Only positive comments allowed at ‘no wankers please’ ideas-sharing club
A former agency staffer is launching an ideas-sharing lunch club and online community at which only allow positive comments will be allowed.
The Commercial Ideas Network will be a “safe haven” from the “bitter few” who make critical comments about the work of others, said founder Anne Miles.
Miles will moderate the comments on her site herself, and will have “a much stronger filter than Mumbrella’s”.
“I want to create a positive, empowered space for grown-ups. No wankers please,” she said. “People will be able to learn and grow without others pulling them down all the time.”
Now a trained life coach with a qualification in neurolinguistics, Miles is a former head of TV at JWT, McCann, Grey and Lowe and one of the founders of Exit Films.
Lunch events will be held monthly with a two speaker format. Darren Woolley of Trinity P3 and Nigel Collin, author of Herding Monkeys, will be speaking at the first event in Sydney on August 5.
A ticket for the event will cost $149 plus GST. Communications Council members get a discounted price of $139.
So far, the group has seven members, including Woolley, Collin and Miles.
How nice – every kid gets a trophy just for participating!
I’ll bring the circles of paper.
User ID not verified.
What is she talking about – I’ve never read any bitter comments on mUmbrella on the shit work of others. (oops!)
We want our own negativity forum then.
Do gooder. Don’t LIKE.
User ID not verified.
Ahh. Life Coach. Say no more.
User ID not verified.
Is wanking really so bad?
User ID not verified.
There is already a similar club in Australia and it even has its on show on ABC at 430pm……….Playschool
User ID not verified.
just what we need, more uncritical boosterism.
User ID not verified.
Comment lolz
User ID not verified.
Reminds me of the Hitwise awards, everyone’s a winner….
User ID not verified.
‘no wankers’! How is that embracing all?
Will paid-up wankers be ejected upon disclosure?
Or will they be coached on rephrasing f
User ID not verified.
Just to clarify – ‘only positive comments’ is off the basic intention of the group. Free opinion is welcomed and critical feedback too. It is not so much what is said as to HOW it is said.
I’m happy for anyone to disagree with me or anyone. What is not welcome is verbal abuse, name calling, pulling someone down to make the writer feel better about themselves.
I don’t buy into everyone being a winner at all – I’m all for good competition and the best in show actually winning. I see the members of this group getting ahead and being the leaders in the industry because their focus is on moving forward. Perhaps that’s actually driven by a sense of competition even. Everyone getting a prize goes against the concept completely.
No one puts abusive comments up on TEC network groups or Business Chicks – so why does the advertising industry think it is exempt from basic mannered and professional behaviour?
I think it is time that those of us that are beyond this type of behaviour have a place we can go to focus on our businesses and mix with other like-minded without being dragged down or called childish names.
The Commercial Ideas Network is just a mature group of business-minded professionals who are wanting to grow and work at the highest level in this business.
You can get ahead without dragging others down.
User ID not verified.
Hold on. 8 members and one is a high achiever. This is gonna be huge.
User ID not verified.
Good luck with your mediocre feel-goodery.
User ID not verified.
No wankers, fluffers only
User ID not verified.
14 members. This is out of control.
User ID not verified.
Most people are like brainwashed sheep. Anything encouraging, positive, character building, non-offensive or just plain nice just ain’t cool to them. Just look at all the mind numbing tv and media that controls their thoughts and desensitises. A wise saying goes along these lines…whatever the masses do, don’t do. It’s a steep hill but well worth the climb…
User ID not verified.
Thanks a lot to all those people showing support offline and by email. The very best way anyone can show support is to join our free community at http://www.commercialideasnetwork.com.au
Since it was only launched as this Mumbrella article was published some hours ago the group is growing fast.
@Kateris – I am trusting that the climb is worth it for many of us that are ready for something different. See you there!
User ID not verified.
Critical thought and comment are essential to healthy functioning of an open society. So are manners and respect. You have to strike a balance, but something tells me, this ain’t it.
User ID not verified.
Anna, Anna, Anna…..You are a darling riding the unicorn of truth and love. May rainbows highlight your lustrous vision for the hideous and dark world of advertising.
User ID not verified.
I support this initiative. I think we will all be grateful to hear the views of anyone in the industry, with whatever they want to say, about any piece or issue provided it is not anonymous, well argued ( and hopefully interesting ).
I would be interested to know from” Oedipus Shmoedipus” why “this ain’t it”.
User ID not verified.
Kateris @11:51 pm wrote – ‘whatever the masses do, don’t do’.
That maybe the single biggest problem with Australian advertising today;.
an industry full of people determined to do things that the vast majority of Australians don’t.
No doubt Kateris serves his/her family deep fried goat at Xmas because the masses are all eating turkey and seafood.
User ID not verified.
Well it certainly takes a lot of guts to take on this industry – look at all the delightful comments here!
User ID not verified.
What a great idea!
User ID not verified.
I Agree with Kateris. Who wants to run with the herd? Real strength comes from operating with a good principle centre and empowering others. The weak show themselves with sarcastic putdowns, disrespect and rarely reach any level of success.
Great quote ‘those who throw dirt lose ground’
By the way Kateris if you serve deep fried goat at Christmas I’m coming
User ID not verified.
Anne, you’ve been watching too much Oprah…..
User ID not verified.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmhkBl0rDpw
User ID not verified.
Wow Anne, seems like you’ve really hit a nerve here! Judging by the nasty comments you’ve gathered in response to an idea that seeks to create a positive community, I reckon you’ve rightly responded to an identified need. Nice work.
User ID not verified.
Hmm…Anne, go for it! Success of failure – at least you’re giving it a go.
There’s too much undigified and ‘holier than thou’ commentary out there as it is. Just look at the reception you’re getting in this forum.
Can’t help but think you would receive different feedback from the community were you launching this in an environment/market that supported new ideas, rewarded risk and didn’t view failure as the end of the world.
No wonder we struggle to develop any sort of entrepreneurial culture in Australia and keep good ideas within our borders considering the type of cynical attitude and unconstructive criticism that is so common amongst industry players.
Hope it’s a success, and if not….hope you learn enought to make your next venture a success.
User ID not verified.
WTF – much appreciated.. heh
User ID not verified.
At $149, I fear only wankers will be able to afford to attend.
User ID not verified.
Will let you know if goats on the menu however I’m not a huge meateater. Glad a positive swell is happening. Funny how some are threatened if an opinion differs. There is another way of thinking. I’d call it individual and creative, not unimaginative and mass produced just like fast food. Looking forward to the climb.
User ID not verified.
Well done to those involved. The hating muppets making comments on this article have provided more than enough justification for the idea.
User ID not verified.
Great idea Anne, looking forward to getting involved.
User ID not verified.
Tossers.
User ID not verified.
Why not $500 for wankers while life coaches and fellow travellers can join and comment for free?
User ID not verified.
Reading this feedback is appalling. Its like we’re back in the school playground. Grow up agency people
User ID not verified.
Yeah.. Grow up you poo poo heads. Only good children get a Smiley Bear stamp.
User ID not verified.
Comment lolz x1000
User ID not verified.
how do you create without criticism – valid criticism often. defies any creative process i’ve ever heard of … a place where every single idea is a good idea? … i need to leave the room!
User ID not verified.
Anybody noticed the calibre of people that have put their name to their comments? I’m honoured to be supported by people like Tom Dery & Kate Walker and publicly thank them.
Keep the members coming – every single member is taking a stand and supporting the cause – and gaining something of value for their business at the same time. Tell a friend that fits our mission of #nowankers
http://www.commercialideasnetwork.com.au – It’s free.
User ID not verified.
Let’s not bee so quick to scoff at this one. I’m sure that when the leaders of BMW merged the ‘Brake’ and ‘Battery’ departments there were a few people that thought they were crazy too. But what this gave birth to is ‘Regenerative Brakes’ that recharge hybrid cars instead of wasting the energy that is ‘scrubbed’ off during traditional braking. So a community aimed at recharging and improving it’s members through the traditional points of review and industry evaluation, instead of scrubbing off their sheen, just might be a good idea.
User ID not verified.
Jeff cooper – satire’s not dead then?
User ID not verified.