The ruiners of all things good

Tom Coates posted the other day about his dislike of attempts by PR agencies trying to persuade him to post about their products on his weblog.

Yesterday he got a response that sums up so much that’s wrong with the world today:

Our job is to get even “challenging” people like you to write, say and/or do what our clients and companies want — of your own volition — and not even realize that you’re doing it. If you are telling us that you only want information from people whose views you like and trust, then we’ll just reach you through them and you’ll never be the wiser.

Is it any wonder Bill Hicks felt the way he did about the advertising business?¹ It’s the sense of entitlement: the notion that it doesn’t matter what Tom wants, he will act as a conduit for their paymaster’s message.

¹ I’m well aware that professionals in the field argue that there are clear dividing lines between marketing, public relations and advertising. It’s not an especially relevant distinction from the point of view of those of us who are lined up in their crosshairs: the aim is the same in each case, it’s only the tactics and weaponry that differ.