A confession…
Posted by PRGirlz Alumni on July 21st, 2006
I like Strumpette. There. I’ve said it. (Or typed it, same diff.)
I don’t care if it’s written by one woman, three women and “a token male” (as asserted by The Washington Post) or three men and a baby. The best satire comes from inside, and satirists sometimes need anonymity. Big deal. For all their mumbo jumbo about empowerment, conversation, blah blah blah, the Blog Police are pretty quick to forge rules and get irate if someone dares ignore said rules. Rule #1, apparently, is that the “blogosphere” and pseudonyms don’t mix. Says who?
There are some lovely, civilized and incredibly intelligent people in my office who don’t like Strumpette, and I can understand why people might be put off. There’s partial nudity, there’s foul language, and a very specific hate-on for Richard Edelman. Women in the business - especially those who have worked and worried hard to bury any notion that women are second-rate practitioners in any way - might be offended by her characterization.
“Bottom line professionally speaking, I am 5’ 4” tall, athletic, Pantene shoulder-length black hair, perfect perky boobs. I present well and am most accomodating. I’ve slept with clients. I sleep with my boss. I am the consummate PR strumpette. When I was 7 my mother told me I’d “never get anywhere with that mouth.” I’ve apparently dedicated my life in proving her wrong.”
But it’s satire. And even if you don’t particularly care for the way Amanda “presents”, she has something relevant to say about the business. I think she’s gotten under the skin of many because there’s truth in much of what she writes. (Plus, she can write. Plus, she doesn’t mind a bit of character assassination.) Most of what’s written by PR for PR is back-slapping, self-congratulatory word-fluff. Where’s the bigger crime?
If PR-types are too thin-skinned to take some roasting about this business, then we might as well stop all the whinging and hand-wringing, hand the budget over to the ad agency, and lock the door behind us on the way out. OK, so Chapel (and friends) has a mean streak and will bite if provoked. Fine. Refreshing, even. If there ever was an industry that needed a florescent light, a magnifying mirror and a reality check, it’s ours.
July 21st, 2006 » 2:37 pm
Dear Mary Ellen:
Thank you.
For the record, there’s not a day that goes by where we don’t talk about quitting Strumpette. It was never supposed to be a serial piece, per se. It was just for fun. At our very best, we merely hint at truth to power.
Anyway, that said, we are all too mindful that our voice is just too small to make a difference. But… your words have made all the difference to us. We are deeply grateful.
Kind regards,
- Amanda Chapel
July 21st, 2006 » 6:34 pm
Didn’t know about it. Read it.
Will continue reading.
You crack me up.
July 21st, 2006 » 7:10 pm
Well argued Mary Ellen and funny too. I’ll have another look. I guess we can get a tad sanctimonious about our vaunted blogosphere.
(For other readers, just for the record, the part in italics in ME’s post is lifted from Strumpette and is about Amanda Chapel (whoever she/they is/are).)
July 21st, 2006 » 8:16 pm
No kidding, Terry. It’s like a self-correcting system: as soon as someone deviates, there’s a dozen bloggers ready to act as the party whip. It’s a lot like being a member of a political party in a number of ways…how strange…
And what’s with “Amanda” leaving such a love-fest of a comment?
That’s it - I’m starting the “Mary Ellen is Strumpettte” rumour on right here. (JK!)
July 21st, 2006 » 9:49 pm
Hi, Amanda:
Wow, the tone of that took me aback. Is that really you? (Or you all?)
I know things like this have a natural lifespan, and I imagine it’s probably a chore to maintain, but don’t pack it in yet.
July 21st, 2006 » 10:56 pm
congrats on the Washington Post link. PR Girlz hit the big time.
Chris, I think ME should join the collective that is Strumpette. When she’s not blogging she can swear a blue streak! Trust me…I’ve been on the receiving end of a few tirades…all in fun of course.
July 22nd, 2006 » 12:31 am
What’s funny is I feel the same as you, Mary.
I’ve even been bitten by Strumpette (if you can call it that). She more just growled and showed her teeth. I laughed. She told me I was committing either “professional suicide or abortion.”
It was a riling exchange.
But she does write well. She does make some good points, though some of them are just over the top.
I like the fact that her self-given purpose is to monitor the PR profession and comment on it’s bruises and blemeshes. Each profession needs it.
I dislike the fact that she uses so many personal attacks. They’re just mostly stupid, petty and unproductive. But her goal IS to stir up those at the top and the rest of us reading, so perhaps it’s what gets the job done.
Overall, I hope she doesn’t quit. (Of course I am using “she” loosely.) I hope more of us can even take a bit of tone from her example and start examining what’s going on with a more critical eye. We should be leaving all the unnecessary and unwarranted kowtowing and back slapping to politicians.
July 23rd, 2006 » 6:50 am
July 22nd: this week’s top 5…
Well here I am, barely off the ferry and already getting back in the blogging saddle, as it were. There were hundreds of RSS feeds awaiting my return and as I scanned them I was struck by the ebb and flow of the PR blogosphere. A week offline gives…
July 24th, 2006 » 11:14 am
Top 5 follow-up…
I’ve had a few emails about the Top 5 I posted a couple of days ago. Specifically, they were about item 3…The Washington Post’s profile on Strumpette. It’s interesting that folks contacted me via email on this, instead of…
July 24th, 2006 » 5:04 pm
Chris, David –
As much as I love to swear, the Strumpettes have an industry knowledge that’s out of my league. Don’t be starting any rumours, now…
July 26th, 2006 » 5:36 am
Hi, Owen
That’s one thing I find strikingly ironic about the social media boosters - they seem to feel the need to be so nice to each other. Agreeing all the time, etc. For people staging a “revolution”, it’s all very polite, doncha think? If everyone is going to be having “conversations” with each other (and I admit, I do shudder at that thought) then someone needs to shake things up or everyone will be nodding off!
July 27th, 2006 » 3:17 am
Mary,
You are right. We are all very polite. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing. But we do need to be a bit more critical I believe.
I also think it will change with time. Let a few more people get into the blogging/social media thing and the more it grows, the more conflict there will be.
August 3rd, 2006 » 9:58 pm
Happy Belated Blogtipping Day Strumpette!…
I’ll put it out there just to be fair: I forgot about Blogtipping Day this month! I know, I know, 40 lashes with a wet noodle, or whatever sort of punishment you Blogtipping fanatics crave, I’ll give in to it. While you think through your o…