what HE decided to call himself, not me) did to comedians last year.Below is a post and conversation in the comments section, where civility goes to die, of a Private Facebook group ran by a PR/Marketing company that disguises itself as a social group of people sharing hidden gems in and around Boston; when really they're luring you in to advertise at you. Why am I member of the group? Because I wanted to promote comedy shows there. Okay, so maybe I'm not as innocent as these people, but I never stole anything.
Meredith Kallinikos: Orange line after midnight...a T car to myself.
Luis Hall: Does it still smell like old cheese in a gym locker room?
It's not the trains that smell, it's the people... who have embedded the smell into the train. So, yeah I'm sure it still does.
Roxanne Erekson: I forgot what the inside of a train looks like. Haven't been on one in years.
We get it! Your parents bought you a car that you drive to you job at a startup in a shared work environment. Hopefully when they die and your trust fund is empty, that car becomes your home.
Michelle M Mccormack: Nice. Posting to our IG
Here we go. This is the important stuff.
⌊Deadair Dennis Maler: It's nice you told her you're going to take her picture to pass off as your content to further your paid advertising business instead of asking for permission or better, take and post your own pictures.
⌊Chucky Kayso: Deadair Dennis Maler secret Boston always credits the original picture taker on Instagram, including tagging their Instagram account
⌊Deadair Dennis Maler: 1.) Attribution is not permission.2.) If a photographer comes to a restaurant to take pictures of the food for the menu, does putting the photographer's name in it constitute as payment?
⌊Chucky Kayso: Deadair Dennis Maler perhaps you aren't familiar with tos for social media, nor what the community of secret Boston is about
⌊Deadair Dennis Maler: To build "community" of people to advertise at for money by using strategy, photography, & creative direction? Is creative direction taking someone else's photo without asking? You are "photographers", would you want a model to use headshots you took for their portfolio; or even worse, in a magazine?
⌊Chucky Kayso: Deadair Dennis Maler god you're a cranky beaver. If you don't like how the closed group operates, walk away. SB has been using photos from its members without complaint for some time. And I think it's a great thing. The only one complaining is someone who doesn't have a photo on Instagram.
⌊Deadair Dennis Maler: Chucky Kayso You didn't answer either of my questions; they weren't rhetorical. Are people even made aware that you're using their pictures for a for profit business? Why should I walk away when I would like Lovethecool Creative Services to uphold themselves to ethical business practices?
⌊Chucky Kayso 1. I'm not using anyone's photos, so I can't answer. I am a community member. Not a moderator, nor a principal in this group.
You sir, are clearly out-matched and under prepared.
Chucky Kayso: 2. I don't have a 2
This is the most honest thing he said in this whole exchange.
⌊Deadair Dennis Maler: Chucky Kayso & Michelle M Mccormackhttps://petapixel.com/.../no-cant-use-photos-brands.../
No, You Can't Use My Photos On Your Brand's Instagram For FreeMy name is Max Dubler, and I am a…PETAPIXEL.COM
⌊Chucky Kayso: Deadair Dennis Maler tl;dr
⌊Michelle M Mccormack: Deadair Dennis Maler people love when we share their photos because they get more followers
⌊Michelle M Mccormack: Deadair Dennis Maler go troll some other group
Classic internet. Someone disagrees with you, they're automatically a "troll". I love how a business owner replied to a comment about questionable business practices with name calling.
⌊Chucky Kayso: Michelle M Mccormack BAN STICK BAN STICK TAG HIM WITH THE BAN STICK
"BAN STICK" is not a thing.
⌊Michelle M Mccormack: Chucky Kayso I am. I'm mobile and can't right now. Maybe Jared can help out
I've met Jared. He's the classic definition of "I don't have an actual personality, so I'll grow a mustache instead." Just get a parrot or a pet snake you carry around your neck like the other people so you're easier to identify in a crowd.
⌊Michelle M Mccormack: Chucky Kayso what is up with the random hostility of some people. Why do they even join this group when it's so clearly the opposite of what's accepted here. Why don't they just stay on Twitter?
⌊Chucky Kayso: Michelle M Mccormack keyboard warrior mouthpieces. Some people need to hate to feel better about themselves.
⌊Deadair Dennis Maler: Michelle M Mccormack Do they say they love it when you ask for their permission? Or after you've already stolen it?
⌊Deadair Dennis Maler: Also, currently there is no attribution.
Emily Dreisbach: Did you still get murdered and/or accosted by women seeking spare change?Deadair Dennis Maler: Nice picture. I really like the tone of brown. Really makes it kind of eerie, but still pops in contrast to the brighter colors.
I felt like I should've said something nice. It may've come off pretentious.
Gabriel Govendo: Such a good picture
I've been banned from the group. I mean, that WAS the expected outcome.Okay, so maybe, sometimes I get a bit carried away... or I need to increase my daily dosage of my Zoloft.As of the time of this post, owner of Lovethecool Creative Services, Michelle M Mccormack, has yet to respond.
UPDATE: I contest, still not a response. I've been banned and my comments deleted, but THE TRUTH CAN NEVER BE SILENCED!
At the end of the day, artist or not, I'm gonna side with what this guy has to say when it comes to "brand marketing" and photo usage. I'm sure they're still going to send me their 3x a week newsletter because they need the click through rate to justify their prices.
