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Opinion
The keyboard warrior of Twitter
In this guest post, NBN staffer Scott Rhodie writes an unofficial, personal view on his experience with a hostile Twitter critic.Last night I had a strange incident. While on Twitter I noticed someone saying that Australia’s NBN is already outdated. I wrote a small note back explaining they were incorrect.
And their response? The lovely gentleman (whose Twitter profile says: ‘Father of 5 kids, Loving Grandfather of 10 Grandchildren,and 2 Great Granddaughters. love to give heaps to Pollies and Poofters’) said to me: “Go and lick Gillards C*** out U commie Prick”
What's in a name?
In this guest post, Moensie Rossier wonders about the power of names for brands and marketers.
Brands have been having a bit of fun with names lately, not to mention a fair bit of success. Interbrand just named a headhunting firm Cloak & Dagger. And ‘Share a Coke’ showed how much power there is in a name.
The Coke campaign effectively short-circuited the usual mechanics of communication. It undoubtedly stroked people’s egos. But, I believe, its success stems from the fact that it directly and automatically affected people’s behaviour, rather than doing so indirectly by shaping attitudes.
Best ads from Super Bowl 2012
The Super Bowl is all done and a team from North America won. But as well as some sort of sporting event, it’s the world’s biggest advertising showcase. See the best of them right here… and please tell us what you think.
How to debunk media myths
In this post, UWS’s Ullrich Ecker, John Cook and Stephen Lewandowsky argue that cognitive science can help PRs form strategies in managing media misreporting.
A growing cohort of commentators has bemoaned the descent of contemporary political “debate” into a largely fact-free zone.
How about simply focusing on what consumers want?
In this guest post, Peter Mountford argues that brands should think more about what is really going on for consumers
Who here is hoping their favourite brand of toilet paper is going to be organizing a flash mob on their way home from work today?
What the Optus web copyright victory means
In this analysis first published on The Conversation, RMIT’s Marita Shelly examines the implications of Telstra’s defeat over the online rights to the AFL broadcast deal
This week’s Federal Court ruling that Optus customers are able to view sporting matches minutes after they are streamed live without breaching copyright is a landmark decision that alters our understanding of copyright law, and has significant implications for the AFL’s broadcasting rights deal.
Does Gina Rinehart’s bite of a chunk of Fairfax make her an oligarch?
In an article that first appeared in The Conversation, Mark Rolfe wonders whether the mining magnate’s move could turn Fairfax into something resembling America’s Fox network.
Australia’s richest person Gina Rinehart has moved to increase her stake in Fairfax Media, owner of The Age, Sydney Morning Herald and a number of radio stations. Rinehart has already shown her desire to play a role in public life, campaigning against former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s aborted mining tax. She has also demonstrated a willingness to make media investments to ensure her pro-business worldview is promulgated.
What does this latest move by Rinehart mean?
Gillard's Australia Day crisis
PM Julia Gillard’s media adviser Tony Hodges has been forced to resign over the Australia Day tent embassy debacle.
It came after it emerged he had revealed opposition leader Tony Abbott’s whereabouts, leading to both politicians being rescued by police in ugly scenes.
Mumbrella editor Tim Burrowes and advertising practitioner Jane Caro debate the topic on Weekend Sunrise’s masters of Spin segment:
The biggest cock-up I made in business
In this guest post, Chris Savage urges agency staff to live the brand.I still shudder when I think about how incredibly stupid I was when I made the biggest stuff up of my career. And then, 18 years later, I did it again. Do not make this mistake with your clients. Ever.
Hey Groupon. Thanks for fucking up email
In this guest post, Daniel Monheit warns that group deal overload is devaluing email marketingEmail marketing used to be fabulous. Back in the heady days of 2010, brands would work hard to build up well qualified databases, upon which they’d bestow carefully crafted correspondence filled with information, offers and incentives. The recipients, of course would be delighted: “Oh look! An email! From one of my favourite brands! And it’s 40 cents off at Woolies this week!”.
The staggering sway of Harold Mitchell
The Power Index today names Aegis Media chairman Harold Mitchell as the most powerful person in Melbourne. Andrew Crook profiles him.
Harold Mitchell takes pride in dispensing with the niceties. When The Power Index visited his South Melbourne private office before Christmas, fresh remains were scattered all over the boardroom table.
Share a Coke with… the moronic masses
The most-read story on Mumbrella last year, with not far off 100,000 page views, was a fairly humdrum yarn about the launch of Coca-Cola’s name-on-a-bottle campaign.The headline, “Coca-Cola puts people’s names on bottles in ‘Share a Coke’ campaign”, though hated by any self-respecting sub-editor, was loved by Google. And in rushed what can be politely described as the public.
Assumptions kill creativity
In this guest post, Gual Barwell disagrees that the sales success of the Old Spice social media campaign was overstated.Yesterday’s post from Cathie McGinn suggested the Old Spice campaign failed to connect with consumers. Based on the facts and figures, I disagree.
What Old Spice and Wieden + Kennedy has done and done phenomenally well is to create a franchise.
The SMH's readers (are wrong) editor
We are now about five months into the reign of Australia’s first readers’ editor. And I don’t think it is working.
It struck me at the time of Judy Prisk’s appointment to the Sydney Morning Herald that the fact that her boss was editor-in-chief Peter Fray was not going to be ideal if she was going to be the independent voice of the reader.
The emperor's new fragrance: Old Spice’s campaign failure
In this guest post, Cathie McGinn slays a sacred cow of 21st century marketing – the highly awarded Old Spice campaign.One of the biggest myths of recent times (by which I mean a story of great heroism and triumph we’d all like to believe but deep down know to be untrue) is the Old Spice social media campaign. It’s been much lauded and awarded as an example of outstanding content, a creative and collaborative way of connecting with consumers and driving a record increase in sales.
Blind Date II
Feel that joining a traditional dating website is too much of emotional commitment?
Then Dr Mumbo has just the Aussie website for you.
Handbag Partners - “no commitment, no strings, just great company” is the latest atttempt to tap into Australia’s dating scene.
Aimed at professional singles who have a function to go to and don’t want to turn up on their own, the service provides the “handbag” of a date to join them.
While it all sounds vaguely reminiscent of the Bruce Willis – Kim Basinger move Blind Date, Dr Mumbo can’t decide if this particular idea is brillliant or barking.
Naturally you can follow it on twitter @handbagpartner
May 20th, 2009 at 11:19 am
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Comments
20 May 09
1:10 pm
I vote “barking”. I laughed at the encouraging words about how most men really like older women – as long as they’re “more striking” than younger ones. As an older woman (48) on the net, if i join a dating site, there are plenty of young men chasing me – but they all want one thing, and it’s not an invite to an art gallery, or to have to be polite to my boss, lol.
If you want a handbag, (what a derogatory word), those are called professional escorts and they cost money – they’re sober professionals who are good at what they do, used to being nice to their clients, and discreet about how they met. Sex is not necessarily part of their service, though obviously, it can be offered.
By the way, on the net “no strings” means “looking for sex without commitment”. One would have thought the site owners might have noticed this when researching.
This concept is conceivably dangerous, as one of the main rules of internet dating for both men and women, is “meet in public first”. (After you’ve spoken online and on the phone.) It’s not “take them to a office function” or “go off alone with a stranger”.
If getting into someone’s car on an internet first date is a big no-no (which it is) – then letting a stranger into your life on this basis – thinking because you said “no sex” that they left their genitals at home – could be asking for trouble, especially for those inexperienced with the kind of predators one finds on internet ‘dating’ sites.
14 Jun 09
4:29 pm
WOW – thanks for the comments Sheila about handbagpartners.com – it tells me a lot about you as a person, but more about how you feel about yourself. Glad to know that at 48 you have so many young men chasing you, but had to go to an on-line dating site to find that out.
Sorry to hear that your ‘trams ‘n’ trains’ aren’t working to the best of their ability, but then again the phrase may be perceived as derogatory, as it simply means – ‘brains’. And just think how lucky you are that no one needs to every remember your name – they can just call you ‘Sheila’ or maybe you would prefer ‘Luv’ instead, but no doubt you would even take offense to that.
Glad to also know that you are blessed with such stupendous knowledge regarding escort agencies. Too bad you don’t have a clue about handbagpartners.com, as it does not offer sex as part of the service – but then again YOU would know – wouldn’t you? And your eloquent comment that “they (men) all want one thing and it’s not an invite to an art gallery ….” is also enlightening. So, let me get this straight, – all men go out with a female because they want nothing else but sex? Well Sheila, thanks for that insightful data and I must remember that next time I undertake research on this subject I would be only too happy to forward you the results of the survey.
Added to this, why would someone be naïve enough to not meet their date in a public place first, before going to a function? Maybe one needs to be 49 and not 48 to have this knowledge. I can’t remember endorsing this type of foolishness on the site.
If I may be so bold as to explain the concept of handbagpartners.com, it may enlighten those ‘trams ‘n’ trains’ of yours. Handbagpartners.com provides a social online dating / networking service, which allows singletons of all ages to have someone to take to an upcoming function, event or everyday outing. Because of choice or circumstances not everyone has a partner, a girlfriend, boyfriend, husband or wife, etc. Yes, the world is no longer perfect! And another fact that maybe of interest to you, is that a large majority of singletons are extremely happy with their lives – and so they should be. However some prefer to go to their outing with someone like-minded.
Singletons at times are left with a spare ticket to a concert, an exhibition or a sporting event and would prefer to enjoy the occasion with someone other than themselves. I know this is difficult for you to comprehend, but I am writing this as simply as I possibly can for your benefit.
Many are widowed and are not looking for a relationship, however would like the company of another single person to go out with. Single parents normally have little time to socialise and find themselves without a partner to take to that invite, be it a wedding, a work function, etc. Others are career driven but still need to attend an event; some are travellers who would enjoy the company of another singleton to see the sights, be that a male or a female.
Our members for whatever reason are single and prefer to have the company of someone, to enjoy their next outing with. One member has posted an invite to find someone that enjoys cooking who would attend some cooking classes with her, becasue she doesn’t want to go alone. I doubt that she is looking for sex. Handbagpartners.com caters to the 35 years plus age bracket who are genuine people from all walks of life, who enjoy the company of another human being. Fortunately, not every singleton views this new online social dating / network concept with such a pessimistic mentality as you. Our oldest member is 81 years of age and I wonder if she thinks that all men are just after sex?
Online dating was taboo 15 years ago and the thought of telling anyone that you met your partner via internet dating was unheard of. Yet, today it’s the norm. Maybe you would prefer our members to not socialise, not go out to that event that is important to them, or not make new friends? Maybe they should be enticed to find a partner on another online dating site with profile names as -‘Sexed Up’ or ‘Dumb Blonde’???
Handbagpartners.com is a new concept that simply gives singletons another way of meeting other, singletons. Until you have walked in the shoes of every single individual – would you appreciate how they feel and why they are interested in trying a new social online dating / network service as handbagpartners.com. Maybe you have had too many stings in your tail?
Thank you for taking the time to look through our site and your comments are noted, but for me I must now hit the ‘frog ‘n’ toad’.
.
14 Jun 09
5:23 pm
Wow – a whole agency dedicated to Singletons. This is very exciting. Of course, that’s just flattery. I know that it’s not JUST for Singletons. However, Ms Aleksander, you clearly are looking for my investment and I like how you bring your business to my attention. So do send me a copy of your business plan and let’s talk. JS.
14 Jun 09
5:28 pm
You tell her, Monica!
I’ve got a bit of a PR problem myself. I run a puppy mill and the tide of pubic opinion has turned against me and my industry.
You seem like someone who knows how to turn things around! Don’t let the haters get us down! Let’s get together and bury those critics in an avalanche of 800-word comebacks every time they dare to voice their darned opinions.
Let’s do it!!! Yeah!!!
14 Jun 09
5:39 pm
Dear Monica
In light of your evident diplomatic skills we would like to interview you regarding a posting in an Australian representation abroad*. Please contact us at jobs@dfat.gov.au with your resume attached.
Best regards
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
* We were thinking Mars. Or Alpha Centauri.
14 Jun 09
5:51 pm
Why do handbags always get all the love, whats wrong with backpacks?
14 Jun 09
5:55 pm
This 81-year-old woman — is she hot?
14 Jun 09
5:55 pm
Monica, please contact me immediately – I am looking to upgrade my harsh, grating image and think that your people skills and ability to deal with public criticism could prove useful here in Pyongyang.
14 Jun 09
6:01 pm
We here at Singleton council were very happy to hear of your interest in creating a way for our citizens to connect online, however we must take the stance that we do not condone the use of people as handbags. If there is one thing we learnt from Silence of the Lambs its that sewing peoples flesh into clothing/accessories can only lead to trouble.
14 Jun 09
6:08 pm
I would love to take a complete stranger to a wedding as a first date. Please contact me immediately. Call, email or just tell the voices in my head.
14 Jun 09
6:11 pm
As the most beautiful man in the universe, there is nothing wrong with dating older women. I haven’t discovered internet dating yet, but I hear its taking off.
Older ladies, please contact my fanclub for my details http://www.fabioifc.com/index.shtml. I’ll be your handbag any time.
14 Jun 09
6:42 pm
Flattery will get you everywhere Mr Singleton. We would be delighted to talk further.
How do we contact you?
Monica
14 Jun 09
7:08 pm
I have to say I do like the fact Miss Monica has started a site like “Handbag Partners ”
I only wish they had something like your site when my great Grandfather was looking for “Ladies” to accompany him on his nocturnal outings .
15 Jun 09
11:26 am
Ms Aleksander thank you so much for creating a hassle free, easy to use website that caters for us single people. I am a professional and have thoroughly enjoyed sharing my various committments with other singles instead of spending them on my own. Most importantly I have made some very good friends out of the whole experience. Never again will have to sit at a table, theatre, restaurant, etc alone! Thank God for that!!
Polo
Ps I am so glad you are on my side!
15 Jun 09
11:38 am
IP address check, aisle 13!
15 Jun 09
11:44 am
Hi Kim,
I’m way ahead of you… it’s a new IP address.
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
15 Jun 09
12:02 pm
Tim, if my late brother (drowning not my fault, I promise!) Shura Kim were here to comment on blogs with us today, might I suggest that he would have a unique IP address himself? Yet I bet he too would rally for our bag lady’s cause. OK, quiet now, movie starting.
15 Jun 09
12:55 pm
Thank you bloggers for your good, bad and indifferent comments – all taken on the chin.
Certainly we are in the throes of seeking a real mentor and or investor to further develop our concept and site, as our intent is to expand further.
Miss Monica
15 Jun 09
1:11 pm
Monica, do you have a section for Wogs because they are refusing to date me.
Last time I checked, I was young, hot and single.
CHK CHK BOOM!
15 Jun 09
2:05 pm
Hi Kim. I noticed that you didn’t mention your other living brother, Fah-Kim. I believe he is active on the site, but that only the 81-year old is interested in a bit of Fah-Kim.
15 Jun 09
2:15 pm
Yes, often forgotten as he comes from my father’s first relationship. My father though would be well known to audiences world-wide from his pioneering attempt on the precursor to North Korean Idol many years ago. Only a coughing fit in the musical finale caught him short with the rumour going that he sung ill.
15 Jun 09
2:23 pm
So he is not to be confused with your step-brother Song-Sung Bloo who did the Neil Diamond impressions on “Korea’s Got Talent”?
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